Abondoned Rail Lines for Rabbit

The former rail corridor in my neck of the woods is posted with MNR Aurora district signs, I've never bothered to ask if hunting is permitted since I would never want to bother. The amount of foot traffic and bicycles is crazy. It's also a snowmobile trail in the winter.

Not my cup of tea having conflict with the general (often misinformed) public.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JP Outdoors

Hi everyone - new forum member here and relatively new hunter! Thought I'd ask if anyone could help me with finding some new rabbit hunting areas. I'm located in Halton Hills, ON. I've heard of there being some abandoned rail lines in both Norfolk County and London, ON but not sure where those are located specifically. Does anyone know?

Of course if you know of any other decent rabbit hunting spots nearby/in those areas, feel free to pass those along ;)

Thanks for the support! Looking forward to chatting with you all on here.

Jeff

---

PM you

The abandoned tracks around London. Were bought by a company. And are posted no hunting. Mnr travels then regularly. Heard of many ppl getting fines there.

some ppl have even gone as far as ripping down the signs. Some guys just don’t learn. So if you do find a set of tracks with no sign. Think twice

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by huntinaddict

The abandoned tracks around London. Were bought by a company. And are posted no hunting. Mnr travels then regularly. Heard of many ppl getting fines there.

some ppl have even gone as far as ripping down the signs. Some guys just don’t learn. So if you do find a set of tracks with no sign. Think twice

---

Fair points! Definitely not into causing a ruckus and breaking any rules so all this advice has been helpful. Thanks everyone for your feedback - super helpful!

I live in Brant County and hunt around Norfolk as well. The abandoned rail lines in both Brant and Norfolk which I am aware of were typically purchased by the adjacent property owners. I know of one in particular that is owned privately for almost its whole length. So I would check before assuming you can hunt them.
Also, the others in my area were converted to walking/biking trails where hunting is prohibited. So again, no hunting access. Just make sure you know, as the CO's around here will not accept ignorance as an excuse.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KennyT

I live in Brant County and hunt around Norfolk as well. The abandoned rail lines in both Brant and Norfolk which I am aware of were typically purchased by the adjacent property owners. I know of one in particular that is owned privately for almost its whole length. So I would check before assuming you can hunt them.
Also, the others in my area were converted to walking/biking trails where hunting is prohibited. So again, no hunting access. Just make sure you know, as the CO's around here will not accept ignorance as an excuse.

---

Thanks for letting me know! Appreciate it.

how can that be when the fish and wild life act says different

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by trimmer21

Welcome to the forum. "Abandoned" rail lines were deeded to the property owners whose land they crossed many years ago in 95% of southern Ontario making them private property that you'll need permission to hunt. The other 5% were deeded to the municipalities they were in and were turned into hiking/walking trails. Most are regulated by municipal firearm discharge by-laws. Allowing hunting along them is sketchy at best.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mark270wsm

how can that be when the fish and wild life act says different

---

If you're referring to Sect 10 (7) (a) and (b),the key words are "railway lands" which they are no longer,having been deeded to adjacent landowners and municipalities making them effectively private property subject to the TPA and OLA and municipal by-laws.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by trimmer21

If you're referring to Sect 10 (7) (a) and (b),the key words are "railway lands" which they are no longer,having been deeded to adjacent landowners and municipalities making them effectively private property subject to the TPA and OLA and municipal by-laws.

---

So I guess the interpretation of the legislation would be that you could hunt railway lands but because, in reality, most are no longer railway lands because they're abandoned or no longer in use and are now private property they can no longer be hunted. Makes sense I guess.