Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): A Larder Lake man has been handed a lifetime prohibition from hunting in Ontario after pleading guilty to multiple wildlife violations. Donald Gosselin appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice in Haileybury on November 13, 2025, where he was sentenced for failing to properly attach an invalidated moose tag and failing to produce a licence to a conservation officer.
The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) launched an investigation into Gosselin’s activities on November 11, 2024, following a targeted vehicle stop on Larder Station Road. Officers reported finding Gosselin returning from a hunting camp with a rifle on his passenger seat. Although he initially denied harvesting any wildlife during the inspection, a subsequent investigation led officers to a nearby residence where an untagged moose was discovered. Under the Ontario Hunting Regulations, all harvested big game must be immediately tagged with an invalidated permit to ensure sustainable wildlife management.
In a significant ruling by Justice of the Peace Wade R. Cachagee, Gosselin was ordered to pay $730 in fines and was issued a permanent ban from possessing an Ontario hunting licence or engaging in any hunting-related activities within the province. Furthermore, the court ordered the permanent forfeiture of his firearm to the Crown. The illegally harvested moose was seized by the ministry and donated to a local community organization.
The MNR continues to urge the public to report natural resource violations through their toll-free TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667. This case serves as a stern reminder of the strict enforcement of provincial conservation laws designed to protect Ontario’s moose populations from poaching and unregulated harvesting.
