Law regarding hunting with a combination gun in Ontario

I

Intedserve

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
6   0   0
Location
Unionville, Ontario, L3R8H4
Hello

I was hoping that someone can tell me the law regarding hunting with a combination gun in Ontario. I was thinking of getting a 308/12 gauge combination gun. But before I do, I wanted to know if I can use it for multi target hunting. For example, when I hunt Moose (308), I often come upon grouse or ducks (12 ga). Assuming I had all the required licences, would it be legal in Ontario to use the combo gun this way? or?

Thanks
 
Intedserve said:
Hello

I was hoping that someone can tell me the law regarding hunting with a combination gun in Ontario. I was thinking of getting a 308/12 gauge combination gun. But before I do, I wanted to know if I can use it for multi target hunting. For example, when I hunt Moose (308), I often come upon grouse or ducks (12 ga). Assuming I had all the required licences, would it be legal in Ontario to use the combo gun this way? or?

Thanks
Click to expand...

As the owner of a 16ga. over .30-30 combination gun, I'll refer to Page 24 of the 2016 Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary, including the fine print under the table which states:

If you are hunting small game in an area where there is an open season for deer, moose, elk or black bear, you may not possess or use a rifle of greater muzzle energy than 400 ft-lbs or shells loaded with ball or with shot larger than No. 2 shot unless you possess a valid license to hunt deer, moose or elk or black bear as the case may be. When hunting deer elk or moose, you may only use or carry the type of firearm allowed.

When hunting deer, elk or moose, you may only use or carry the type of firearm allowed. In the gun season for deer this means a centre-fire rifle, a muzzle-loader, or a shotgun (no smaller than 20 ga. when loaded with shot or any shotgun loaded with shot smaller than SG (No. 1 buck).

If you find the above crystal clear, please explain it to me. What if you are carrying No. 3 buck, which falls between No. 2 shot and No. 1 buck?
 
Last edited:
Ask a conservation officer.

I would feel confident having the one firearm in any open season, as long as the only ammunition in my possession (in the field) was the correct one for the game species. Bullets or SSGs (for instance) for big game and shotshells for the birds. So, to the original question, while hunting moose and happening upon a grouse, would mean the grouse lives to drum another day.
 
Intedserve said:
Hello

I was hoping that someone can tell me the law regarding hunting with a combination gun in Ontario. I was thinking of getting a 308/12 gauge combination gun. But before I do, I wanted to know if I can use it for multi target hunting. For example, when I hunt Moose (308), I often come upon grouse or ducks (12 ga). Assuming I had all the required licences, would it be legal in Ontario to use the combo gun this way? or?

Thanks
Click to expand...


The best thing you can do to cover yourself when looking for answers that count is to email the CO and keep a copy for reference... even have it on you if it may be grey area or interpreted differently by different officers. NEVER simply rely on info found in forums when it comes to legal advice.
 
I don't see why we shouldn't be allowed to, but they do tend to make funny laws every now and again. That being said we know the MNR doesn't like opportunistic hunting and i remember reading basically the same question in an Ontario Out of Doors magazine once under the ask a C.O. section and the basic answer was no. I think the statement from the regulations leaves a lot to be interpreted, I also believe that the mood of the officer that stops you could also come into effect.
 
Man, anytime I start to think we have some strange hunting regs here in BC, I hear about something even more outrageous/ridiculous back in Onterrible... I've come to believe that the Onterrible government doesn't trust any citizen and thinks that everyone out hunting will automatically start poaching if given any chance... Can't have firearms after sunset, can't have firearms out during travel, can't have multiple types of firearms (all paraphrasing a bit and maybe I misinterpreted but still)... I have my rifle/shotgun/.22 or all of the above sitting in the front seat with me (unloaded) from the minute I leave my house well before daybreak to the minute I get home well after dark, never shot anything illegally in the dark or from the truck or using lights etc etc... They really don't trust people to do the right thing on there own back there so they have to take away any possibility of that situation to begin with?
 
maple_leaf_eh said:
Ask a conservation officer.

I would feel confident having the one firearm in any open season, as long as the only ammunition in my possession (in the field) was the correct one for the game species. Bullets or SSGs (for instance) for big game and shotshells for the birds. So, to the original question, while hunting moose and happening upon a grouse, would mean the grouse lives to drum another day.
Click to expand...

That's what I had been told almost 40 years ago, when I had a Savage 24 in 20 ga/30-30. He said if I had no rifle ammo on me or in my pack, I'd be OK. However, I have been given inaccurate info by LEO's in the past. WHere this happened, there were only a few CO's, so I was pretty good to go, as I knew the guy's name, so I could have gotten confirmation. I think you should get it in writing from the Minister's office just to be safe.
 
russm86 said:
Man, anytime I start to think we have some strange hunting regs here in BC, I hear about something even more outrageous/ridiculous back in Onterrible... I've come to believe that the Onterrible government doesn't trust any citizen and thinks that everyone out hunting will automatically start poaching if given any chance... Can't have firearms after sunset, can't have firearms out during travel, can't have multiple types of firearms (all paraphrasing a bit and maybe I misinterpreted but still)... I have my rifle/shotgun/.22 or all of the above sitting in the front seat with me (unloaded) from the minute I leave my house well before daybreak to the minute I get home well after dark, never shot anything illegally in the dark or from the truck or using lights etc etc... They really don't trust people to do the right thing on there own back there so they have to take away any possibility of that situation to begin with?
Click to expand...

I was thinking along the same lines, only Alberta vs. Bantario.

The only limit here, in terms of "multiple guns" is on migratory:

http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/genregs.html
have more than one shotgun, for personal use, at any time while hunting migratory game birds unless each shotgun, in excess of one, is unloaded and disassembled or unloaded and cased.
Click to expand...

Other than that, you can take with you as much as you can carry. During deer season here, it's fairly common for guys to have their rifle for deer, and a .410 or 20 gauge for grouse.
 
grelmar said:
I was thinking along the same lines, only Alberta vs. Bantario.

The only limit here, in terms of "multiple guns" is on migratory:

http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/genregs.html


Other than that, you can take with you as much as you can carry. During deer season here, it's fairly common for guys to have their rifle for deer, and a .410 or 20 gauge for grouse.
Click to expand...

Same here, and we have the same regulation on multiple shotguns for migratory.
 
russm86 said:
I was going to suggest that in my last post but couldn't remember for certain so figured I keep quiet, lol...
Click to expand...

I googled the Migratory Game Bird treaty, and it is not very clear, but I checked the regs for a few States and provinces (ON, QC, MB, Louisiana, Maine) all are almost exactly the same wording. As a matter of fact, Maine specifically refers to and quotes Fed regs.
 
I have a Savage 24 in 30/30-20ga. I only use it if there is an open season and I am licenced for both moose (deer or bear would also be okay) and small game. I haven't checked the legalities but I can't see how it would be a problem if you didn't have any ammo on you for one that the season was closed for.
 
peterf said:
I have a Savage 24 in 30/30-20ga. I only use it if there is an open season and I am licenced for both moose (deer or bear would also be okay) and small game. I haven't checked the legalities but I can't see how it would be a problem if you didn't have any ammo on you for one that the season was closed for.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you should be OK. The nice thing about the F&W laws is that even if you are charged, you don't need a lawyer, if you can't afford one, to help you.
 
Intedserve said:
Hello

I was hoping that someone can tell me the law regarding hunting with a combination gun in Ontario. I was thinking of getting a 308/12 gauge combination gun. But before I do, I wanted to know if I can use it for multi target hunting. For example, when I hunt Moose (308), I often come upon grouse or ducks (12 ga). Assuming I had all the required licences, would it be legal in Ontario to use the combo gun this way? or?

Thanks
Click to expand...

You, my friend, need to get your mouse fart on :-D

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1335340-Mouse-fart-recipes?highlight=Mouse+fart


Either that, or pick up a Hammond game getter.
 
Also... <Random anecdotal story from some dude you don't know on the interwebz, but...)

We've been stopped by the mnr more than once. On at least two of those occasions, my cousin was with us, who hunts with a 12ga/6mm combo. The officer didn't mention a thing. FWIW.
 
Reading that quote from the regs, it is written "when loaded with..."

It doesn't say anything against possessing an empty chamber for something you're not hunting.

Any hyperbole about what a CO "might think" would drive us all crazy, because we all know anything is possible.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom