Ontario men fined thousands for illegal sale of moose meat

A conservation officer is shown standing near the shore of a lake in Ontario with the Ministry of Natural Resources crest displayed on the sleeve of their uniform. (File photo/Supplied/Ministry of Natural Resources)

Two northeastern Ontario men have been handed thousands of dollars in fines after a Ministry of Natural Resources investigation uncovered they were illegally selling moose meat.

Paul Descoteaux and Kareem Nicolas Rayan St-Germain, both of River Valley, each pleaded guilty to unlawfully selling harvested moose meat. Descoteaux was fined $3,500, while St-Germain was fined $1,500.

The charges stem from an investigation that began in early 2022, when conservation officers started looking into the commercialization of moose meat in the area.

“Throughout the investigation, officers confirmed moose hunting activities were taking place, moose kills were being processed by Descoteaux and St-Germain, and the moose meat was being offered up for sale,” the MNR said in a recent court bulletin.

It was also determined that both men were aware they were not permitted to sell moose meat.

On Nov. 15, 2022, after numerous contacts, undercover officers met with Descoteaux and St-Germain in River Valley, where they purchased 32 packages of various cuts of moose meat.

Forensic testing links meat to multiple moose

“The packages of meat were sent to Trent University’s Wildlife Forensic Laboratory for DNA analysis where it was determined the meat originated from four separate moose,” the ministry said.

Justice of the Peace Ruby Beck heard St-Germain’s case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Sturgeon Falls on April 3, 2025, while Justice Madeleine Paul heard Descoteaux’s case at the same courthouse on Sept. 25, 2025.

Separate hunting violation convictions

The illegal moose meat sales were not the only run-in with conservation officers for the two men.

In July 2025, both St-Germain and Descoteaux were convicted of moose hunting violations stemming from a separate incident the same year in the same area.

In that case, St-Germain was convicted of unlawfully hunting moose without a licence, transporting unlawfully killed wildlife, failing to wear hunter orange, unlawfully possessing body-gripping traps and failing to complete mandatory hunter reports. He was fined a total of $11,300 and is suspended from hunting for five years while Descoteaux was convicted of transporting unlawfully killed wildlife and was fined $2,500.

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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