A North Bay man has been fined and suspended from hunting for committing an offence under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.
Paul Smith pleaded guilty and was fined $5,000 for discharging his firearm without due care and attention or reasonable consideration for people or property. He has also been suspended from hunting for two years and is required to successfully complete the Ontario Hunter Education Course before he can purchase another Ontario hunting licence. His firearm was permanently forfeited to the Crown.
The court heard that on September 16, 2017, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) received a report that a man had been shot in McDougall Township, north of Parry Sound. Conservation officers from the Parry Sound Enforcement Unit and the MNRF Canine Unit attended the scene and initiated an investigation. The investigation determined that when Smith discharged his shotgun at a grouse, pellets from the shot travelled across a road and struck a man who was on another property. The man’s injury was not life-threatening.
Justice of the Peace Cornelia Mews heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Parry Sound, on August 14, 2018.
To report a natural resources violation, call the MNRF TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667 toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). And visit Ontario.ca/mnrftips to view an interactive, searchable map of unsolved cases. You may be able to provide information that will help solve a case.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
