The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is asking the for the public’s help with identifying the individuals responsible for unlawfully leaving their fishing hut on the southern portion of Cook’s Bay, Lake Simcoe.
On March 6th, 2024, Conservation Officers were operating a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) over the southern portion of Cook’s Bay on Lake Simcoe. The RPAS flights were conducted to determine if any ice huts had been left abandoned on the ice. An ice hut was located partially submerged in the water on the edge of the ice pack. The hut was primarily constructed of wood and plywood and had a blue tarp roof. No registration numbers were located on the hut and it is believed that it was purposely abandoned on the melting ice.
If you have any information that will assist Conservation officers in their investigation, please call the ministry TIPS line toll free at 1-877-847-7667 or contact your local ministry office. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.
As a reminder to anglers, all ice huts must be removed before ice breakup, even if no removal date applies. Conservation Officers are strongly recommending that all ice hut owners develop and action their ice hut removal plans before the ice conditions deteriorate to prevent situations like this from occurring. If early ice out is not a factor, ice hut removal is location dependent, with regulated removal dates ranging between March 1 and March 30.
