Justice and Public Safety
October 14, 2015

Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers Lay a Number of Charges for Illegal Hunting

Since the moose hunting season opened in Newfoundland and Labrador several weeks ago, officers with the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Division have been busy in the field conducting enforcement activities. Several investigations have led to charges against a number of individuals.

On September 12, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers with the Grand Falls-Windsor Detachment were patrolling in the area of Gaultois when they encountered hunters believed to have killed two moose in the wrong Moose Management Area. The subsequent investigation resulted in the seizure of large quantities of moose, two speed boats with motors and a 2015 pick-up truck. Charges against these individuals are pending.

In a particularly troubling incident, on September 30, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers from the Clarenville Detachment received a tip of possible illegal moose snaring activity near the community of Bloomfield. Upon investigating officers located four rope snares set across trails. They immediately began conducting surveillance in the area. As a result, on October 2, one adult male was arrested for carrying a loaded firearm that he was forbidden from possessing. He is facing charges for a number of offences under the Wild Life Regulations including hunting big game without a license, illegal snaring of big game, and illegal possession of a firearm. There was also a violation for breaching a court order. The man was released to appear in court at a later date. Seized as a result of the investigation was a .303 calibre rifle, four founds of live ammunition, a knife, a file and four rope snares.

On October 4, officers received a tip that a moose had been taken without a licence near Lamaline on the Burin Peninsula. A surveillance operation was established at the site of the dead moose and just after dark that day officers observed a number of all-terrain vehicles approach the scene with their lights off. Four adult males and one female were apprehended and officers discovered a quantity of untagged moose meat that had been deboned. Confiscated along with the moose meat were four all-terrain vehicles, two trailers, two firearms, coolers, a big game licence and tags, and other hunting paraphernalia. The investigation into this incident is ongoing and charges are pending.

Also on October 4, officers out of the Stephenville Detachment investigated a report of an individual who had allegedly shot two animals on one licence in the Bald Mountain Area. As a result of the investigation, two moose, two utility-terrain vehicles and three rifles were seized. Charges are pending.

On October 6, officers from the Stephenville detachment also investigated two non-residents for illegal hunting in the province. One of the individuals has been charged with hunting big game without a valid licence and possession of a firearm without a valid licence. The other individual has been charged with possession of a firearm without a valid licence. Two rifles and an electronic game caller were seized.

Many investigations into illegal hunting activity would not be possible without tips from the public. We continue to ask for assistance in protecting the province�s natural resources and in ensuring the safety of everyone enjoying outdoor activities. Suspicious activity can be reported anonymously and toll-free at any time of the day, by calling 1-877-820-0999, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Anonymous online reports can also be submitted at www.stoppoaching.ca external link or www.nlcrimestoppers.com external link.

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Two speed boats seized as a result of a September 12 investigation by Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers into illegal big game hunting near Gaultois.

Snares, a rifle, ammunition, a knife and a file that were seized by Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers on October 2 as the result of an investigation into illegal snaring of big game near Bloomfield.

Items that were confiscated on October 4 as the result of an investigation by Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers into illegal big game hunting near Lamaline. A quantity of moose meat, four all-terrain vehicles, two trailers, two firearms, coolers, a big game hunting license and tags, and other hunting paraphernalia were seized.


Two utility-terrain vehicles, a quantity of moose and three rifles that were seized by Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers on October 4 as the result of an investigation into illegal big game hunting near Stephenville in the Bald Mountain area.

Media contact:
Luke Joyce
Director of Communications
Department of Justice and Public Safety
709-729-6985, 725-4165
lukejoyce@gov.nl.ca

2015 10 14                             2:20 p.m.