February 28, 2005

TRIO FINED $7,500 FOR BAITING AND HUNTING GEESE

WINDSOR - Three hunters who used yellow bottles as bait to simulate cobs of corn have been fined a total of $7,500 for illegally hunting geese.

Rolland Miller, 44, of Harrow, Chadd Charron, 33, of Belle River and Stanley Laramie, 29, of Kingsville pleaded guilty to hunting within 400 metres of bait put down to attract waterfowl. Miller and Charron were each fined $3,000 and Laramie was fined $1,000. Laramie also pleaded guilty to possessing toxic lead shot and was fined $500.

Each hunter was also suspended from possessing a migratory bird hunting license for one year.

Court heard that on December 10, 2004 a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer found the three men hunting geese near Kingsville. They were hunting less than 250 metres from regular goose decoys, among which were 102 bottles that had been painted yellow to simulate cobs of corn.

Corn and any imitation of corn are viewed as bait under the Migratory Birds Convention Act and hunting within the 400-metre range is considered an unfair advantage for hunters.

Justice of the Peace Murphy heard the cases in the Ontario Court of Justice in Windsor on February 28, 2005.

The public is encouraged to help protect its natural resources by reporting violations to the local MNR office or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).