http://kenoradailyminerandnews.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1389755&auth=Lloyd%20Mack
Fine, jail time and lifetime hunting ban for two men
Two North Carolina men have been convicted of 22 counts of illegal hunting and have received fines totalling $25,000.
Morris Silvers, 48, of Burnsville, North Carolina, was fined $15,500 and sentenced to 65 days in jail for hunting illegal deer hunting, and also received a lifetime hunting suspension in Ontario. His rifle, deer racks, and all other incidental seizures, including knives, saws and fanny packs, were forfeited to the Crown.
Ben Morrow, 48, of Burnsville, North Carolina, pled guilty and was fined $10,000 for illegal deer hunting. He also received a four-year hunting suspension in Ontario. His rifle, deer rack, deer mounts and miscellaneous equipment were forfeited to the Crown
In 2006, Silvers and Morrow of Burnsville, North Carolina, came to hunt deer in the Nestor Falls area. Although they were hunting in the portion of Wildlife Management Unit 7B where a guide is required for a non-resident to hunt deer, they did not employ one. Silvers shot four deer and Morrow shot two deer even though they were only allowed to shoot one each. The men abandoned most of the meat but kept the antlers and capes. At the end of their hunt, they each tagged one deer.
The men were turned back from the U.S. Border at International Falls because they did not have export permits. Each man provided false information to obtain an export permit. Eventually they crossed the border successfully with five deer racks, although they only had two permits.
In 2007, Silvers and Morrow returned to the Nestor Falls area to hunt deer and stayed at the same cabin as their 2006 trip. On Oct. 11, 2007, Ministry of Natural Resources Kenora District conservation officers checked Silvers and Morrow at their cabin. Once again during this hunt, they did not have a guide. The men shot three deer, including a large buck that was shot by Morrow. The men removed the cape and antlers from Morrow’s buck, which they transported to the cabin, cleaned and then hid it in the attic. They took one roast from the animal and abandoned the rest of the flesh to spoil. Little to no meat was taken off the other bucks killed by Silvers, only the antlers. The deer were not tagged with the game seals provided with the hunters’ licences. Initially Morrow denied that he had either shot or possessed a deer, but eventually admitted his guilt and produced the cape and antlers from the attic.
The Dryden canine unit assisted officers in locating abandoned deer in the area and additional evidence around the cabin. Also, DNA from Morrow and Silvers’ equipment provided evidence matching antlers in the vicinity of the cabin which also matched another deer that had been shot, abandoned and left to rot.
During the investigation, photos showing incriminating evidence were seized. These photos included shots of the five racks that were taken in 2006, displayed on the hood of a truck parked in front of Morrow’s house. Officers were able to match the deer racks in the photos taken in North Carolina to the photos of the deer with racks taken in the Gohere Bay Road area. A United States Fish and Wildlife Service special agent in North Carolina assisted in statements resulting in Morrow turning over a mounted deer skull and a deer head mount with rack.
Justice of the Peace Pat Daub heard Morrow’s case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Kenora, on Sept. 25, 2008. Justice of the Peace Robert McNally heard Silvers’ case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Kenora, on Dec. 2 and 3, 2008. He gave his decision on Jan. 8, 2009.
Fine, jail time and lifetime hunting ban for two men
Two North Carolina men have been convicted of 22 counts of illegal hunting and have received fines totalling $25,000.
Morris Silvers, 48, of Burnsville, North Carolina, was fined $15,500 and sentenced to 65 days in jail for hunting illegal deer hunting, and also received a lifetime hunting suspension in Ontario. His rifle, deer racks, and all other incidental seizures, including knives, saws and fanny packs, were forfeited to the Crown.
Ben Morrow, 48, of Burnsville, North Carolina, pled guilty and was fined $10,000 for illegal deer hunting. He also received a four-year hunting suspension in Ontario. His rifle, deer rack, deer mounts and miscellaneous equipment were forfeited to the Crown
In 2006, Silvers and Morrow of Burnsville, North Carolina, came to hunt deer in the Nestor Falls area. Although they were hunting in the portion of Wildlife Management Unit 7B where a guide is required for a non-resident to hunt deer, they did not employ one. Silvers shot four deer and Morrow shot two deer even though they were only allowed to shoot one each. The men abandoned most of the meat but kept the antlers and capes. At the end of their hunt, they each tagged one deer.
The men were turned back from the U.S. Border at International Falls because they did not have export permits. Each man provided false information to obtain an export permit. Eventually they crossed the border successfully with five deer racks, although they only had two permits.
In 2007, Silvers and Morrow returned to the Nestor Falls area to hunt deer and stayed at the same cabin as their 2006 trip. On Oct. 11, 2007, Ministry of Natural Resources Kenora District conservation officers checked Silvers and Morrow at their cabin. Once again during this hunt, they did not have a guide. The men shot three deer, including a large buck that was shot by Morrow. The men removed the cape and antlers from Morrow’s buck, which they transported to the cabin, cleaned and then hid it in the attic. They took one roast from the animal and abandoned the rest of the flesh to spoil. Little to no meat was taken off the other bucks killed by Silvers, only the antlers. The deer were not tagged with the game seals provided with the hunters’ licences. Initially Morrow denied that he had either shot or possessed a deer, but eventually admitted his guilt and produced the cape and antlers from the attic.
The Dryden canine unit assisted officers in locating abandoned deer in the area and additional evidence around the cabin. Also, DNA from Morrow and Silvers’ equipment provided evidence matching antlers in the vicinity of the cabin which also matched another deer that had been shot, abandoned and left to rot.
During the investigation, photos showing incriminating evidence were seized. These photos included shots of the five racks that were taken in 2006, displayed on the hood of a truck parked in front of Morrow’s house. Officers were able to match the deer racks in the photos taken in North Carolina to the photos of the deer with racks taken in the Gohere Bay Road area. A United States Fish and Wildlife Service special agent in North Carolina assisted in statements resulting in Morrow turning over a mounted deer skull and a deer head mount with rack.
Justice of the Peace Pat Daub heard Morrow’s case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Kenora, on Sept. 25, 2008. Justice of the Peace Robert McNally heard Silvers’ case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Kenora, on Dec. 2 and 3, 2008. He gave his decision on Jan. 8, 2009.
