$4,250 fine for illegal duck hunting

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BROCKVILLE, Ont. - September 12, 2011 - Norman Burns, of Portland, Ontario, and Albert Burtch, of Newboro, Ontario, pleaded guilty on August 19, 2011, in the Ontario Court of Justice, in Brockville, to charges laid in relation to violations of the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and the Migratory Birds Regulations, following a joint enforcement operation carried out by Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

Burns pleaded guilty to depositing bait within 14 days before the first day of the open season for waterfowl and hunting waterfowl within 400 metres of a baited area that has not been free of bait for seven days. He was fined a total of $2,500 for the offences, plus court costs. Burtch pleaded guilty to depositing bait within 14 days before the first day of the open season for waterfowl and knowingly making a false or misleading statement to an officer. He was fined a total of $1,750 for the offences, plus court costs.

In addition to the fines, both men lost their privileges to hunt migratory game birds for one year and all birds (11 ducks) hunted and killed by the hunters were forfeited to the Crown.

The court heard that between September 18 and September 25, 2010, a Kemptville District Conservation Officer and an Environment Canada enforcement officer patrolled a series of small ponds off the Norwood Road within Rideau Lakes Township, Leeds County. The officers discovered that the ponds had been baited with corn during the prohibited period. On the morning of September 25, 2010, officers observed hunters actively hunting ducks at the ponds. Further investigation led to the above charges and, following guilty pleas, the conviction and sentencing of the two accused. 

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