Pellet pistol for grouse.

joe-nwt: What is the meaning of when did I move to Sask?
Incidently I have lived here since 1945 with the exception of six months in Ont.

From the Sask Hunting Guide : It is a violation.....to hunt upland gamebirds with a centrefire rifle.
It is also a violation to hunt migratory birds with ANY rifle.


This has been the law here for as long as I can remember.
 
Not sure nor do I care how legal it is :confused: but a good buddy of mine carries a Webley Tempest .177 pellet pistol while deer hunting and routinely snaps grouse in the head with it?It's kinda "high-end" or pricey as pellet guns go.....around $300 I beleive...but it prints dime-size groups @25 yrds?
 
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I emailed the Alberta Fish & Wildlife information centre years ago (March 29/2000) asking them if I could hunt grouse with a pellet handgun.

I asked this:
I have a question regarding Alberta general hunting regulations.
I am interested in carrying, for the purpose of hunting grouse, a pellet handgun.
The pellet handgun in question has a muzzle velocity of less than 500 fps (460 fps actually) and would seem in my opinion to not fall into the category of a pistol or revolver as per the Federal firearms act.
Can I legally carry this pellet handgun for the purpose of hunting grouse in Alberta?
Any assistance in answering this question would be appreciated.

They answered with this:
Our policy interpretation on the use of a pellet handgun to hunt upland game birds in Alberta allows the use of one so long as it has a velocity under 500 f.p.s..
By the way, this weapon (even if rated under 500 f.p.s.) is still a firearm, however, as any barreled weapon capable of discharging a projectile is still technically a firearm. So long it is not rated over 500 f.p.s. though, we see it as being exempt from registration as well from as falling into the restricted or prohibited categories in federal law as you point out.
Name removed
Regulations Officer
Enforcement Field Services Division


So I bought a Crossman model 2240 from Canadian Tire (bolt action CO2 single shot handgun) and have shot numerous grouse in the head with it. I carry it in a holster strapped to my quad tank or slipped onto the belly strap of my hunting back pack.
I also carry a copy of the email I received above in my hunting wallet and the glove box of my truck in case a Fish and Wildlife Officer questions the pellet handgun I’m carrying.
I’ve never been checked while in possession of the pellet handgun to test what a different Officers interpretation may be.
A stone to head from a sling shot could also do the trick :D
 
Norton said:
A stone to head from a sling shot could also do the trick :D
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Which I was told was illegal here in Quebec as well. Again, I'm going back quite a few years, but my understanding was that you'd be hung by the rafters for even posessing a slingshot while hunting.

Is it possible that hunting laws vary THAT much from province to province?:confused:
 
peter2772000 said:
Is it possible that hunting laws vary THAT much from province to province?:confused:
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Yup!

Surprised? You shouldn't be.

Each province sets up their systems a little, or a lot, differently.

Depends on the priorities of the guys setting things up.

Look at the deer seasons in the west, and compare them to the seasons in the eastern provinces. Radically different systems. Guys in the west have anywherefrom weeks to monnths to get out hunting. What's the deer season in Nova Scotia? Two weeks? One? Tough times indeed, if you gotta dice it out with all the rest of the guys at work, to get that time off!

Good info on the sub 500 fps air pistols in AB. Cool!

Gotta tune up one of my Crosman 150's for this year, I guess. Supposed to do right around 450 fps, compact, and accurate! :)

Cheers
Trev
 
Air Pistol for hunting

If the pistol velocity is below 500 fps it is not a firearm, but the COs consider it a weapon for the purpose of hunting so you can not carry two weapons loaded one must be in a case. Having said this my favorite second gun is a .22 bolt with CCI CB long ammo - no noise and about 750 fps. Deadly on grouse etc
 
HW 45 is a keeper, in 22 cal.
I have many HW rifles, top of the line guns made in Germany go figure.:)
The 80 is an excellent rifle , I have the 77 , 30s, and 97k models.
Diana also make excellent guns, the 460 and 350 magnum hit real hard, and accuracy is super in both these German makers.
I would not think twice on small game hunting out to 50 meters with these guns. 30 meter for the 30s.
The HW 45 is your best choice for grouse at close range , ie 10-20 yds.
 
pellet pistol used to work well on grouse in BC in the old days you had to go for a head shot though if you shoot them in the body[breast] odds are that they,ll fly away and die elsewhere .you may want to try cast bullets out of your deer rifle it,s easy to carry a few and you should be able to work out a load that will pick their heads out to 30 yards or so without the need to change your sight for your hunting load.
ps it,s now illegal in BC to hunt anything with a handgun
 
I've got in touch with SRD for a written answer as nobody knows for sure if this is okay. I'll post the answer verbatim when I receive it.
 
My BSA Scorpian(177) gets close to 500 fps. Gophers @ 20 yds no problem.
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I have a .22 cal BSA Scorpion pistol myself.It's listed at 485fps,and with the heavier .22 cal pellets it works well on small game at closer ranges.
 
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