DNA of moose shot in Minden traced to Toronto Freezer – Busted!
http://haliburtonhighlander.ca/2012/01/09/minden-court-levies-hefty-fines-for-illegal-hunting/ January 9, 2012 |
Toronto men ‘tagged’ $13,000 for hunting illegally By Terrance GavanShades of CSI Minden.
No it’s not a new television series. It’s a wee tiptoe into the new world of forensic policing and how the MNR is using technology to nab their ‘prey.’
Costly catch sometimes. Photo courtesy of North Bay Nipissing. DNA sampling – yes DNA sampling - led to the charge and conviction of two men from the GTA, who will probably think twice before hunting moose illegally in the Highlands again.
TwoToronto men were fined a total of $13,000 for hunting, possessing and transporting moose and deer shot during the closed season. Justice of the Peace Brian Norton heard the case in the Minden Court on January 5.
An MNR press release related that, “Ihor Pylypchuk pleaded guilty and was fined $5,000 for hunting moose during the closed seasonand $3,000 for hunting deer during the closed season.In addition to being fined $2,000 for the possession of illegally killed moose and deer, he received a five-year hunting suspensionand his firearm was permanently forfeited to the Crown.”
Another man, Ihor Maksymyshyn pleaded guilty to transporting moose unlawfully hunted, and was fined $3,000.
The court heard that onOctober 3, 2010, a conservation officer attended a house in the Kinmount area finding butchered meat in the basement. Further investigation by conservation officers, with the assistance of the canine unit, led to the location of moose and deer kill sites on the property.
“Subsequently, two search warrants were executed on residences in the Toronto area,” the release said. “Officers recovered moose meat from the residence of Ihor Maksymyshyn that matched DNA from the kill location identified on the property in Kinmount.”
Now that’s some pretty fancy finagling folks. Moose in a Toronto freezer tracked to a dead moose in Minden. Poachers take note.
And just for good measure the report details that, “a firearm was located in the residence of Ihor Pylypchuk that was forensically examined and matched to a bullet located in the illegal killed moose.”
Absolutely amazing story.
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).
