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Every hunter has heard it before: Know your regs. Tag your animal. Do it right. Because when you don’t… it can get expensive. Real expensive.
According to reporting from CTV News, one U.S. hunter just learned that lesson the hard way after a moose hunt in Ontario went completely off the rails.
Larry Szura of Wisconsin was hit with a $28,750 fine and a 10-year hunting ban in Ontario after being found guilty of multiple violations tied to an illegal moose harvest near Pickle Lake.
And this wasn’t just a paperwork issue.
According to Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources, conservation officers found a cow moose carcass along a remote road and evidence suggested it had been shot while standing directly on the roadway.
That’s a problem.
Investigators say Szura fired a high-powered rifle down the traveled portion of the road, which is illegal on its own. But it didn’t stop there. He also didn’t have a valid cow tag.
Instead of walking away, authorities say he traveled more than 13 kilometers to find his hunting partner (who reportedly didn’t even know Szura had gone out hunting) and convinced them to use their tag to cover the animal.
That’s where things really went sideways. After that, Szura reportedly left the area and crossed back into the U.S. the next morning.
The case eventually caught up with him. In court, he was found guilty of:
The result? Nearly $29K in fines and a decade-long ban from hunting in Ontario.
The Takeaway
Most hunters aren’t out there trying to bend the rules. But this is a reminder of how fast things can escalate when you do.
Tags matter. Shot placement matters. And where you pull the trigger from definitely matters. Because at the end of the day, one bad decision in the field can follow you for a long time.
In this case? Ten years.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.
