Dawson Caul of Devlin, Ont. pleaded guilty to hunting deer without a license and reckless use of a firearm while hunting. He was fined $8,500, banned from hunting in Ontario for three years and must repeat a hunter education course. Jared Taylor, also of Devlin, pleaded guilty to trespassing for the purpose of hunting. He was fined $2,500 and banned from hunting in Ontario for one year. Justice of the Peace Pat Clydesdale-Cornell heard the case remotely at the Ontario Court of Justice, Fort Frances, on July 7, 2022. Hunting in November 2020 The court heard that on November 7, 2020, Caul shot an antlerless deer from the road, killing it. He and Taylor then entered private property to retrieve the deer. “Caul did not have a valid license to hunt antlerless deer and no person was licensed to hunt on the property,” the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) said in a press release on Friday. “Conservation officers were investigating a complaint from the public about a deer that had been shot on private property.” The Ontario government said it is protecting the public from unsafe hunting practices. “Conservation officers remind everyone that by respecting seasons, refuges, bag and possession limits … (and) following the rules while hunting white-tailed deer,” the release said. “We all help make sure our natural resources stay healthy.” To report a natural resource violation or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the department’s TIPS line toll-free at 1-877-847-7667 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously. For more information about unsolved cases, visit ontario.ca/mnrftips.
