Who knows the answer? can you carry 2 firearms?

Yes you may carry 2 firearms during a big game season (ie a 22 and a large caliber rifle) provided you are in an area where there is a rifle season open and are not mentoring an apprentice hunter ( ie one firearm shared between the 2 of you) you may not during a shotgun or muzzleloader or bows only season. I have attached the letter from David Critchlow of the MNR as proof ( I carry this letter with me when I am hunting)
Dear Mr

Thank you for your follow up question.

Yes, you may carry the air pistol and arifle at the same time if you are hunting during a deer season allowing the useof rifles. There is an exception however. If you are mentoring an apprenticehunter, you are restricted to using a single firearm between the two of you.

I trust this answers your question.

Sincerely,

DavidCritchlow

David Critchlow
Provincial Enforcement Specialist
Policy, Standards and Training Section
Enforcement Branch
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

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Originally Posted by droopy78

Yes you may carry 2 firearms during a big game season (ie a 22 and a large caliber rifle) provided you are in an area where there is a rifle season open and are not mentoring an apprentice hunter ( ie one firearm shared between the 2 of you) you may not during a shotgun or muzzleloader or bows only season. I have attached the letter from David Critchlow of the MNR as proof ( I carry this letter with me when I am hunting)
Dear Mr

Thank you for your follow up question.

Yes, you may carry the air pistol and arifle at the same time if you are hunting during a deer season allowing the useof rifles. There is an exception however. If you are mentoring an apprenticehunter, you are restricted to using a single firearm between the two of you.

I trust this answers your question.

Sincerely,

DavidCritchlow

David Critchlow
Provincial Enforcement Specialist
Policy, Standards and Training Section
Enforcement Branch
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

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The letter you posted says nothing about carrying a .22 rimfire, but it does say air pistol only. The one I posted from David clearly states you cannot carry a 22 rimfire and center rifle durning moose and deer gun season.

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Originally Posted by Bigjake1907

The letter you posted says nothing about carrying a .22 rimfire, but it does say air pistol only. The one I posted from David clearly states you cannot carry a 22 rimfire and center rifle durning moose and deer gun season.

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I noticed that,too, and I'm sure you have it absolutely right. I borrow a shoulder holster from a buddy to carry a CO2 pistol under my jacket to pot a Grouse or two while hunting Moose and Deer. It's absolutely legal. Carrying a shotgun with bird shot or a .22 is a big no-no.

You are correct, it says nothing about 22 rimfire, however under the definition of firearms in the hunting regs " Firearms include rifles, shotguns, air or pellet guns, bows and crossbows.." Therefore a pellet gun would be no more acceptable than a 22 during big game as neither are approved for hunting big game. In your letter he specifically states that during a shotgun or bows season you may not carry a 22. In the letter to me he is referring to a rifle season. I have also asked for clarification for this from the CO at the sportsman show and he agreed that during an "any firearm season ie shotgun, bow, muzzleloader and rifle than I'm good to go but if there are restrictions on the type of firearm i.e. shotgun or bow only than I may not carry a separate firearm for small game.

The below part of Critchlow's letter pertains to a shotgun only season for deer. During the rifle season for moose, deer or bear you may carry a rifle or shotgun. A .22 is a rifle so it fits in with the type of weapons that you can use. You cannot use the .22 to shoot big game but you can use it for grouse. You are not breaking the law by carrying 2 rifles (0r 10 for that matter) during the gun season. You are restricted by which one you use to shoot the big game at the time. Similarly, during the gun season for big game you can use a shot gun. You are restricted to the shot size for big game so...you could carry a rifle for the big game (rifle's are legal to use) and a shotgun such as a .410 (a shotgun is legal for big game) but you cannot shoot the big game with bird shot so you would have to use the rifle for big game and keep the .410 for grouse unless you had some slugs.

The law relating to the "type" of firearm carried is one thing....the law relating to the "size" of bullet/shot used in those firearms is different.
This is the way I read it

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Generally, yes, as long as each gun being carried is of a type allowed for hunting moose or deer, as the case may be, during the season in which you are carrying the guns. For example, during a shotgun season for deer, you may carry two (or more) shotguns. However, you could not carry a shotgun and a rifle, even if the rifle was a .22 for hunting small game.

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Oh, I need a lawyer for this.

I'm going to be hunting deer for the first time this year. I've only got one weekend and it might be my only weekend to get out for anything.

What if I'm hunting deer, open rifle season, but choose to bring my shot gun.

The regulations say I must use shot size larger than No.1 Buck for deer. More specifically a gun loaded with shot larger than No.1 Buck.

If I am carrying some #6 on me for the walk back to maybe pop a grouse, is that legal?

Can I possess both shot sizes (slug and #6) on my person, but depending on what is loaded defines what I am hunting?

Edit: Finally found my answer in ask a CO a couple times. Yes I can.

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Originally Posted by CptSydor

Edit: Finally found my answer in ask a CO a couple times. Yes I can.

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Please post a link to where you found this for the non believers. The stuff posted from David Critchlow was only 1 question of 5 asked - basically a selected answer.

Note question 2 and this particular part of question 5: If it is a moose or deer season that allows the use of rifles as well as bows and you are choosing to hunt the big game species with a bow, you could carry the .22 for small game

Q1. Is it legal to carry more than one gun at a time?

Generally, yes, as long as each gun being carried is of a type allowed for hunting moose or deer, as the case may be, during the season in which you are carrying the guns. For example, during a shotgun season for deer, you may carry two (or more) shotguns. However, you could not carry a shotgun and a rifle, even if the rifle was a .22 for hunting small game.

There are some exceptions. If you are hunting migratory birds, you may only have one shotgun that is loaded and unencased. You may have a second shotgun, but it must be unloaded and in a case.

If you are hunting with an apprentice hunter, the mentor and apprentice are restricted to a single firearm between them.

Q2. Can one carry a shotgun for small game and a rifle for large game simultaneously?

Yes, provided that it is a deer or moose season that allows for the use of a rifle. (If you are bear hunting, there is no restriction on the types of firearms that you may carry for hunting.)

Q3. Can one carry a 12gauge shotgun loaded with slugs or buckshot and have birdshot in their pocket for small game in case the opportunity arises?

Yes, provided that it is a moose or deer season that allows the use of shotguns.

Q4. Can one carry more than one muzzle loader at a time loaded?

Yes, subject to the exception for apprentice hunters mentioned in Q1 above.

Q5. Can one have a .22 cal for small game while bow hunting for large game?

This depends on which season for moose or deer you are hunting in. If it is a moose or deer season that is restricted to the use of bows, then you may not carry a rifle of any type while hunting moose or deer. Same for a deer season that allows the use of shotguns and bows, but not rifles. If it is a moose or deer season that allows the use of rifles as well as bows and you are choosing to hunt the big game species with a bow, you could carry the .22 for small game. If you are hunting bear, you may carry a .22 for small game while hunting bear (as long as you are licensed for bear).

I trust this answers your questions.

Sincerely,

David Critchlow

David Critchlow
Provincial Enforcement Specialist
Policy, Standards and Training Section
Enforcement Branch
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Can we get this made into a sticky as it seems to be a reoccurring question or debate

Here is where I found my info.

While you can't officially verify it as a CO, it seems to be legit as I read through the majority of questions/responses.

http://www.outdoorontario.net/AskMNR/mnrfaqgame.html