January 5, 2006

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Turkey hunter fined $1,000 for careless hunting

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An Arnprior man who accidentally shot his hunting partner has been fined $1,000 and banned from hunting for one year.

Laurent Chaput, 47, who pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm without due care and attention, is also prohibited from possessing firearms for one year.

Court was told that on May 7 this year, Chaput took his friend Richard Compton, 62, of Harrowsmith, on a wild turkey hunt. Compton was hunting illegally as he had not taken the mandatory Wild Turkey Hunter Education Seminar.

Compton was sent to one spot while Chaput “called” for turkeys. Two birds answered and went towards Chaput. Unknown to his friend, Compton, who was wearing dark coloured clothes, had moved and was kneeling in the path of the approaching turkeys. As Compton stood to shoot, Chaput fired his 12-gauge shotgun and Compton was hit in the face, arm, chest and thigh by 10 pellets.

Justice of the Peace Fred Ross heard this case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Kingston on December 21, 2005.