What if You Were Warden?: Investigating Deer Hunters

[rick_iles]

Does it say you can't? Or are you reading more into it than is there...in writing?

The wording in the sections usually say “shall not”....

[fishermccann]

The wording in the sections usually say “shall not”....

Ok I will play along. Does it say, 'shall not'? If it does not, say, 'shall not', you are wrong...sir.

[FishHog]

there is nothing wrong with deer hunting and bird hunting at the same time if you have licences for both. I chose to focus on deer when deer hunting, but some don't mind shooting birds if the opportunity arises. You can indeed carry bird shot and slugs at the same time if you choose and are licensed for both species being hunted.

[Woodsman]

Ok I will play along. Does it say, 'shall not'? If it does not, say, 'shall not', you are wrong...sir.

In part it does say "shall not" but also goes on the say where this doesn't apply.
Only using a small part of the section can distort it's meaning.

[werner.reiche]

75. A person shall not use a rifle known as a rim-fire rifle, a shotgun smaller than 20 gauge when loaded with shot or any shotgun loaded with shot smaller than SG or number one buck for hunting big game. O. Reg. 665/98, s. 75.


77. (1) A person hunting small game, when in an area during an open season in the area for a species of big game, shall not possess or use,
(a) a rifle of greater muzzle energy than 400 foot-pounds; or
(b) shells loaded with ball or shot larger than number two shot. O. Reg. 49/11, s. 18.
(2) Despite clause (1) (b), a holder of a small game licence, when in an area during an open season in the area for a species of big game, may possess and use,
(a) in the case of shot made of steel, shot that is not larger than triple BBB steel shot; or
(b) in the case of shot made of bismuth, shot that is not larger than double BB bismuth shot. O. Reg. 665/98, s. 77 (2).
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to a holder of a small game licence hunting in that part of Ontario lying south of the French and Mattawa rivers during an open season for deer that is restricted to the use of bows. O. Reg. 665/98, s. 77 (3).

[Fisherman]

Well, back to the original question. Unless you are really anal about dumping your pockets of slug or buckshot and filling them with with the appropriate birdshot only, there is the chance of mixing rounds in your pockets. Heck, there's even the chance of when you put your rounds back in the boxes you might mix them up if they're the same colour. Is it illegal to have a deer grunt hanging around your neck while hunting birds? Too many ifs. He got his break and it's recorded.
On the side, how many carry a slug when bird hunting while in bear country just in case.

[werner.reiche]

Well, back to the original question. Unless you are really anal about dumping your pockets of slug or buckshot and filling them with with the appropriate birdshot only, there is the chance of mixing rounds in your pockets. Heck, there's even the chance of when you put your rounds back in the boxes you might mix them up if they're the same colour. Is it illegal to have a deer grunt hanging around your neck while hunting birds? Too many ifs. He got his break and it's recorded.
On the side, how many carry a slug when bird hunting while in bear country just in case.

All my hunting is in bear country and I normally carry slugs - but I keep them separate from birdshot - usually in the front pocket of my jeans. Birdshot goes in an ammo belt or jacket pockets.
Mixing rounds - slugs and birdshot - could be a fatal mistake if you are hunting with others. So yeah - I'm really anal about this - it's a safety issue.
… and I really don't want to be blasting a bear with birdshot if I really needed a slug.

The show in particular - I think the CO gave him a huge break - more than I would have.

[fishermccann]

In part it does say "shall not" but also goes on the say where this doesn't apply.
Only using a small part of the section can distort it's meaning.

Thank-you.

[Gun Nut]

75. A person shall not use a rifle known as a rim-fire rifle, a shotgun smaller than 20 gauge when loaded with shot or any shotgun loaded with shot smaller than SG or number one buck for hunting big game. O. Reg. 665/98, s. 75.


77. (1) A person hunting small game, when in an area during an open season in the area for a species of big game, shall not possess or use,
(a) a rifle of greater muzzle energy than 400 foot-pounds; or
(b) shells loaded with ball or shot larger than number two shot. O. Reg. 49/11, s. 18.
(2) Despite clause (1) (b), a holder of a small game licence, when in an area during an open season in the area for a species of big game, may possess and use,
(a) in the case of shot made of steel, shot that is not larger than triple BBB steel shot; or
(b) in the case of shot made of bismuth, shot that is not larger than double BB bismuth shot. O. Reg. 665/98, s. 77 (2).
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to a holder of a small game licence hunting in that part of Ontario lying south of the French and Mattawa rivers during an open season for deer that is restricted to the use of bows. O. Reg. 665/98, s. 77 (3).

"a rifle of greater muzzle energy than 400 foot-pounds," They finally came to their senses and change this to read you may only use rim-fire rifles. I know this because I've made attempts to convince the head CO that you can easily reload any centre-fire rifle below the 400 ft-lb level. I do it all the time, I have no use for .22's. In most cases you can load .30 calibers rifles with a ball of .30 caliber buckshot and a few grains of powder to makes a great small game load. I have a .445 caliber ball to adopt my 43 Mauser to the same end.
The head CO's view was it is not about the ammunition you have, but what the manufactures specs make the rifle capable of. When you are working with an obsolete firearm they are not likely to have much in terms of manufactures specs. So unless you have an old Spenser rifle, the rim-fire restriction eliminates the use of any centre-fires. They could have achieved the same end by saying: "a rifle CAPABLE of greater muzzle energy than 400 foot-pounds," Although it was not stated in that matter, quite rightly or wrongly, that is what the head CO was reading into the regulation. Going back to rim-fire remove any misinterpretation.

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

[DanO]

I saw that show and I think the guy got a huge break. The grunt call around his neck would have sealed the deal for me. He was definitely party hunting.