Ontario Protects Moose Populations from Illegal Hunting

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The Ontario government is safeguarding moose populations by ensuring hunters hunt with a valid moose licence, and that moose tourism operators comply with the regulations.

David Boileau of Thunder Bay, the owner of Blue Lantern Lodge, located northwest of Atikokan, pleaded guilty to unlawfully obtaining a licence for which the holder is no longer eligible because he did not meet the requirements of an Ontario resident under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. He also pleaded guilty to possessing a licence that was void and failing to keep registered guest forms. He was fined a total of $13,000.

Curtis Fabischek of Thunder Bay pleaded guilty to hunting moose without a licence and was fined $1,500.

The court heard that on October 24, 2022, conservation officers discovered that Fabischek hunted and shot an adult moose, without a valid moose licence. Through further investigation it was learned that David Boileau issued an adult cow moose validation tag to Fabischek and failed to keep records of Fabischek and other registered guests staying at Blue Lantern Lodge. Boileau failed to retain the records for the required period of three years and unlawfully obtained a licence by failing to notify the ministry of his change in residency, leading to him possessing a moose licence that was void.

Justice of the Peace Patricia Clysdale-Cornell heard the case remotely in the Ontario Court of Justice, Fort Frances, on April 5, 2024.

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, please visit ontario.ca/mnrtips.

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