Shotgun for bear defense - BC magazine limit laws.

Suther

Suther

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So I was wondering on how people interpret the laws on shotgun magazine size, in how they relate to how I can load my shotty for bear defense.

My understanding is you are limited to 2 in the magazine, unless its single projectiles (slugs).

So can I load two shots of buckshot, then the rest slugs, or am I limited to a 2-round magazine as soon as there is a multi-projectile shell in the gun?
 
Suther said:
So I was wondering on how people interpret the laws on shotgun magazine size, in how they relate to how I can load my shotty for bear defense.

My understanding is you are limited to 2 in the magazine, unless its single projectiles (slugs).

So can I load two shots of buckshot, then the rest slugs, or am I limited to a 2-round magazine as soon as there is a multi-projectile shell in the gun?
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go read your regulations ..... and what does it say EXACTLY ?
 
anorden said:
The 2+1 limit is just for waterfowl isn't it??
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Nope. Not in BC. There is a federal law governing waterfowl, while there is a provincial law (The Wildlife Act) that dictates:

Hunting, trapping and firearm prohibitions
26 (1) A person commits an offence if the person hunts, takes, traps, wounds or kills wildlife

(a) that is an endangered species or threatened species,
(b) in a wildlife sanctuary,
(c) at a time not within the open season,
(d) with a firearm or a bow during the prohibited hours,
(e) by the use or with the aid of a light or illuminating device,
(f) with poison,
(g) with a set gun, or
(h) with a pump, repeating or auto loading shotgun unless the magazine contains a plug that is incapable of removal except by disassembling the gun, and that makes the magazine incapable of holding more than 2 cartridges.


I see nothing about being allowed more than 2+1 anywhere, actually. I see no mention of slugs...

So 2+1 for all hunting, even bear defense then?
 
Suther said:
Nope. Not in BC. There is a federal law governing waterfowl, while there is a provincial law (The Wildlife Act) that dictates:

Hunting, trapping and firearm prohibitions
26 (1) A person commits an offence if the person hunts, takes, traps, wounds or kills wildlife

(a) that is an endangered species or threatened species,
(b) in a wildlife sanctuary,
(c) at a time not within the open season,
(d) with a firearm or a bow during the prohibited hours,
(e) by the use or with the aid of a light or illuminating device,
(f) with poison,
(g) with a set gun, or
(h) with a pump, repeating or auto loading shotgun unless the magazine contains a plug that is incapable of removal except by disassembling the gun, and that makes the magazine incapable of holding more than 2 cartridges.


I see nothing about being allowed more than 2+1 anywhere, actually. I see no mention of slugs...

So 2+1 for all hunting, even bear defense then?
Click to expand...

you need to read all the regulations ..... later on it mentions more ....

page 17 of the regs ;


" 4It is unlawful to hunt with a set gun, or to hunt wildlife with a pump, repeating or auto-loading shotgun with a magazine capable of holding more than two shells. Where the use of a shotgun is allowed for hunting or trapping big game, an unplugged shotgun holding more than 2 shells and firing single projectiles only (slugs) may be used. "


page 16 of the regs mentions this for hunting black bear ;
"shotgun must have a bore size of 20 gauge or larger and use shells of shot size No. 1 Buck or larger"

it also mentions that you are not allowed to hunt grizzly with any shotgun .



but here is the thing with all of this ...... the regulations refer to hunting and NOT to self defense from a animal .

for something like bear defense all you need is a pal , nothing more ( besides a reliable firearm ) because you are not hunting .

b.c. is not like the provinces out east where you are presumed guilty of poaching and need to prove your innocence .
 
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My bear defence shotgun, which is kept handy particularly this time of year, has the plug removed. That is how I interpreted the BC regs.
 
Correct - you are not out bear hunting. You are hiking or camping. Just as you don't need to have the magazine plugged when you are target shooting or blasting away in the back 40 at cowpies.

And what's strange, is you can have 5 rounds in your rifle while bear or deer hunting. Why shouldn't you be able to load 5 slugs when bear hunting with a shotgun?
 
okay I have found conflicting statements between the hunting/trapping synopsis and the wildlife act...

wildlife act states

26 (1) A person commits an offence if the person hunts, takes, traps, wounds or kills wildlife

(h) with a pump, repeating or auto loading shotgun unless the magazine contains a plug that is incapable of removal except by disassembling the gun, and that makes the magazine incapable of holding more than 2 cartridges.


This is the ONLY mention of shotguns in the entire wildlife act.

And I read that as ANYONE who wounds or kills wildlife with more a shotgun containing more than 2 rounds in the magazine commits an offense. It doesn't say anything about what you are doing, just that it is illegal to wound or kill wildlife without a limited magazine, period.

Meanwhile, the synopsis says Where the use of a shotgun is allowed for hunting or trapping big game, an unplugged shotgun holding more than 2 shells and firing single projectiles only (slugs) may be used.


This answers my earlier question about whether you can mix buck and slugs to get above the 2+1 rounds... And you cant.

My new question is which one is right??? Which one is the bigger authority? the wildlife act, or the hunting/trapping synopsis??
 
Id like to know this answer for ontario. Best I can tell it's 2+1 slugs when hunting in my pump. Seems silly. Justifies the side saddle

Page 25 of the Ontario Hunting Regulations:

You must plug a semi-automatic or repeating shotgun so that it will not hold more than a total of three shells in the chamber and magazine combined.
Click to expand...
 
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I am lost here...
So I can hunt legally black bear in BC with buckshot (20 ga or larger and No. 1 buck or larger according to the synopsis) but I have to do it with my O/U or plug my pump?
 
On all the forums ive been lurking over the years, ive seen nothing but people qouting the regs on this subject and strong opinions on the different interpretations of those regulations for British Columbia.

But i have yet to see anyone actually have a hardline answer on the subject of "for animal defense" because of all the variables that have to be mixed into the interpretation.

We havent even mentioned yet how being in a provincial park might effect this discussion.

I honestly have no idea what the firm hard rule is when it comes to packing a gun with you through the woods , for the sole purpose of animal defense while deep in the backcountry.
 
burnt_servo said:
you need to read all the regulations ..... later on it mentions more ....

page 17 of the regs ;


" 4It is unlawful to hunt with a set gun, or to hunt wildlife with a pump, repeating or auto-loading shotgun with a magazine capable of holding more than two shells. Where the use of a shotgun is allowed for hunting or trapping big game, an unplugged shotgun holding more than 2 shells and firing single projectiles only (slugs) may be used. "


page 16 of the regs mentions this for hunting black bear ;
"shotgun must have a bore size of 20 gauge or larger and use shells of shot size No. 1 Buck or larger"

it also mentions that you are not allowed to hunt grizzly with any shotgun .



but here is the thing with all of this ...... the regulations refer to hunting and NOT to self defense from a animal .

for something like bear defense all you need is a pal , nothing more ( besides a reliable firearm ) because you are not hunting .

b.c. is not like the provinces out east where you are presumed guilty of poaching and need to prove your innocence .
Click to expand...

"Out east" the poaching thing is just a ruse to skirt around federal government constitutional supremacy in making firearms law so anti-gun provincial bureaucrats can in effect turn non-restricted firearms into restricted firearms outside of hunting seasons with provincial permits being required to possess non-restricted firearms in your car or target practice with them on crown or even your own land.

In those provinces outside of hunting seasons for all intents and purposes you are in effect not allowed to be in possession of an animal defense or survival firearm.

What's wrong with that picture?

I can see this kind of constitutionally illegal bureaucratic incursion into the few firearms related rights we have left migrating west over the years.

The combined anti-gun activism of the criminal justice bureaucracy (cops, crown attorneys, CFOs, RCMP, more and more judges) is like a boa constrictor snake with the coils getting tighter and tighter each year.

How many shots the gun can hold is academic if you are not allowed to possess a defensive/survival firearm.

I think you know where this is going. Long guns under the weight of bureaucrat imposed restrictions are going to be almost as useless as handguns in Canada in a few years.

They'll be safe queens for 8 months out of 12.
 
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