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

[skull]

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

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,

[seabast]

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...

[fratri]

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...

[Snowwalker]

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.

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.

[Sterrr]

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

[Gun Nut]

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

[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.

[seabast]

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.

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.

[Obi-wanShinobi]

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.

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.

[greatwhite]

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

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.