How fortunate we are as hunters to live in Canada! a real eye opener

I've recently taken an interest in searching out some European shotguns- and came across a very nice Parker Hale and a Ugartechea side by side 20 on some English gun dealers websites. I contacted the store and had an eye opening talk with the manager who was a real joy to speak with. Just to ship a gun from Europe with all of the government paperwork would cost thousands. The difficulty just for the store to order ammunition and bring it in was paperwork miles high. He said no one there is allowed a crossbow or compound- let alone to hunt with or a handgun. Where people might wait all year for a couple of weekend pheasant shoots and each would cost the person upwards of $5000 or more. Let alone the difficulty of purchasing a regular shotgun. It made me realize just how much freedom we have here and how lucky we really are. Even though things aren't perfect- it could be much worse-anyone on this forum with a valid permit can go to sail today and purchase a firearm -and they don't even need that to buy a bow! Sure it is harder to find land to hunt on then it was 30 years ago- But there are more deer -waterfowl numbers are excellent and we have turkeys everywhere. Something we should all think about next time we place a tag on a turkey or deer and be thankful.
Good Hunting
Mark

Hunting in Europe is for the rich and famous, we have the best opportunities in Canada for the average Joe.

Yes we should all be very thankful for the opportunitys we have, but at the same time we need to protect it, or else we could lose it. A good starting point is becoming a member of the Ontario federation of angles and hunters! There are many people out there that would love to see hunting fishing and firearms outlawed.

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Originally Posted by fishhawk

Yes we should all be very thankful for the opportunitys we have, but at the same time we need to protect it, or else we could lose it. A good starting point is becoming a member of the Ontario federation of angles and hunters! There are many people out there that would love to see hunting fishing and firearms outlawed.

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The OFAH is only one of the organizations we need to support. We should pick a national organization that has political influence at the federal level,also,like CSSA,CCFR or NFA. The main reason hunting is so class-restrictive in the UK is because of population density where a populace of a little over 33M (the same as Canada) occupies an area less than the landmass of Ontario. People are jammed in like sardines. There's virtually no public land and to hunt private land requires one to be a member of the aristocracy with very large bank accounts to enable access to estate lands. The ordinary Joe hasn't a hope.

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

The OFAH is only one of the organizations we need to support. We should pick a national organization that has political influence at the federal level,also,like CSSA,CCFR or NFA. The main reason hunting is so class-restrictive in the UK is because of population density where a populace of a little over 33M (the same as Canada) occupies an area less than the landmass of Ontario. People are jammed in like sardines. There's virtually no public land and to hunt private land requires one to be a member of the aristocracy with very large bank accounts to enable access to estate lands. The ordinary Joe hasn't a hope.

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Well said, as usual, Trimmer :)

I totally agree. We all need to support OFAH.

yet, how many threads run a year on this forum from guys complaining about spending $60/yr to have access to Ontario's bounty.

I guess once you've seen what others 'don't have' you are a little more grateful for what we do have, even with all it's warts.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

yet, how many threads run a year on this forum from guys complaining about spending $60/yr to have access to Ontario's bounty.

I guess once you've seen what others 'don't have' you are a little more grateful for what we do have, even with all it's warts.

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Another excellent point Mike....pets, munsters, warts, dysfunctional gov't, whatever....we are indeed lucky to have what we have. :)

In the 80's my father worked for Bell Canada, and BCI had a contract with Saudi Arabia to engineer their telephone infrastructure. After living in a country where very little freedom is granted, I have so much appreciation for the freedoms we as Canadians have. The freedoms that we have due to those that fought and died, so we could have them.

Crown land alone is a privilege (If I can call it that) that surprisingly few people in Southern Ontario use, or even know about. Sure if you are a hunter or an outdoors-man/woman you probably know about it, but the average Joe who does not venture north of Barrie may not. I have had several conversations with people (and even seen threads on this board)of people wanting more information on how to access crown land.

Sure it is convenient to have a land owner grant permission/access to their property just 10-20 minutes from your home. But to me MikePal hit the nail on the head about people complaining, when we have so many freedoms. If someone tries to take those freedoms away, then I have a problem...

W.

Could be much worse but let's not forget that it could be better yet. Just look to our cousins to the South as well as a few other countries.
Indeed, we have to support OFA, CSSA, etc to ensure things don't deteriorate.

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Originally Posted by stilchen67

I've recently taken an interest in searching out some European shotguns- and came across a very nice Parker Hale and a Ugartechea side by side 20 on some English gun dealers websites. I contacted the store and had an eye opening talk with the manager who was a real joy to speak with. Just to ship a gun from Europe with all of the government paperwork would cost thousands. The difficulty just for the store to order ammunition and bring it in was paperwork miles high. He said no one there is allowed a crossbow or compound- let alone to hunt with or a handgun. Where people might wait all year for a couple of weekend pheasant shoots and each would cost the person upwards of $5000 or more. Let alone the difficulty of purchasing a regular shotgun. It made me realize just how much freedom we have here and how lucky we really are. Even though things aren't perfect- it could be much worse-anyone on this forum with a valid permit can go to sail today and purchase a firearm -and they don't even need that to buy a bow! Sure it is harder to find land to hunt on then it was 30 years ago- But there are more deer -waterfowl numbers are excellent and we have turkeys everywhere. Something we should all think about next time we place a tag on a turkey or deer and be thankful.
Good Hunting
Mark

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Just to add more to your comment, southern italy where I come from, it's about €400 per year just to have a hunting license .
You are only allowed to hunt 3 days per week and you have a booklet where you have to fill out every time you go out and hunt. You have to write down what time you went hunting, where, what specie and keep that with you all the time.

Canada it's pretty good place, bu they have a lot more opportunities down in the states.
Better management of their herds, better tag system, youth season, which is a big deal for the new generation, longer season,

Europe is pretty big and every country has different rules so it doesn't make much sense to all those counties to us.
But just so you know lots of average Joe hunting in Europe, like 12$/hour type guys like my cousins and uncles, lot of games to shoot (the deer and boars population is doing too well!), and buying a gun and ammos is easier than here in some place....
And UK is definitely not the place to live to hunt...

The only way to get change is to complain about things that are not just...

Out-sourcing our hunting licenses to a company in the US is worth complaining about... We do have a lot but without complaining about the negative things, changed for the good won't happen...

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Originally Posted by MikePal

yet, how many threads run a year on this forum from guys complaining about spending $60/yr to have access to Ontario's bounty.

I guess once you've seen what others 'don't have' you are a little more grateful for what we do have, even with all it's warts.

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Don't be pointing at me....$ for membership and a donation every year. If you can't write a big check all at once just call and get on a monthly plan.. pays membership and adds up to a small donation.

Just wish more of their events where not east of TO or up near Ottawa.

For someone who enjoys hunting and fishing, no better place to be than in Ontario!

Until our forefathers packed up and left Europe for America, hunting was the activity of kings and the land gentry, it was not something available to the commoner. Our hunting privileges here in the Americas are symbolic of the freedoms we commoner have come to enjoy, and we have to be ever watchful, they do not become eroded. The greatest challenge we face as a hunting community is to ensure, that hunting in no way ever becomes a threat to public safety. That is quite a challenge, when you consider that the tools we used to hunt with, time and again can become branded as a safety risk to the public, which usually occurs when they find their way into the wrong hands. Just something to thinking about.


You don’t stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut

The party hunting alone in Ontario already makes it much better than almost anywhere else. Sure Ontario isn't the place for huge trophy racks but at least we got vast amounts of crown land to hunt.

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Originally Posted by Obi-wanShinobi

The party hunting alone in Ontario already makes it much better than almost anywhere else. Sure Ontario isn't the place for huge trophy racks but at least we got vast amounts of crown land to hunt.

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Interesting, to me it's the other way around.
The fact that I can shot a big game on my own, not with a group, is what make hunting in Ontario so neat.

In some country in EU, you need a minimum acreage and a minimum number of hunter to get a deer tag.

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Originally Posted by seabast

Interesting, to me it's the other way around.
The fact that I can shot a big game on my own, not with a group, is what make hunting in Ontario so neat.

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I just like the fact that we have the option to hunt solo or in a group. I bow hunt deer mainly solo with my own tags but nothing can replace moose camp with friends and family.
For some hunters that are only able to hunt 1 week a year, the party hunting system is great.

I complain when I have to buy a gift for the wife so of course I will complain about a price increase.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

yet, how many threads run a year on this forum from guys complaining about spending $60/yr to have access to Ontario's bounty.

I guess once you've seen what others 'don't have' you are a little more grateful for what we do have, even with all it's warts.

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Originally Posted by Obi-wanShinobi

I just like the fact that we have the option to hunt solo or in a group. I bow hunt deer mainly solo with my own tags but nothing can replace moose camp with friends and family.
For some hunters that are only able to hunt 1 week a year, the party hunting system is great.

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I agree with you, it's great to have the option!

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Originally Posted by seabast

I agree with you, it's great to have the option!

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Exactly...so why do some Hunters think that the MNR should revoke those privileges ?

I wholeheartedly agree with the OP. I have been fortunate enough to hunt in th UK, France, Germany, South Africa (mostly through the hunting industry or whilst stationed there with the Army)and without a doubt we are a very blessed country with regards to the fact that we can all hunt! Never take it for granted and support the organizations that defend us. Most importantly, remember we are all on the same team when it comes to hunting, regardless of method. United, we will get to enjoy hunting in Ontario for a long time, divided and we might not leave much of a legacy for the future hunters out there.

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Originally Posted by KMG Canada

I wholeheartedly agree with the OP. I have been fortunate enough to hunt in th UK, France, Germany, South Africa (mostly through the hunting industry or whilst stationed there with the Army)and without a doubt we are a very blessed country with regards to the fact that we can all hunt! Never take it for granted and support the organizations that defend us. Most importantly, remember we are all on the same team when it comes to hunting, regardless of method. United, we will get to enjoy hunting in Ontario for a long time, divided and we might not leave much of a legacy for the future hunters out there.

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Most importantly, remember we are all on the same team when it comes to hunting, regardless of method.

Bang on!!!

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Exactly...so why do some Hunters think that the MNR should revoke those privileges ?

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Jealousy, narrow minded, maybe a little bit of both, I'm not too sure. But you have been around long enough to know not to pay attension to such a nonsense. Personnaly, I don't read off subjet post I stay on track with the OP.....
:)

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Exactly...so why do some Hunters think that the MNR should revoke those privileges ?

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Mostly,because they don't know any better due to inexperience or very poor mentoring. Either that or they're just self-centered a**holes, LOL

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

Mostly,because they don't know any better due to inexperience or very poor mentoring. Either that or they're just self-centered a**holes, LOL

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WHOOP!!!

Great comment. Canada is wonderful.