Safety First This Moose Season

News Release for SooNews.ca
Friday, October 9, 2009, 10:59AM

The Ministry of Natural Resources will be conducting heightened enforcement activity in the northeast region this fall as part of a safety-first campaign. In particular, during the regular gun season for moose from October 10 to 24, conservation officers will be checking hunters regarding hunter orange requirements and safe use of firearms.

Fines range from $100 to $250 for offences involving these matters. In more serious cases, offenders could face fines of up to $25,000 or imprisonment or both.

To ensure a safe and lawful hunt, hunters are reminded that:

▪All hunters must wear solid hunter orange clothing (minimum of 400 sq. inches) and a hunter orange cap, except during a "bows-only" season. Mesh type construction vests are not acceptable.

•All persons in possession of a firearm for the purpose of hunting shall not handle or discharge it or cause it to be handled or discharged without due care for persons or property.

•Any hunting injury caused by the discharge of a firearm resulting in medical treatment by a physician must be reported to a conservation officer.

•If you are in an area inhabited by wildlife, or on the way to or from an area inhabited by wildlife, you cannot have a loaded firearm in a vehicle, motorboat, or aircraft. It is illegal to discharge a firearm from any of these modes of transportation.

•It is not legal to shoot from, down or across a public road.

•For half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, it is not legal to be in possession of an uncased or loaded firearm in an area usually inhabited by wildlife.

Under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, a firearm includes air guns, bows and crossbows, along with traditional rifles and shotguns. A firearm is considered loaded if there is a cartridge in the chamber or a magazine that is attached to the firearm. Bows, crossbows, and muzzleloaders have various definitions of ‘loaded’.

Conservation officers may also enforce Small Vessel Regulations and sections of the Liquor Licence Act. For more information on hunting regulations, please consult the 2009-10 Hunting Regulations Summary available from licence issuers and ministry district offices, or on the ministry's website.

To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (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).

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