The “Moose Watch” program operated by the Ministry of Natural Resources is bearing fruit, says the MNR’s enforcement supervisor for Fort Frances District.
Doug Gibb told the annual general meeting of the Fort Frances Sportsmen’s Club here last Wednesday night that “Moose Watch” and Crime Stoppers both have resulted in a number of charges and convictions over the past year.
However, incidents of poaching still are occurring in the area and the MNR will continue to rely on information from the public to bring such people to justice.
Of particular interest, said Gibb, is the elk relocation program begun in 2000. Prior to last year, roughly 10 of the original 104 elk released near Cameron Lake had been illegally killed (that number does not include those killed by predators or vehicles).
Enforcement and preventive actions before last year consisted of posting signs to alert hunters to the presence of elk in the district, media releases to reinforce the message, publishing of charges and convictions, and intensive after-dark patrols.
Then 2003 saw a total of seven animals killed, including one last summer when a cow was shot and had its radio collar removed. In October, a cow and bull were shot and left on Tri Lake Road in separate incidents.
Then on Nov. 15, a cow and bull were shot at night and left on Teeple Road. Later that month, another cow was mistakenly shot near Morson.
In the latter case, the hunter involved reported the incident himself and was later charged and fined.
“These are just the ones we know about,” Gibb stressed. “There could be more.”
Gibb said each of the incidents were investigated and, in some cases, the investigation continues. The only conviction registered was against the hunter who reported himself.
He was fined $500 in provincial court and also made a voluntary $500 donation to the elk relocation program.
Incidents of moose poaching also are a matter of concern.
In 2003, a total of 125 unlawfully-killed animals were seized across the province—a slight increase from the previous year. However, the number of abandoned carcasses (78) was considerably higher than in 2002 (59).
In all, a total of 1,107 charges were laid.
In Fort Frances district, a total of 1,420 hunters were checked last year, resulting in 30 charges being laid. Three moose were seized and six abandoned carcasses were found.
The MNR also responded to 20 moose-related complaints from the public, including five tips from the hotline. “We were getting two-three tips a day at the office,” said Gibb.
He noted the rise in the number of incidents probably is due to the fact there now are more of these animals in the district—and thus more opportunity for careless or unscrupulous people to take advantage of them.
The ministry has responded with increased enforcement and media promotion as well as higher fines.
But the most significant measure to date has been the “Moose Watch” tip line—a toll-free number the public can call to report illegal hunting activity.
Though most active during the hunting season, Gibb told club members the number is manned throughout the year.
“It enables us to respond in a timely manner,” he stressed. “This results in better evidence and more convictions.
The phone number for the “Moose Watch” tip line is 1-866-346-6673. You also can report any illegal or suspicious activity to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
