Hypothetical Scenario – Question:

Unless you've got a pound or two of bacon strapped to your ass or your traveling in a well used dumpster, chances of getting attacked by a bear are pretty slim.
Maybe you could explain that to Dr. Jacqueline Perry of Cambridge, Ontario. First find a spirit medium. She was killed by a black bear in Missanaibi three years ago.

It is not illegal to have a gun in the bush. If a CO finds me with a gun and declares that I'm hunting I'll see him in court. Happy to oblige because that is a preferable option to encountering a bear who doesn't behave like bears normally do with nothing more than a smile and a pocket knife.

I'd rather pay a lawyer to fight my case then pay a funeral director to bury a loved one.

FWIW, I've run into more bears in the bush than CO's.
 
I like the saying"Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it"But I like others I feel better having my Defender with me while camping.Last year while camping I come off the river from fishing, opened a brew,sat down and when I looked up guess what was looking at me from about forty feet away.I stood up to get my shottie but I guess that was enough to scare him off.This was two oclock in the after noon.Never seen him for the remainder of the trip.The thing is it dont always turn out like that.I carry a half a dozen clay pigeons and a few #7's as an explanation while keepin the slugs and ssg's out of sight.Most Co's will look the other way but with the "new wave" gang they'll be out to make their mark.
 
Yup you guys are right. We all need to get oufitted like rambo when we go in the bush.
No one is saying that.

But maybe YOU should pick a lane and stick to it.

I myself usually take a 12 guage along, but I do not carry it around loaded during the day. it is more for a "camp defence" gun at night.
It doesn't matter if it's a "camp defence" gun at night or a "bear defence" gun during the day. Either way based on your dubious logic you can run afoul of a CFO.

On an ATV trip a few years ago I had a shotgun with me. It was in its scabard on the bike when a CO cam to check us out. He only asked one of the guys for a fishing license.

So you tell other people not to take a gun into the bush but you take one there yourself but only use it at night. :rolleyes:

It's a proven fact that it is impossible to suck and blow at the same time but you are certainly trying your best.
 
Last edited:
ps no I dont have a fire extingusher. I rather do pro-active things to lessen the chance of fire the reactionary to put it out

To me a fire extingusher does seem pro-active. Just like how you said you take precausions when you camp not to attrack predators but still have a shotgun for defence at the camp. Same role the fire extingusher would ;play for your home when you think about it...
 
It doesn't matter if it's a "camp defence" gun at night or a "bear defence" gun during the day. Either way based on your dubious logic you can run afoul of a CFO.

There is a difference between having one that you get out and load WHEN THERE IS a threat compared to carrying around a loaded one when there isn't a threat.

There is a difference between getting charged for hunting illegally and not getting charged.

If there is anything more that I can clarify please let me know,


So you tell other people not to take a gun into the bush but you take one there yourself but only use it at night. :rolleyes:

Sorry if I wasnt clear. I'm not against taking a gun in the bush if it is being legally used/stored.

I'm against people carrying a loaded gun when it is not legal to do so. Correct me if I am wrong but North of the French you are not allowed anything other than a .22 during the summer months
 
Last edited:
BS, you don't need a hunting license to carry a gun in the bush, UNLESS there is a BIG GAME season open, which there is not. You could be clay shooting for all they know, and target shooting is not illegal.

A hunting license won't do you any good if you shoot a bear anyway, they're not in season...

You think its BS ok when he is charge with Poaching i hope your there to help pay for his court bills even if he gets off there still $$$$ to prove he only had the gun there in case a bears
 
Thank you ATR

In Ontario having a firearm in the bush when there is no open season is considered 'prime facia' evidence of hunting . North of the French River there is no open season for anything between June 15th and August 15th . Rabbit closes on June 15th and bear opens on August 15th . Your Outdoor Card is only valid during open seasons
 
With all respect, cdngunner, it seems you are saying," Do as I say, not as I do."

You mention having a shottie with you, but then go on about how only .22s are allowed North of the French. If the campers are using proper safe techniques, storing it in a hardcase, etc. when not needed for the preservation of life, then you shouldn't have any objection to people having the same rights you have admitted you've allowed yourself.

The best and most direct way for the question to be answered for the member, is:
1) Call his local CO office, and inquire as to the threat/danger of bears in the area he's planning to camp;
2) Inquire of the Co office, of whether or not he is allowed to shoot clays in the woods/ allowed to carry a firearm for self-defence, provided the proper safety is maintained.

This is the best way to do it. I've found as long as you are honest and upfront, they will be good with you. One CO even offered to take me out to some of his preferred camping grounds, which was much appreciated, because they turned out to be better than mine! LOL!
 
;)
You think its BS ok when he is charge with Poaching i hope your there to help pay for his court bills even if he gets off there still $$$$ to prove he only had the gun there in case a bears

I shoot all the time in the off season. I'm not spending thousands of $$ on guns to have them in a safe for 48 weeks of the year. If you're scared of the CO's, then leave the gun at home.

If you are questioned by a CO, you reply "No sir, I'm not hunting, I am target shooting, want to try?" CO's are not all evil, some of them even enjoy firearms.:rolleyes:

If a CO shows up at your range, do you hide your guns and run?? Cause almost every range in Canada (outside of TO) has wildlife on it.
 
I'm against people carrying a loaded gun when it is not legal to do so. Correct me if I am wrong but North of the French you are not allowed anything other than a .22 during the summer months
I'm against people carrying loaded guns when it's not legal either but going through the hunting regulations there is nothing there that would make it illegal. In the absence of municipal firearms bylaws there is nothing to prevent you from shooting. Where you can shoot, you can have a loaded gun if it is in "use" and not being stored. If some CO wants to declare that "hunting" then I'll sort that out in court and I'm prepared to do that. I suspect your CO could reach the same conclusion with your cased and unloaded gun. Incidentally "Prima facia" means "at first look" and can be rebutted.

The only limitations I could find on guns that would apply north of the French River is during open seasons. From the regs:
In an area where there is an open season for deer, moose or black bear when hunting small game, you may not possess or use a rifle of greater calibre or projectile power than a .22 calibre rim-fire rifle or shells loaded with ball or with shot larger than number 2 shot, unless you possess a valid licence to hunt deer, moose or black bear as the case may be.

If using non-toxic shot, you may not use steel shot larger than triple BBB steel shot, or bismuth shot that is larger than double BB bismuth shot.

The above does not apply where there is an open season for hunting deer with a bow and arrow only.
 
;)

I shoot all the time in the off season. I'm not spending thousands of $$ on guns to have them in a safe for 48 weeks of the year. If you're scared of the CO's, then leave the gun at home.

If you are questioned by a CO, you reply "No sir, I'm not hunting, I am target shooting, want to try?" CO's are not all evil, some of them even enjoy firearms.:rolleyes:

If a CO shows up at your range, do you hide your guns and run?? Cause almost every range in Canada (outside of TO) has wildlife on it.

he is not at a range he is not target shooting he is camping which changes alot things in the CO mined
 
well lets see

With all respect, cdngunner, it seems you are saying," Do as I say, not as I do."
damn I have to take a course to better my writing skills. I sware I said
Sorry if I wasnt clear. I'm not against taking a gun in the bush if it is being legally used/stored

You mention having a shottie with you, but then go on about how only .22s are allowed North of the French. (I was not north of the French river)If the campers are using proper safe techniques, storing it in a hardcase, etc. when not needed for the preservation of life, then you shouldn't have any objection to people having the same rights you have admitted you've allowed yourself.
isn't that what I said
If you have a stored shotgun with you and it is not loaded, the CO cannot/ should not charge you with hunting.

The best and most direct way for the question to be answered for the member, is:
1) Call his local CO office, and inquire as to the threat/danger of bears in the area he's planning to camp;
2) Inquire of the Co office, of whether or not he is allowed to shoot clays in the woods/ allowed to carry a firearm for self-defence, provided the proper safety is maintained.

Deja Vu

This is the best way to do it. I've found as long as you are honest and upfront, they will be good with you. One CO even offered to take me out to some of his preferred camping grounds, which was much appreciated, because they turned out to be better than mine! LOL!
 
he is not at a range he is not target shooting he is camping which changes alot things in the CO mined

Crown land is a range for non-restricted firearms, and there are no regulations saying otherwise. (not including provincial parks)

If the firearm is unloaded and cased, they'd have a hard time proving you were poaching. Most CO's I find to be reasonable people, and if you have a gun in your tent while camping with your wife and kids, I don't believe they will harrass you.

In the world we live in today, I'd tell them its for protection from serial killers, not the bears.;)
 
BS, you don't need a hunting license to carry a gun in the bush, UNLESS there is a BIG GAME season open, which there is not. You could be clay shooting for all they know, and target shooting is not illegal.

A hunting license won't do you any good if you shoot a bear anyway, they're not in season...

You should really do your homework before you start calling BS.

here is a quote from an MNR officer who responsed to my question on this (Via another MNR office who I hunt Moose with)

From: ###X, Mark (MNR)
Sent: April 30, 2008 11:25 AM
To: ###, Calvin (MNR)
Subject: RE: Hey Cal..

Cal , there is a section( 109 ) in the FWCA that is a reverse onus
section , if you are in a wildlife inhabited area wt a firearm the onus
is on you to show that you are not hunting , crown land or private
property makes no difference , if the individual can show that they are
target shooting( tin cans lined up , targets up ) then there's no charge
, so if an individual is walking around a bush wt a firearm , no targets
, he's on thin ice , and may be charged for hunting related violations
.

Regarding the charge for incasing that only applies if you have a
firearm in your possession in a wildlife inhabited area after dark ( 30
before sunrise and 30 min. after sunset ), the officer doesn't have to
show proof of hunting to lay this charge . No difference if crown or
private land . NO you can not have an uncased firearm after sunset , if
you are in a wildlife inhabited area . Wildlife is defined as a species
of animal that is wild by nature - squirrels , frogs , all birds , deer
, raccoons etc.....

Mark
 
Well I've been camping in the past I've seen sign of bears and heard wolves and yotes, I've never had a gun with me as I never owned one or was allowed till just recently, but now that I do have one it is in the top 10 items to bring with me. My rifle has a detaching magazine and it will be loaded up with 5 rounds and in my POCKET and the gun will be empty and close at hand as I plan on doing camping in more REMOTE areas that I was unsure/scared of trying before due to the remoteness of the area and the animal sign I've seen in it when doing day trips.

So I'll have an unloaded .308 that can be loaded in seconds. Of course if I see an bear or a predator coming towards me from a distance I'll not wait for it to get closer before I lock a round in the chamber just in case I need it ASAP.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom