is it legal to use a air pistol to hunt grouse while archery hunting for moose in Ontario
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is it legal to use a air pistol to hunt grouse while archery hunting for moose in Ontario
NO would be my first guess. But I will wait and see the responses.... air rifle YES.
We had that problem too. We all used to carry a .410 for grouse while travelling to moose stands.
The law changed and now 3 guys have those 1000fps pellet guns!
They all are ready to challenge if they get caught.
Last year they got a pile of birds!
An air pistol that is not over 500fps is not considered a restricted firearm and therefore can be used to hunt grouse in Ontario. If you can use it while in an archery only, no clue, call a CO.
The laws recently changed on that Fox, anything listed as 211'fps and above is now the new limit. Police were having too many issues with pellet guns used in crimes. There won't be much of a challenge, a firearm is a firearm. Savage308
Restricted vs non-restricted.Quote:
Originally Posted by Savage308
A pellet gun is not a firearm with respect to classification if it is under 500fps, meaning you can buy one without a PAL and an air pistol is not considered a restricted firearm. With respect to criminal law and storage law, this is where things have changed. Air guns have always been considered firearms if you use it in a crime, so is a banana if you say it is a gun, they just closed a loop hole on airguns under 500fps not falling into storage and transportation laws.
Here is the link from the RCMP, note the Firearms Act and Criminal Code vs meets the Criminal Code but not all aspects of the Firearms Act.
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/f...me_air-eng.htm
WHY ALL THE CONFUSION?
Why can't the MNR just actually say it clearly in the regulations?
Why is up to the discretion of the officer?
It should say "pellet guns are allowed" or NO pellet guns allowed
How friggin simple!
Me I don't bring any gun up archery moose. I don't like white fowl meat of any kind so I could care less about a grouse.
We argue every year with the other grouse lovers in our camp on this pellet gun legality.
Again why cant the MNR just spell it out in plain old English (or French) or Chinese .. whatever!
It does, take a look at page 23 of the 2014 Ontario Hunting Regulations:Quote:
Originally Posted by SK33T3R
"Air and pellet pistols with a muzzle velocity less than 152 metres (500 feet) per second may be used for hunting in Ontario."
The only question is if you can use a pellet pistol in an archery only season as a pellet gun is not an acceptable firearm for archery only season.
You cannot carry a firearm other than archery tackle during an archery only season. I spoke to the MNRF about this very issue. Sub-500 fps air guns are still firearms, just not for the regulatory sections.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
My only question is: Is grouse season open??? If yes, then,
Are pellet guns legal for grouse.
If they are, then I can't see an issue.
If I was not hunting moose with a bow, can I hunt birds with a pellet gun.
Yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by waterrat
FishFrenzy
All righty then Mr. Fox, I like your definition way better than mine!! Makes better sense than what I read. Savage308
WR If you're not hunting moose with a bow then you can use whatever you want .22 / shotgun / pellet gun / sling shot.Quote:
Originally Posted by waterrat
My understanding is that even if you're on a moose bow hunt YOU CAN still hunt grouse with any weapon you want. As long as you leave the camp without a bow and are hunting grouse and only grouse. Works the same for bear. You can use a rifle, which would be the norm, but you need to leave the bow at camp and of course be wearing hunter orange.
Simple rule to follow: guns and bows don't mix!
In a nut shell - you need to leave camp with the clear intention of what you're perusing and with the proper gear for that pursuit. If you're on your way to the moose stand - no guns of any kind in the vehicle or on your person.
It was explained to me by MNR personnel higher up then your CO would be. Seems there was a few incidents of guys submitting to temptation and shooting a moose with a slug persay, then processing the moose long before any CO could verify anything.
Like I said earlier, I'm sick of listening to this at my camp all about a bunch of grouse that I don't like anyway!
To add to this, I have been told somewhat similar other than, leave your moose tag at camp as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by SK33T3R
FOXQuote:
Originally Posted by Fox
I stand by my earlier quote:
Again why cant the MNR just spell it out in plain old English (or French) or Chinese .. whatever!
If it was so clear then this blog would of ended a long time ago.
Typical gov't jargon. saying everything but saying nothing.
Did you read the regulations? It is there in english, you can hunt with a pellet pistol under 500fps.Quote:
Originally Posted by SK33T3R
It also states that if you are hunting in an open season for bow only you cannot use any other firearm other than bow. This was to stop people from bringing a rifle and a bow but only hunting deer/moose with the bow and keeping the rifle for wolves, it opened things up for poaching and they were trying to close the loop whole.
If you are hunting in an archery only season bring an arrow with a small game point on it, (judo, sparo) and use it for grouse when you happen to find one, they work really well. If you have any firearm (including bow) that is not part of the open season and you are actively hunting something that is in an archery only season or shotgun only season, you cannot use a different firearm type for other game.
If you leave your bow and moose tag at the camp and go out with a shotgun, 22LR rifle and pellet gun for grouse you are not actively hunting moose and you would be fine to use those for small game.
We talked to a CO at the Sportsman Show about this. Your bow can be locked up on your atv while you hunt grouse with an air gun and vise versa.
And as they will tell you, it is still illegal to bow hunt moose and carry a air gun pistol. It is less likely you will be killing a moose with an air gun pistol. It will be up to the CO in the WMU so call them up and ask about the air gun pistol thing.
Let's see what the new regs say about this topic this year.
I took my 410 and went after grouse on the bike one day during the moose hunt. The CO was upset that I had left my moose seal back in camp (with my moose rifle), my moose license was a sticker on my card that year....Quote:
Originally Posted by Swamp donk
Ya not having the outdoor card could PO the CO..:silly:Quote:
Originally Posted by patvetzal