Handgun Hunting

As one of those who used to legally hunt with a handgun here in Ontario I would love to see it come back into" legality".
We needed to be closely checked by the local police as well as the OPP. This was before CPIC and computer records so it took a few months. The result was a permit to carry that was good anywhere in Canada. Sort of a "We trust you to be good" recomendation from our government. If you did not have a squeeky clean record, you did not get one. It helped if you were a member of a target club or a personal friend of a cop for references.
My permit was valid up into the seventies.....

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Originally Posted by beardchaser

You have got to be kidding! Hunting with a handgun. If hunting with a rifle, shotgun, compound or crossbow has become too boring maybe you should consider another sport. Handguns were made for protection and target shooting, not hunting. I'm not sure where you got your information but I don't recall handguns being used for hunting in 1968 or any other year in Ontario.

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Made for "protection and target shooting"??? any more or less so than rifles? Pretty strange statement.

I think federal laws regarding handgun transportation and use need to be changed before Ontario can look at allowing them for hunting.

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Originally Posted by beardchaser

Honestly I don't ever recall anyone hunting in the 60's with a handgun in Ontario, or even talking about it. Yes, they do it in the states. I've witnessed it in Pennsylvania. Nothing weirder than a hunter with a 44 mag strapped to his hip. Sorry, but I feel a need for a certain amount of traditionalism. Now, for trappers, I agree. You guys should have been allowed to carry them years ago.

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As trappers we always were able to carry them but it was simpler years ago . Now we have to take a course and requalify by testing every 4 years . And the red tape .. Don't even ask . LOL Might be nice to pluck a bird or rabbit with a little handgun while deer hunting with the rifle ,no ? Plus it really really ticks the Co's and boys in blue off if your allowed to pack even though it is in the bush only . LOL

TD

TD

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Originally Posted by werner.reiche

I think federal laws regarding handgun transportation and use need to be changed before Ontario can look at allowing them for hunting.

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Correct, I think. Ontario might be able to formally recognize handgun hunting in the FWCA but the Firearms Act would need to be changed also.

I have no problem with handgun hunting and it makes a lot of sense to allow trappers to carry handguns to dispatch animals, similarly big game hunters, but I don't see this happening. There's simply not enough pressure for it, and too much likely backlash from the other side. A political no-go.

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Originally Posted by Hawtree Hunter

I just recently I received some communication that though various organizations there was some effort taking place to reintroduce handgun hunting in Ontario. Considering the relative power and expected range that shots would take place, the concept compares favorably with bow hunting. I also was reminded that handgun hunting was legal in Ontario right up until 1968, so there has been some precident set for this. This very much interested me as I do own handguns and the possibility of expanding on their use to hunting seems positive. After reading that the proposals included strict control with open and holstered carry, and only to individuals who first meet all the criteria for restricted, I was completely sold on the idea. Not sure how other hunters feel about this but would be curious to see what support there may be out there.

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Can you elaborate on your source of communication? I would have thought this would have been news worthy by the NFA, OFAH or CSSA and there is nothing on their sites. You mention reading these things, can you post a link or a copy of the communication. There are a lot of us that would like to support the group leading this, but can't if we don't know who they are.

thanks

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Originally Posted by beardchaser

You have got to be kidding! Hunting with a handgun. If hunting with a rifle, shotgun, compound or crossbow has become too boring maybe you should consider another sport. Handguns were made for protection and target shooting, not hunting. I'm not sure where you got your information but I don't recall handguns being used for hunting in 1968 or any other year in Ontario.

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beardchaser, while rifle, shotgun, compound bows and crossbows are all tools to be used in hunting, why couldn't you use handguns for hunting as well as long as they have the required energy to bring down game humanely? Also all of those tools you listed require two hands to use. What if a person wishing to hunt only has one hand (an CF solider who lost a hand in Afganistan for instance)? Is it right they are denied the chance to hunt because you think handguns are only for protection and target shooting?

Also many things we use today were made for different roles. For example, Teflon was originally used in The Manhattan Project. Today it is used for cookware.

Dyth

It was done in all provinces.

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Originally Posted by beardchaser

Honestly I don't ever recall anyone hunting in the 60's with a handgun in Ontario, or even talking about it. Yes, they do it in the states. I've witnessed it in Pennsylvania. Nothing weirder than a hunter with a 44 mag strapped to his hip. Sorry, but I feel a need for a certain amount of traditionalism. Now, for trappers, I agree. You guys should have been allowed to carry them years ago.

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Anyone who says handguns are simply made for protection or target shooting are narrow minded or brainwashed. Alot of non-hunting/shooting people I talk to say 'Im ok with hunting and rifles but handguns are pointless'. If you were allowed to hunt with them, they wouldnt be.....

If hammers were banned is their only use a paperweight?

You can repurpose anything with laws right?

Lots of people used to carry handguns before the ban. If it was legal I would get into it big time. I would have a .22 for grouse and a big game suitable one also. I can't see any party even considering it though. The antigun people have done a great job demonizing the handgun and have won that war. We need to pick our battles to use up our limited capital. Not sure this is a good use of it unfortunately.

I would support this, and it would encourage me to go and get my restricted license. Unfortunately, I don't see it happening anytime soon - look how long it took to get rid of the longun registry. There is just no taste in Canada, or perhaps the world, to encourage private ownership of firearms.