Daughter and/or son holding second firearm while I small game hunt?

Just curious..............when is the last time/only time any one has been asked for a PAL
out in the bush?
I never have.

I have been visited by OPP in the bush target shooting 3 times in the last two years, never prior to 2015 and always the same spot, and never asked to show any licenses. Just asked how things are going and they checked to see if things looked safe. Only ever saw a CO in the bush once, when camping in 2013, who told us that as of next month we could no longer camp in that spot. To many complaints from cottagers in the area about rowdy kids partying there. We used to camp a few times each year from 1980's to 2014.
 
Would it be better to help your kids get their hunting license can't they take it online now
Neither one wants to hunt and I'm not going to make them. If they like going for the walk I'm content with that. I do hope one gets a RPAL down the road but it's up to them. If the grouse hunting goes well and they enjoy the bounty then who knows...
 
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Would it be better to help your kids get their hunting license can't they take it online now

Not sure about other provinces but in Ontario it cannot be taken online. My youngest daughter took it earlier this year...about half of her class were youngsters which was awesome to see!
 
Neither one wants to hunt and I'm not going to make them. If they like going for the walk I'm content with that. I do hope when gets a RPAL down the road but it's up to them. If the grouse hunting goes well and they enjoy the bounty then who knows...

I have never seen a kid that didn't love hunting grouse
Because there's not a lot of blood or guts it a Great way to introduce your kids to hunting
 
Just curious..............when is the last time/only time any one has been asked for a PAL
out in the bush?
I never have.

I was checked for tags and licence two years ago after downing a bull. Warden checked rifle and even posed for pictures after. I promised not to publish. Was polite and sensible. Nice experience.
 
I have never seen a kid that didn't love hunting grouse Because there's not a lot of blood or guts it a Great way to introduce your kids to hunting
Hope so, that was one reasons grouse is the prey. My daughter liked groundhog shooting with me but my son only likes shooting targets.

Strangely I told my son about the "Dragons Breath Squirrel" recipe and he thought he might like it? :rolleyes: The rest of the family passes on squirrel!
 
Hope so, that was one reasons grouse is the prey. My daughter liked groundhog shooting with me but my son only likes shooting targets.

Strangely I told my son about the "Dragons Breath Squirrel" recipe and he thought he might like it? :rolleyes: The rest of the family passes on squirrel!

It good you are including the kids my buddy started his daughter hunting grouse and it really paid off now that she is in her late teens she would much rather go hunting with the Family over hanging out and parting with here Friends and she won't go out with boys that don't hunt
 
The ministry will not give you a clear answer. The only person who will give you a clear answer would be the conservation officer who finds you hunting with your child carrying an unloaded firearm - he will decide if he brings charges or not, depending on his discretion and how he interprets your intents and actions. You would be entirely at the mercy of that officer's judgement and discretion and I don't think I would like to place myself and my children in that position. Take 1 gun or carry them both yourself.

I tried the combo gun years ago, I wouldn't bother with it again myself.
 
Wen I was 7 years old I was given a 22 to pack in the bush it had no bolt I learnt rifle safety first hand in the Field
when I turned 8 the rifle was given to me on my birthday with the boult and a box of 22lr
 
Sent this email in yesterday;

"After reading your reply and going over the points I spoke with some other hunters and I had different opinions on the reply provided. If I can clarify, so I don't break any laws or practice unsafe hunting.

As I'm not migratory bird hunting, but small game hunting, I can have a .22LR slung over my shoulder while carrying the 12G? (Slung firearm is unloaded and would be loaded after I put down the shotgun.)

If the RCMP allow my daughter to hold, clean, load and shoot a firearm under my supervision, without a license, why can't she hold a open, unloaded, single shot shotgun, with no ammunition on her person, while I walk and hunt with her beside me? (In a way I'm using her as a pack animal or ATV that has two legal firearms handy to hunt small game.)"

The new reply they sent later that day;

"This is federal regulations and not provincial regulations.

1. Any person who does not have a firearm licence cannot be in possession of firearm at any time because they do not have a gun licence. This would be your scenario because your daughter is unlicensed; meaning she has not taken the Firearms Course therefore cannot be carrying a firearm on your behalf.

2. If you are hunting with a minor who only have their Apprenticeship Card for hunting and they are hunting together with an adult, the adult who is fully licence (Hunting Education Course & Firearm Licence) can only carry one firearm to share amongst each other."


I can't say I agree with the interpretation or explanation but it seems that regardless they don't want the second firearm in the possession of a non-hunter.

Maybe it's time to re-purpose the old golf caddy? ;) Seen strollers used for 3 gun so why not?

At least they can carry the birds out without issue.

L8r

The bolded statement is completely false. Simply holding a firearm does not amount to possession. Otherwise, it would be illegal to take people shooting who do not have a PAL, and all the gun ranges that cater to non-PAL holders with rental guns and paid staff to supervise them would be breaking the law.
 
If you want your kid to hold your firearm for you then ask them to hold it and pass the damn thing over to them. Calling a government department (especially of eastern persuasion) and asking them for their thoughts on the matter should rank lower than the last possible option.
 
The bolded statement is completely false. Simply holding a firearm does not amount to possession. Otherwise, it would be illegal to take people shooting who do not have a PAL, and all the gun ranges that cater to non-PAL holders with rental guns and paid staff to supervise them would be breaking the law.

That's right I have taken out other hunters who had no pal
Legally they had to be within eyesight at all times and I was responsible for them
Otherwise I would be breaking the law every year taking kids hunting
don't make it more complicated stick to kiss rule and just call a conservation officer
Number one rule to hunting is never asked legal or ethical advice On CGN
 
The bolded statement is completely false. Simply holding a firearm does not amount to possession. Otherwise, it would be illegal to take people shooting who do not have a PAL, and all the gun ranges that cater to non-PAL holders with rental guns and paid staff to supervise them would be breaking the law.

You have to understand that there are firearms regulations (federal) and then there are hunting regulations (provincial). If you are only "shooting" or at a "gun range" then you do not need to worry about being in compliance with provincial hunting regs. If you are hunting then you need to be in compliance with both the federal gun laws and the provincial hunting regulations.

Here is an easy example to illustrate this: gun laws allow for 5 rounds in a semi shotgun but hunting regs only allow 3 rounds for hunting birds. Guys on the range with 5 rounds in their semi-auto shotgun aren't breaking any rules but if they want to take that same gun duck hunting, they need to plug the magazine tube in order to be in compliance with the hunting regs.

If Ontario hunting regulations say that you need to have a pal in order to carry a gun while participating in a hunt, then in Ontario that is what you have to do. It really doesn't matter what hunters in BC can do because hunting regs are provincial.
 
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If Ontario hunting regulations say that you need to have a pal in order to carry a gun while participating in a hunt, then in Ontario that is what you have to do. It really doesn't matter what hunters in BC can do because hunting regs are provincial.

You begin your sentence with "If" ... Do you know that this is the case? If it is, then you are making a valid point. If it isn't, then Suther and the rest of us are making valid points.
 
You begin your sentence with "If" ... Do you know that this is the case? If it is, then you are making a valid point. If it isn't, then Suther and the rest of us are making valid points.

It is the case. More accurately, they are required to have previously passed the CFSC.
In Ontario you need either an H1 or an H2 card in order to hunt (or if under 15 years old, an A1 or A2 apprentice card). An H1 or an A1 allows you to hunt with anything while an H2 or an A2 allows you to hunt with anything except guns. In order to get an H1 or an A1 card you need proof of passing the Canadian Firearms Safety Course.
Despite the fact that the op said his kids wouldn't be shooting anything and would only be carrying a spare gun, in the eyes of the CO if you are carrying a gun while involved in hunting then that is hunting...seems silly in the OP's situation but I guess otherwise you would get unlicenced hunters out there claiming, "I'm only carrying this gun for my buddy Joe who has a hunting licence".

This is how I would interpret the advice the CO has given the OP and explains why people without a pal can legally shoot under supervision at a range or plinking in the back forty but cannot be in possession of a firearm while hunting in Ontario.
 
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