Carry shotgun while filling feeders?

[Gun Nut]

What you don't seem to realize is that if you are walking in an area where game may be expected to be found (based on CO's opinion), with a firearm you are considered to be hunting. If you want to explain to the CO that you are target shooting, you had better be prepared to show him where you were shooting targets.

If you are even driving bush roads with an uncased rifle, you are considered to be hunting.


A small game licence is not valid in some parts of northern and central Ontario from June 16 to August 31. For more information see page 15 and the map on pages 10-11. Additional licence information and fees can be found on page 15.

Firearms
If you are hunting small game in an area where there is an open season for deer, moose, elk, or black bear, you may not possess or use a rifle of greater muzzle energy than 400 foot-pounds or shells loaded with ball or with shot larger than No. 2 shot (non-toxic equivalents include steel shot larger than triple BBB, or bismuth larger than double BB), unless you possess a valid licence to hunt deer, moose, elk or black bear as the case may be. This restriction does not apply south of the French and Mattawa Rivers during an open season for deer that is restricted to the use of bows.

Hi W.R what bothers me about this regulation is what it seems to gloss over. When you read that last statement it leaves you with the impression, that when the archery season for deer kicks in, you no longer have to worry about the firearm restriction on small game hunting. In my particular WMU the grouse season starts on September 19, and the deer archery season starts October 1, so I began to think if I postponed any grouse hunting until after October 1, I wouldn't have to worry about what ammunition I was carrying when small game hunting. However as I read this statement more carefully another thought has struck me. In my WMU the gun season for bear begins September 2 and runs to November 30. So really the small game restriction on firearms holds until the end of November, as well as for the muzzle loading season for deer in the first week of December. Does that sound right to you?

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

[werner.reiche]

Hi W.R what bothers me about this regulation is what it seems to gloss over. When you read that last statement it leaves you with the impression, that when the archery season for deer kicks in, you no longer have to worry about the firearm restriction on small game hunting. In my particular WMU the grouse season starts on September 19, and the deer archery season starts October 1, so I began to think if I postponed any grouse hunting until after October 1, I wouldn't have to worry about what ammunition I was carrying when small game hunting. However as I read this statement more carefully another thought has struck me. In my WMU the gun season for bear begins September 2 and runs to November 30. So really the small game restriction on firearms holds until the end of November, as well as for the muzzle loading season for deer in the first week of December. Does that sound right to you?

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

If bear season runs September 2 and to November 30, the rules are clear there. No slugs or shot larger than #2 in your possession while in the bush unless you have a bear license. The exclusion for deer/bows is if you are in an area where the *only* open big game season is deer/bow-only (i.e. parts of southern ontario where there is a bow deer season, but no bear season) - not the case in your area.

[werner.reiche]

A simpler thing to do rather than trying to interpret the wording of the regs is to have a look at the MRNF's intent:

a) No walking/driving around the woods with firearms/ammo of any sort if you don't have a small game license and there is something you *could* be legally huting.
b) No walking/driving around the woods with firearms/ammo capable of killing a big game animal when a big game season (gun) is open if you don't have a license.

That's what they are trying to say, but they do a very poor job of putting it into words.

The obvious loophole in their logic is the assumption that no one would poach big game out of season. A bit of a puzzler.

[greatwhite]

I just spend the 50 bucks and get the bear tag, then I don't have to worry.

[Gun Nut]

If bear season runs September 2 and to November 30, the rules are clear there. No slugs or shot larger than #2 in your possession while in the bush unless you have a bear license. The exclusion for deer/bows is if you are in an area where the *only* open big game season is deer/bow-only (i.e. parts of southern ontario where there is a bow deer season, but no bear season) - not the case in your area.

Thank you W.R. at least that confirms, what I was seeing when taking a hard second look at that regulation. What is not clear to me is why the gun bear season has to be so infernally long, while the gun deer season only rates a week or three. Thanks again.

You don't stop hunting because you get old. You get old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut

[werner.reiche]

Thank you W.R. at least that confirms, what I was seeing when taking a hard second look at that regulation. What is not clear to me is why the gun bear season has to be so infernally long, while the gun deer season only rates a week or three. Thanks again.

You don't stop hunting because you get old. You get old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut

Bear season is long because it can be without hurting the population.
The Nov 30 end is only to prevent guys from hunting denning bears.

[Greenhorn]

You need a guard dog. she doesn't bark at wild life and gives a low wine when she wants to chase something,but only on my command.



she drives the bear crazy at first.

[godheadx]

I have a question I can't seem to find the answer for and its along the same line as this. I'm bowhunting black bear from a ground blind. May I have my 12 gauge unencased beside me and loaded, or does it have to be encased because I have the bow out?

[rick_iles]

You can have all the firearms you want at the ready, as long as they are legal to use for the game hunted and seasons open. The only regulation to the contrary is for waterfowl hunting. In other words, yes you can have a loaded shotgun, rifle and bow, when bear hunting.