Echo Bay man fined for hunting a bull moose without a licence after trying to use Indigenous traditions to cover it up

A northern Ontario man is facing a $12,000 fine after illegally shooting a moose near the Batchawan River in October 2021.

Timothy Junor of Echo Bay had a member of the Indigenous community near Annie Lake falsely claim they had killed a bull moose under their Indigenous harvesting rights to cover up his illegal kill on Oct. 18, according to conservation officers.

Conservation officers initiated their investigation after locating a suspicious moose kill site in Norberg Township, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) said in a news release.

“Junor was hunting for moose in an old forestry cut block. Junor was part of a larger hunting party that was only licenced to hunt calf moose,” said MNRF officials.

“Upon entering the cut block, Junor observed two bull moose running along the hillside and fired a round from his rifle at one of the bull moose, killing it.”

After killing the moose, Junor told the court, he returned to a hunt camp on Annie Lake where he arranged for a member of the area’s Indigenous community to claim the moose was shot under their harvesting rights to cover up his illegal kill.

“Junor returned to the kill site with the Indigenous person, processed the moose and transported it back to the hunt camp,” said ministry officials.

“The following day, the Indigenous community member transported the moose to a butcher shop in Thessalon where they again claimed that they shot the bull moose under their Indigenous harvesting rights.”

Junor pleaded guilty to unlawfully hunting a bull moose without a licence and was fined $12,000.

Justice Sarah Keesmaat heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste. Marie, on June 17.

An Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources conservation enforcement vehicle with lights flashing. (Supplied/MNRF)

“The Ontario government is safeguarding moose populations by ensuring hunters do not cover up illegal hunting activities,” the ministry said.

To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, call the ministry TIPS line toll-free at 1-877-847-7667 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.

For more information about unsolved cases, click here.