Group that shot two moose from motorboat in northern Ont. fined $27K

A moose is seen in this file photo. (File)

Three people from Kapuskasing and Val Rita in northern Ontario have been fined and banned from hunting for 26 years for moose hunting violations in 2023.

James Bay enforcement unit conservation officers fined them a total of $27,300 for hunting moose without licences, tagging violations and for discharging firearms from a motorboat.

A news release Friday from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry said all three pled guilty in March 5 when the case was heard remotely by Justice of the Peace Jean-Marie Blier in the Ontario Court of Justice in Cochrane.

Robert Lepage of Kapuskasing pleaded guilty to unlawfully discharging a firearm from a motorboat, possessing wildlife that was unlawfully killed, failing to immediately invalidate his moose tag and hunting moose without a licence.

In addition to the hunting related offences, Lepage was convicted for not having enough lifejackets onboard his pontoon boat. He was fined a total of $15,600 and is prohibited from possessing, applying for, or obtaining a licence to hunt all game species for one year and is prohibited from hunting moose for an additional seven years.

Steven Lambert of Val Rita pleaded guilty to unlawfully discharging a firearm from a motorboat, possessing wildlife that was unlawfully killed, hunting moose without a licence and failing to carry required documentation while hunting.

He was fined a total of $9,700 and is prohibited from possessing, applying for, or obtaining a licence to hunt all game species for two years and is prohibited from hunting moose for an additional seven years.

Angele Tremblay of Val Rita pleaded guilty to possessing wildlife that was unlawfully killed, hunting moose without a licence and unlawfully discharging a firearm from a motorboat.

She was fined a total of $2,000. In addition, she is prohibited from possessing, applying for, or obtaining a licence to hunt all game species for two years and is prohibited from hunting moose for an additional seven years.

Hunitng on Mattagami River

“The court heard that on Oct. 14, 2023, Lepage, Lambert and Tremblay were hunting moose on the Mattagami River,” the MNRF said in a news release Friday.

“Lepage shot and killed a calf moose from the motorboat. He did not invalidate his calf moose tag, which is required by law to be done at the time and location that the animal was killed.”

Lambert and Tremblay actively participated in the hunt with Lepage and did not possess valid moose licences, the MNRF said.

“The three transported the calf moose to Tremblay’s residence where it was processed.”

The court further heard that on Oct. 21, 2023, Lepage, Lambert and Tremblay were again hunting moose on the Mattagami River. Lepage and Lambert shot and killed a second calf moose from the motorboat, while Tremblay steered the boat.

“Lepage did not invalidate his calf moose tag and did not possess it on his person,” the news release said.

“Lepage, Lambert and Tremblay did not possess their hunting licences on their person, and Lambert and Tremblay continued to hunt moose without valid licences.”

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The three individuals were contacted by Cochrane conservation officers on the Mattagami River while transporting the illegally killed calf moose. Both moose calves were seized as part of the investigation.

To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll free at 1-877-847-7667. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases, click here.