A northeastern Ontario man has been fined thousands of dollars and handed a hunting ban after pleading guilty to hunting moose without a licence. Investigation at hunting camp The charges stem from an investigation that began on Oct. 25, 2024, when conservation officers discovered a bull moose carcass hanging at a camp near Mattawa, Ont. Officers determined the animal had been shot sometime between Oct. 20 and Oct. 25 of that year. “The hunter was not present at the camp during the initial inspection,” said Ministry of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Ron Arnold in a video summarizing the case. “During a follow-up to this investigation, the hunter was located.” In a recent court bulletin, the MNR said that during a follow-up investigation, conservation officers located Marc Jodouin, of Mattawa, and discovered he was in possession of the moose’s head. Inconsistent explanations “When initially questioned, Jodouin provided inconsistent explanations regarding how he had obtained the moose,” the ministry wrote in the bulletin. “He later admitted to harvesting the animal.” Membership card insufficient Jodouin presented a membership card from an organization to justify the harvest. However, authorities determined the documentation did not meet the legal standard for establishing treaty rights in Ontario for the purpose of hunting and harvesting wildlife. “The documentation provided was insufficient to establish a credible assertion of Aboriginal or treaty rights,” said Arnold. As a result, Jodouin was required to hold a valid moose hunting licence and tag, and according to the ministry, he had neither. Guilty plea, penalties Jodouin pleaded guilty to hunting big game without a licence. He was fined $5,000 and received a one-year hunting suspension. Justice of the Peace Lauren Scully heard the case in North Bay on April 23, 2026. To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, call the ministry TIPS line toll-free at 1-877-847-7667 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously. For more information about unsolved cases, click here.
