Woodslee man pleads guilty to illegal hunting practices

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A Woodslee resident has pleaded guilty to unsafe and illegal hunting practices.

The charges include guilty to hunting deer with a centre-fire rifle in an archery-only season, hunting without a license, possessing a counterfeit tag and using a rifle greater than a .275-calibre while hunting small game.

The man was fined $5,500.

According to a news release, the court heard that on Dec. 31, 2023, a conservation officer was working in the vicinity of Leamington when the man was contacted while returning home from his hunt.

“[The man] was in possession of a cross bow and 30-06 calibre rifle, which he had been using to hunt coyotes,” read the release.

“Through an investigation, it was determined [he] had also hunted deer without a license.”

The man got a counterfeit deer tag and gave it to the officer. The Ministry of Natural Resources said the original tag was used the day before on a white-tailed deer.

The case was heard in Windsor on July 15.