Three Ontarians have been fined a total of $15,000 and received hunting suspensions after illegally hunting moose in a private hay field.
Yong Li of Toronto pleaded guilty to trespassing for the purpose of hunting and hunting moose without a licence. He was fined $5,000 and is prohibited from possessing an Ontario hunting licence for two years.
Fei Teng of Richmond Hill pleaded guilty to trespassing for the purpose of hunting and hunting moose without a licence. He was fined $7,000 and is suspended from hunting in Ontario for one year.
Ronald Polmateer of Savard Township, the host of Li and Teng, was found guilty at trial of entering prohibited premises under the Trespass to Property Act and of transporting unlawfully killed wildlife under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. He was fined a total of $3,000 and had his moose hunting licence suspended for one year.
The penalties were handed down following an investigation that began on Oct. 25, 2023, after conservation officers received information through the Ministry of Natural Resources TIPS line about possible moose hunting violations.
Acting on the tip
“The next day, conservation officers determined through investigation that Li and Teng were staying with Polmateer and were hunting for moose along Concession Road 3 in the Township of Robillard,” the ministry said in a recent court bulletin.
Conservation officers told the court that while both Li and Teng had a moose hunting licence, the only tag belonged to Teng, which was only valid for a calf moose.
The MNR said Li and Teng observed two moose in a private hay field located at Lot 5 on Concession Road 3, where they did not have permission to hunt.
“Both individuals entered the property, discharged their rifles and killed a cow moose, which they did not have a licence to hunt,” said the ministry.
Conservation officers said the pair then called Polmateer, who assisted in retrieving and transporting the moose.
Justice of the Peace Christine C. Leclair heard the case over several days throughout 2024 to 2026, in the Ontario Court of Justice in Haileybury.
Message from conservation officers
In a subsequent social media video, MNR Conservation Officer Ron Arnold summarized the case and pleaded with hunters to respect private property.
“Trespassing with a firearm is an act of disregard for a person’s property,” he said.
“Hunters in Ontario are all taught to always ask permission. Please do not trespass onto someone’s property without asking for permission.”
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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