Police visits while shooting - Looking for new place to toss rocks

[FF57]

So, I was at my usual spit of crown land firing a couple NR's. And had a little visit from a couple cops in a cruiser that came to investigate based on the call from a passerby. Nothing bad happened, but I did find it interesting.

To describe the parcel of land. I looked it up on Natural Resources and it's listed as Crown Land. On the map it is sectioned off as being 100 m wide and two km long. Now, actually on site, it is evident that I'm not the only one that shoots there, there's sign that others come from time to time. And it's also not 100 m wide... the surrounding farm encroaches a bit.

So the police come and say that someone called in. I said that I believed it to be crown land and was under the impression that it's legal to target shoot non restricteds on crown land, in safety. They weren't certain it was crown land as it just looked like a farm field.

So, I presented them with my printout I keep with me of the map from the Natural Resources atlas that describes the designation of land. With that, they stated they were impressed with my research, and conceded that they weren't certain if it was crown land or not, and that it wasn't the neighbouring land owner who called. They wished me well and left me be to continue shooting.

I guess if there's a moral to the story, it's to keep paperwork on you that will justify your position. But it does seem odd that the authority having jurisdiction isn't aware of what is legal on what land...

Otherwise, if anyone wants to share a good stretch of land (private) that wouldn't mind a responsible shooter to use from time to time... I'm in the market.

 

[Grock-co]

I would rather have the police talk to me about my activities than have them leave the irresponsible ones that give us all a bad name alone and unchecked. We all need to help weed out the shltheads that leave huge piles of garbage on crown land shoot up signs.

 

[bsand]

This is why I keep all emails with DNR rep who OK'd my shooting spot (gave GPS coordinates). As well as the special hunting district map with my spot high lighted in the "white" zone.






L

 

[FF57]

I would rather have the police talk to me about my activities than have them leave the irresponsible ones that give us all a bad name alone and unchecked. We all need to help weed out the shltheads that leave huge piles of garbage on crown land shoot up signs.

True. It certainly wasn't a "bad" experience. They were polite, and so was I. And yes, others do leave that little spot in a mess.

 

[doc25]

It's unfortunate that all crown land is not marked. We pay for signs just about everywhere why not crown land?

While you may be able to shoot on crown land you are still obliged to respect all discharge rules. In your case of a 100m wide lot you may not be able to discharge within 400m of a building or livestock. I'm just saying that you may want to check the hunting regs for stuff like that too.

 

[J996]

Glad to hear it worked out for you P.

Cheers.

 

[torontogungal]

I would like to see more police and conservation officer presence and action in regards to charging the poachers, litterbugs and vandals who are giving gun owners a bad name.
Unfortunately we are judged by the least responsible of our peers and I'm sick and tired of seeing makeshift ranges littered with broken bottles, shot up tvs and microwave ovens and the like.
There is a growing sentiment toward adopting systems similar to New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia where gun possession on crown land is not allowed without a hunting license during an open game hunting season or a permit and the bad actors among us are adding fuel to this fire.
I read on an official NFLD government website where keeping a gun in a summer cottage is not allowed.
This is supposedly to curb poaching activities but follows the usual Canadian paradigm of sanctioning the innocent for the actions of the guilty.

 

[coleman1495]

I would like to see more police and conservation officer presence and action in regards to charging the poachers, litterbugs and vandals who are giving gun owners a bad name.
Unfortunately we are judged by the least responsible of our peers and I'm sick and tired of seeing makeshift ranges littered with broken bottles, shot up tvs and microwave ovens and the like.
There is a growing sentiment toward adopting systems similar to New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia where gun possession on crown land is not allowed without a hunting license during an open game hunting season or a permit and the bad actors among us are adding fuel to this fire.
I read on an official NFLD government website where keeping a gun in a summer cottage is not allowed.
This is supposedly to curb poaching activities but follows the usual Canadian paradigm of sanctioning the innocent for the actions of the guilty.

Do you think poaching is more common in the maritime provinces than the west? There definitely no issues with having a firearm here in Alberta. I know there is some poaching but to be honest I think its fairly rare. Dumping garbage in the bush tends to be the trend around here.

 

[supernova]

Yeah but thats Alberta lol. We got it pretty good for firearm use in general. 2 nights ago in an undisclosed small town in western 'Berta, two guys I met through friends took their SxS through the A&W drivethrough with an SKS between the front seats and later got pulled over by the RCMP in town with the same SKS between the seats. No tickets, no ERT, no snipers on rooftops. 'Berta. Our local spots get effed up by dickheads but people go out and clean the mess up. Very few spots have been shut down thanks in part to the good guys taking the time to rake and bag up truckloads of shotgun shells, shot up appliances, random garbage, hundreds of tannerite containers, etc. Occasional cleanups make a big difference. Leaving the mess for someone else to deal with leads to these spots getting shut down unfortunately.

Do you think poaching is more common in the maritime provinces than the west? There definitely no issues with having a firearm here in Alberta. I know there is some poaching but to be honest I think its fairly rare. Dumping garbage in the bush tends to be the trend around here.

 

[Zen_Seeker]

So, I was at my usual spit of crown land firing a couple NR's. And had a little visit from a couple cops in a cruiser that came to investigate based on the call from a passerby. Nothing bad happened, but I did find it interesting.

To describe the parcel of land. I looked it up on Natural Resources and it's listed as Crown Land. On the map it is sectioned off as being 100 m wide and two km long. Now, actually on site, it is evident that I'm not the only one that shoots there, there's sign that others come from time to time. And it's also not 100 m wide... the surrounding farm encroaches a bit.

So the police come and say that someone called in. I said that I believed it to be crown land and was under the impression that it's legal to target shoot non restricteds on crown land, in safety. They weren't certain it was crown land as it just looked like a farm field.

So, I presented them with my printout I keep with me of the map from the Natural Resources atlas that describes the designation of land. With that, they stated they were impressed with my research, and conceded that they weren't certain if it was crown land or not, and that it wasn't the neighbouring land owner who called. They wished me well and left me be to continue shooting.

I guess if there's a moral to the story, it's to keep paperwork on you that will justify your position. But it does seem odd that the authority having jurisdiction isn't aware of what is legal on what land...

Otherwise, if anyone wants to share a good stretch of land (private) that wouldn't mind a responsible shooter to use from time to time... I'm in the market.

I do the same thing but one step further. I complained to the PM office after I got the runaround from the MNRF. A week later the superviser from the MNRF emailed me and sent me a free map of the area I wanted to shoot/hunt in.

Using the map, google maps, and a gps I found a good location I could block off safely and shoot into a hill/berm. (ATV and snowmobiles use the same area so I use cones, sawhorses, and danger signs along with the car to make it safe.) After shooting I pack everything back up and clean all my garbage/shells.

OPP have come twice and a single engine plain always seems to fly over after an hour or so of shooting. First time the OPP came he was a bit rude but after a bit of explaining and showing the google printouts along with the MNRF map he noted I was the safest he had seen. He also stated I wasn't doing anything wrong but suggested extra barriers. (Just as an ATV guy moved one out of the way and drove through.) Second OPP just drove past us without stopping.

As long as you know you're in the right, can back it up, and the officer isn't a total a$$ you'll be fine. It's more about being reckless than shooting a firearm, I think. I saved the OPPs info as well in case it happens again.

 

[doc25]

Do you think poaching is more common in the maritime provinces than the west? There definitely no issues with having a firearm here in Alberta. I know there is some poaching but to be honest I think its fairly rare. Dumping garbage in the bush tends to be the trend around here.

I

I know pretty much everyone of a certain generation used to poach in NB. But the reality is really how big of a crime is poaching? A guy shooting an extra deer for food. Give me a break. Big deal. How many are hit on the road? While I would be pissed at guys blasting microwaves etc. I would not give a crap anout someone shooting an extra deer. We have other people in this country who are allowed to shoot animals when they want. Poaching is a gun control crime. It is used especially in the east to control firearms in the woods. That's it.

 

[TedNugent]

I

I know pretty much everyone of a certain generation used to poach in NB. But the reality is really how big of a crime is poaching? A guy shooting an extra deer for food. Give me a break. Big deal. How many are hit on the road? While I would be pissed at guys blasting microwaves etc. I would not give a crap anout someone shooting an extra deer. We have other people in this country who are allowed to shoot animals when they want. Poaching is a gun control crime. It is used especially in the east to control firearms in the woods. That's it.

I can see your point. I wish I could take an animal to feed the family when times are tough, but 95% of the population couldn't imagine living that way, and children's aide would likely visit anyone who admitted they needed to do something like that. I have nothing against anyone who would do such a thing for sustenance, except when you hear stories of people using transport trailers to load animals they have so many...

 

[big_boss]

When I move to a new place I call the local PD's non emergency number to ask where crown land is and where they recommend going for shooting so at the least I can say I spoke to an officer first. The awkward thing is when you get someone calling in because they didn't even know guns were legal in Canada, or they're just antigun.

 

[torontogungal]

Do you think poaching is more common in the maritime provinces than the west? There definitely no issues with having a firearm here in Alberta. I know there is some poaching but to be honest I think its fairly rare. Dumping garbage in the bush tends to be the trend around here.

I don't think it's as much about the frequency of poaching incidents as the willingness or unwillingness to allow the liberal, anti gun bureaucrats to trample what few rights Canadian gun owners still have like using the poaching prevention excuse to in effect turn non-restricted firearms into restricted firearms.
When a provincial government agency tells me I can't shoot a nr firearm in an isolated gravel pit on crown land or keep a firearm in my cottage for black bear protection and pest/varmint control we will have a problem.
I'm all I favor of busting poachers and prosecuting them to full extent of the law but rather than impose blanket restrictions on me and the law abiding the LEOs need to get off of their butts and go after the actual poachers, vandals and litterers.

 

[torontogungal]

I

I know pretty much everyone of a certain generation used to poach in NB. But the reality is really how big of a crime is poaching? A guy shooting an extra deer for food. Give me a break. Big deal. How many are hit on the road? While I would be pissed at guys blasting microwaves etc. I would not give a crap anout someone shooting an extra deer. We have other people in this country who are allowed to shoot animals when they want. Poaching is a gun control crime. It is used especially in the east to control firearms in the woods. That's it.

There are not enough jobs for all Canadians but unemployed people still need to feed themselves and their families.
The wilderness is a resource and hunting and fishing are skills which can put meat in the freezer and food on the table.
Why is the right to "live off the land" when jobs and other sustenance resources are unavailable restricted to certain racial minorities?

 

[torontogungal]

I

I know pretty much everyone of a certain generation used to poach in NB. But the reality is really how big of a crime is poaching? A guy shooting an extra deer for food. Give me a break. Big deal. How many are hit on the road? While I would be pissed at guys blasting microwaves etc. I would not give a crap anout someone shooting an extra deer. We have other people in this country who are allowed to shoot animals when they want. Poaching is a gun control crime. It is used especially in the east to control firearms in the woods. That's it.

It's gun control imposed under the ruse of poaching control plain and simple which in effect obstructs people from possessing nr firearms on crown land.
I can see the precedent migrating to western provinces in the years to come.

 

[Brian46]

I

I know pretty much everyone of a certain generation used to poach in NB. But the reality is really how big of a crime is poaching? A guy shooting an extra deer for food. Give me a break. Big deal. How many are hit on the road? While I would be pissed at guys blasting microwaves etc. I would not give a crap anout someone shooting an extra deer. We have other people in this country who are allowed to shoot animals when they want. Poaching is a gun control crime. It is used especially in the east to control firearms in the woods. That's it.

living a subsistence lifestyle and following the regulations attached to it is one thing, but it certainly does not make poaching any less illegal

 

[effinggoof]

So, I was at my usual spit of crown land firing a couple NR's. And had a little visit from a couple cops in a cruiser that came to investigate based on the call from a passerby. Nothing bad happened, but I did find it interesting.

To describe the parcel of land. I looked it up on Natural Resources and it's listed as Crown Land. On the map it is sectioned off as being 100 m wide and two km long. Now, actually on site, it is evident that I'm not the only one that shoots there, there's sign that others come from time to time. And it's also not 100 m wide... the surrounding farm encroaches a bit.

So the police come and say that someone called in. I said that I believed it to be crown land and was under the impression that it's legal to target shoot non restricteds on crown land, in safety. They weren't certain it was crown land as it just looked like a farm field.

So, I presented them with my printout I keep with me of the map from the Natural Resources atlas that describes the designation of land. With that, they stated they were impressed with my research, and conceded that they weren't certain if it was crown land or not, and that it wasn't the neighbouring land owner who called. They wished me well and left me be to continue shooting.

I guess if there's a moral to the story, it's to keep paperwork on you that will justify your position. But it does seem odd that the authority having jurisdiction isn't aware of what is legal on what land...

Otherwise, if anyone wants to share a good stretch of land (private) that wouldn't mind a responsible shooter to use from time to time... I'm in the market.

I was expecting a far worse experience.

 

[fenceline]

I would like to see more police and conservation officer presence and action in regards to charging the poachers, litterbugs and vandals who are giving gun owners a bad name.
Unfortunately we are judged by the least responsible of our peers and I'm sick and tired of seeing makeshift ranges littered with broken bottles, shot up tvs and microwave ovens and the like.
There is a growing sentiment toward adopting systems similar to New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia where gun possession on crown land is not allowed without a hunting license during an open game hunting season or a permit and the bad actors among us are adding fuel to this fire.
I read on an official NFLD government website where keeping a gun in a summer cottage is not allowed.
This is supposedly to curb poaching activities but follows the usual Canadian paradigm of sanctioning the innocent for the actions of the guilty.

In hunting down the poachers, vandals and litterbugs, you are bound to talk to a lot of good people in the process of finding the bad ones.

Ideally anyways. Otherwise society is truly lost.

 

[doc25]

living a subsistence lifestyle and following the regulations attached to it is one thing, but it certainly does not make poaching any less illegal

While it is illegal I personally don't find it immoral. Weed is illegal right now, maybe not next year. While I disagree with "poaching" for resale I do not see any issue with it for personal reasons and would not rat on anyone doing it. I personally don't because I don't want to loose my truck etc.