Illegal moose hunting nets big fines and jail time

Ministry of Natural Resources
News Release

A Dubreuilville man has been sentenced to 60 days in jail and fines totalling $40,500 were levied following an investigation into the illegal harvest and commercialization of moose.
Alex Pelletier, 36, was fined $26,500 for unlawfully hunting, transporting, possessing, wasting and exporting moose for sale, and was sentenced to 60 days in jail. He has a lifetime suspension for hunting, and his rifle was forfeited to the Crown.
Bertin Gagnon, 30, of Dubreuilville was fined $7,000 for unlawfully hunting, transporting, possessing, and exporting moose for sale, and received a 15-year hunting suspension.
Annie Gagnon, 29, of Dubreuilville, was fined $7,000 for unlawfully hunting and possessing moose and received a five-year hunting suspension.
Court heard that on September 5, 2003, prior to moose hunting season, Pelletier and Annie Gagnon shot a bull and cow moose approximately 20 km north of Dubreuilville. They returned to the scene with Bertin Gagnon, cleaned the moose and transported them to Pelletier’s residence in Dubreuilville. Five quarters of the moose were frozen, and three quarters were hung in a garage, where they spoiled due to warm temperatures. The three spoiled quarters were subsequently discarded.
On September 13, 2003, Pelletier and Bertin Gagnon transported the frozen moose quarters to Quebec, where they were arrested attempting to sell the meat. Pelletier also admitted to shooting a third moose without a licence in the fall of 2002, north of Dubreuilville. Ontario Conservation Officers executed three search warrants on residences in Dubreuilville and seized moose meat, a rifle and a truck belonging to Pelletier.

The three defendants pleaded guilty to all charges in front of Justice of the Peace J.M. Blier in the Ontario Court of Justice in Wawa on March 9, 2004.

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).