Three Non-Ontario Residents Fined for Unlawful Moose Hunting

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Three individuals from the United States have been fined a total of $27,500 for the following moose hunting violations:

Ben Droessler of Wisconsin pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm from a motorboat and hunting a moose while it was swimming. He was fined $12,000 and received a ten-year hunting licence suspension.

Jeffery Gassman of Wisconsin pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm from a motorboat, hunting a moose while it was swimming and hunting moose without a licence. He was fined $11,500 and received a ten-year hunting suspension.

Zach Droessler of Wisconsin pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm from a motorboat. He was fined $4,000 and received a five-year hunting licence suspension.

The Ontario Court of Justice heard that on September 29, 2023, conservation officers were conducting a remote moose compliance flight into Skinner Lake, north of Pickle Lake. This planned operation was in response to unlawful hunting practices documented in remote outpost camps. The investigation concluded that on September 29, 2023, Zach Droessler and Ben Droessler shot and killed a bull moose from a motorboat.

Further investigation by conservation officers concluded that on September 25, 2023, Gassman and Ben Droessler shot and killed a second bull moose from a motorboat while it was swimming and Gassman did not have a moose licence at the time.

Justice of the Peace Emma Sims heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Sioux Lookout, on May 29, 2025.

To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll free at 1-877-847-7667. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases, please visit ontario.ca/mnrtips.

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