A Manitoulin Island hunter who was caught aiming a high-powered rifle out his truck window — and then sped off when conservation officers spotted him — has been fined $10,000 and ordered to forfeit his guns.
The incident occurred on November 18, 2020, when officers responding to a trespassing complaint on Great La Cloche Island in the District of Manitoulin encountered a hunter named Tyler Corbiere.
“Conservation officers observed Corbiere trespassing to hunt whitetail deer,” says a news release issued Friday by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. “He was in possession of a loaded high-powered rifle which he was aiming out of his truck window at a whitetail deer at the time officers made contact with him. He refused to stop and tried to flee from conservation officers while pointing a loaded rifle out the driver’s window.”
Conservation officers eventually caught up and arrested him, seizing all his hunting equipment.
Appearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Gore Bay, Corbiere was found guilty of trespassing while in possession of a firearm, failing to stop for conservation officers, using a firearm carelessly to hunt, and unlawfully having a loaded firearm in a conveyance.
Along with $10,000 in fines, Corbiere was ordered to forfeit to the Crown all items seized during the investigation, including two rifles with scopes, a spotlight, a range finder and binoculars.
“The Ontario government is safeguarding deer populations by ensuring hunters are following safety laws,” the press release says.
To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll free at 1-877-847-7667. They can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.
More information about unsolved cases can be found at ontario.ca/mnrftips.