Ontario lodge along with two men fined for illegal moose kills

A moose calf touches its nose to its mother’s mouth near the edge of a wooded area in this stock photo. (File photo/ChrisBoswell/GettyImages)

Two men and a northwestern Ontario tourist outfitter have been fined a total of $13,500 for moose hunting violations that occurred before the legal hunting season opened in 2022.

Joshua Mychalyshyn of Kenora, Ont., pled guilty to hunting moose without a licence, possessing wildlife unlawfully, making a false statement in a document and fishing without a licence. He was fined $4,000 and is prohibited from hunting in Ontario for one year.

Daniel Riege of Winnipeg, Man., pled guilty to hunting moose without a licence, possessing wildlife unlawfully and exporting wildlife without a permit. He was fined $3,500 and received a one-year hunting prohibition in Ontario.

Maynard Lake Lodge 2015 Inc., the corporate entity for the tourist outfitting business, pled guilty to hunting moose without a licence and possessing wildlife unlawfully. The corporation was fined $6,000.

Hunted prior to season opening

The Ontario Court of Justice heard that the offences took place between Oct. 13 and 14, 2022, before the official opening of the moose hunting season, when Mychalyshyn, Riege and a third person hunted in the vicinity of Maynard Lake.

“Riege was issued an outfitter moose tag from Maynard Lake Lodge 2015 Inc. and was a guest there,” the Ministry of Natural Resources said in a recent court bulletin.

“Mychalyshyn and Riege shot a calf and cow moose during the closed season which were brought to the lodge and processed.”

Following the hunt, Riege then exported moose meat to Manitoba.

Additional violations uncovered

The MNR investigation also revealed that Mychalyshyn had provided false information on his moose hunter report. Conservation officers also determined that he had been angling without a licence in 2023.

Justice of the Peace Geordie B. McEwen heard the case in a Kenora courtroom on June 18, 2025.

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.

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