Hunter banned after illegal duck hunt near Golden Lake | Pembroke Observer
7/1/2026
A Killaloe-area hunter has been fined $2,500 and banned from obtaining a migratory game bird hunting permit for three years after pleading guilty to illegally hunting migratory birds from a moving motorboat.
Liam Comerford pleaded guilty to hunting migratory birds from a moving motorboat, contrary to the Migratory Birds Regulations. In addition to the $2,500 fine, the court prohibited him from applying for a migratory game bird hunting permit for three years.
The Ontario Court of Justice heard that conservation officers were patrolling near Cole’s Creek off Golden Lake on Sept. 28, 2025, when they observed a hunter shooting at ducks from a moving motorboat while collecting decoys.
Officers later watched the same group of hunters travel upstream on Cole’s Creek, where multiple shots were fired at ducks flying overhead while the boat continued moving.
When the hunters returned to the boat launch, conservation officers conducted an investigation and determined that Comerford had been firing at ducks from the motorboat while it was being driven by another hunter.
Justice of the Peace Jennifer L. Grant heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on April 20, 2026.
The Ministry of Natural Resources encourages members of the public to report natural resource violations or provide information about unsolved cases by calling the ministry’s TIPS line toll-free at 1-877-847-7667 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Information about unsolved cases is also available at ontario.ca/MNRTips.