Hunter fined after shooting himself in the foot

A Sudbury man has been fined $1,500 for careless hunting.

Richard Chamberland pleaded guilty and was fined $750 for discharging a firearm without due care and attention for people or property and $750 for having a loaded firearm in a vehicle, said the Ministry of Natural Resources in a news release.

He is prohibited from hunting for five years and must successfully complete the Ontario Hunter Education Course before hunting in the province again. The firearm was seized and will be returned once fines are paid.

Court heard that on Oct. 23, 2014, Chamberland was hunting small game on the South Pardo road, off Highway 805. After shooting unsuccessfully at a grouse, he returned to his brother’s pickup truck and sat on the passenger side. He did not unload his 12-gauge shotgun. It discharged in the vehicle, shooting through Chamberland’s big toe and the floor of the truck. Chamberland was required to have his big toe amputated.

Ontario Provincial Police and a Conservation Officer with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry conducted a joint investigation into the shooting.

Justice of the Peace Monique Seguin heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Sturgeon Falls, on March 16, 2015.

“Hunters are reminded that all firearms must be unloaded when in or on a vehicle,” said a news release from the MNR. “A Conservation Officer must be notified as soon as possible if an injury requiring treatment by a physician is caused by the discharge of a firearm while hunting or trapping.”

For further information on hunting regulations, consult the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary available at ontario.ca/hunting.

To report a natural resources violation, call the MNRF TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667 toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).