Three-Year Ban and $8,000 Fine for Poaching Bull Elk

A Tweed man has been fined $8,000 and given a three-year hunting suspension for two hunting offences.

Joseph Abrams pleaded guilty to unlawfully hunting a bull American elk when licensed for a cow elk, and abandoning a game animal allowing its flesh to become unsuitable for human consumption.

Court heard that on September 16, 2013, Joseph Abrams was a member of a four-person party licensed to hunt cow elk near Tweed. A bull elk approached Abrams and he shot and killed it. Conservation officers from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry had gone into the hunt camp on September 16, 2013, to enquire if any members heard any shots, which they initially denied. A visit to a second camp reported hearing shots near the suspect camp. When asked, Joseph Abrams indicated that he had not shot any elk. As a result of information received later, conservation officers returned to the area accompanied by a canine detector dog. The dog was able to locate the bull elk that had been intentionally covered with brush.

Justice of the Peace Jack Chiang heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Belleville, Ontario, September 25, 2014.

Two other members of the hunting party previously pleaded guilty to related offences and were fined a total of $4,000 including one-year hunting suspensions.

For further information on hunting regulations, please consult the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary available at ontario.ca/hunting.

To report a natural resources violation, call the MNRF TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667 toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).