A couple of hunters from Wheatley have pleaded guilty to illegal hunting charges after getting tricked by a pheasant decoy near Clinton.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) are reporting that the two men, both of Wheatley, pleaded guilty and were fined $1,000 each for unlawfully discharging a firearm from a roadway, and $500 each for trespassing for the purpose of hunting at a property northeast of Clinton on September 25, 2021, the opening day of small game season. They were also both suspended from hunting in Ontario for six months.
"The Ontario government is safeguarding people from unsafe and illegal hunting practices," said Kevin Sprague, Conservation Officer with the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry in Wheatley.
The MNRF said conservation officers were conducting a pheasant decoy operation in the Hullett Marsh area because of ongoing unsafe hunting practices in the area. Sprague said officers saw one of the men drive past the decoy location and stop the vehicle he was driving. The other man stepped out of the vehicle and following direction from the driver, attempted to shoot at the decoy from the roadway. The decoy was on private property where the men did not have permission to hunt, according to the MNRF.
Conservation officers remind everyone that by respecting seasons, sanctuaries, bag and possession limits, we all help ensure that our natural resources stay healthy. 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 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.