? for Beretta Extrema II owners

No, that is wrong. There are numerous hunting seasons (waterfowl included) where floating a fourth is completely legal.

Care to explain to us how you figure it's legal? It says right in the Migratory Bird Treaty that a shotgun must not be loaded with more than 3 shells.
 
Quote from Hudsey
"If you are hunting in Ontario you should know the hunting regulations are the same for all species. 2 shells in the magazine and one in the chamber, for deer and turkey not just waterfowl."

Thanks for the info Hudsey, the reason I thought that for turkey was because I bought an old used 870 wingmaster and it holds 3 in the mag + 1 in the chamber of 2 3/4" shells. Didn't know that it was illegal, were the old versions not limited possibly? Because I was told it was factory and never modified.
 
Thanks for the info Hudsey, the reason I thought that for turkey was because I bought an old used 870 wingmaster and it holds 3 in the mag + 1 in the chamber of 2 3/4" shells. Didn't know that it was illegal, were the old versions not limited possibly? Because I was told it was factory and never modified.

No, your shotgun isn't legal for hunting turkeys, or anything else in Ontario, and if you get caught hunting migratory birds with an unplugged gun it's a serious offense.

As far as plugged guns, that a 4th shell can be 'floated' in-- Don't get caught. If a CO checked you out and found 4 shells in your gun, you're getting nailed.

As far as your 870, it's very easy to get a plug and install it. Just remove the barrel and unscrew the cap in the end of the mag tube. Take out the mag spring and follower, stick the plug in, and put back together.

To my knowledge, all shotguns sold in the past 40 years or so have had plugs installed at the factory. They are usually a plastic things that looks, well, like a plug, or sometimes a wooden dowel.

I've never seen the point of taking a plug out. If you practice, you can load shells straight into the ejection port of an auto or a pump, 'on the fly' faster than you can load them into the mag, and save yourself a raw, sore thumb :)
 
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Thanks, I will have to get a plug installed in the wingmaster then but it probably won't be used anymore now that I have the extrema.
 
To my knowledge, all shotguns sold in the past 40 years or so have had plugs installed at the factory. They are usually a plastic things that looks, well, like a plug, or sometimes a wooden dowel.

I've never seen the point of taking a plug out. If you practice, you can load shells straight into the ejection port of an auto or a pump, 'on the fly' faster than you can load them into the mag, and save yourself a raw, sore thumb :)
Many shotguns are sold without plugs including all o/u, sxs and single shots. ;)

Even among repeaters there are some that are sold without plugs, tactical shotguns for example.

My farm gun doesn't have a plug. When used it's for predator control and the 2+1 rule doesn't apply.
 
...Floating the 4th involves 'floating' a 4th shell in the loading port. It can be done with some Benelli, Beretta and Winchester shotguns, and it's illegal.
No, your shotgun isn't legal for hunting turkeys, or anything else in Ontario, and if you get caught hunting migratory birds with an unplugged gun it's a serious offense.

As far as plugged guns, that a 4th shell can be 'floated' in-- Don't get caught. If a CO checked you out and found 4 shells in your gun, you're getting nailed...
Care to explain to us how you figure it's legal? It says right in the Migratory Bird Treaty that a shotgun must not be loaded with more than 3 shells.
I'm not sure where your confusion comes from but I will repeat myself one last time, there are many hunting seasons where floating the 4th is perfectly legal. For example those participating in the spring conservation season in places like MO, NE, SD it is perfectly legal to float the fourth, remove the plug or even add and mag extension. And while it is illegal to kill ross geese during the spring season in Canada it is perfectly legal to kill ross geese in the afore mentioned states. Other examples include predator hunter as mentioned by Claybuster or big game hunting. So for the sake of clarity I will again repeat for a third time, it's up to the individual hunter to know the regulations of the hunting season they are participating in and to be in compliance with those regulations.
 
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Many shotguns are sold without plugs including all o/u, sxs and single shots. ;)

Even among repeaters there are some that are sold without plugs, tactical shotguns for example.

My farm gun doesn't have a plug. When used it's for predator control and the 2+1 rule doesn't apply.

Is there a different rule for predator hunting in Ontario? Because I looked under the regulations and it doesn't say anything different about shotguns holding 4 shells for predators. I also looked it up where people can write into the MNR and ask questions. Here is one of the questions along with an answer from the MNR:

"Do I need to plug my 12 gauge shotgun, so it can only hold 2 shells in the magazine, when I'm hunting deer or grouse?

Answer:
Yes, the regulation which restricts the number of shells in a shotgun to three (one in chamber, two in the magazine) apply to all hunting, regardless of species."
 
Is there a different rule for predator hunting in Ontario?
It's the distinction between predator "hunting" and predator "control" as defined under Section 31 of the Fish and Game Conservation Act entitled Protection of property. If it falls into the definitions listed below it's not considered "hunting."

Protection of property

31. (1) If a person believes on reasonable grounds that wildlife is damaging or is about to damage the person’s property, the person may, on the person’s land,

(a) harass the wildlife for the purpose of deterring it from damaging the person’s property; or

(b) capture or kill the wildlife.

Agents

(2) The person may use an agent to harass, capture or kill the wildlife under subsection (1) if the agent has the authorization of the Minister or belongs to a class of agents prescribed by the regulations.

Exceptions

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to,

(a) a moose, caribou or elk;

(b) a white-tailed deer, unless the person harasses or kills the deer in accordance with the authorization of the Minister; or

(c) other wildlife prescribed by the regulations, unless the person harasses, captures or kills the wildlife in accordance with the authorization of the Minister.

Scope of authority

(4) A person who harasses, captures or kills wildlife under this section shall not harass, capture or kill more wildlife than is necessary to protect the property.

Unnecessary suffering

(5) A person who harasses, captures or kills wildlife under this section shall not cause it unnecessary suffering.

Certain provisions do not apply

(6) Sections 5 and 6, clauses 11 (1) (a) to (d), section 27 and such other provisions of this Act and the regulations as are prescribed by the regulations do not apply to a person who harasses, captures or kills wildlife under this section.

Night hunting

(7) Section 20 does not apply to a person who, under this section, harasses, captures or kills wildlife, other than white-tailed deer or wildlife prescribed for the purpose of clause (3) (c).

Capture and release

(8) Subsection 40 (1) and section 46 do not apply to a person who captures wildlife under this section and releases it in accordance with the regulations or in accordance with an authorization of the Minister.

Trapping bears

(9) Section 21 does not apply to an agent acting under subsection (2) who traps a black bear if the agent has the authorization of the Minister to trap black bears.

Disposal

(10) A white-tailed deer or other wildlife prescribed by the regulations that is captured or killed under this section shall be disposed of in accordance with the directions of the Minister. 1997, c. 41, s. 31.
 
I think you can take the plug out of your gun if you are in the Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe too.....but we are in Canada
For all you shotgun newbs, just leave the plug in there, if you don't have one then get one, and don't "float" the fourth in your 3.5...not worth the risk and its not needed.
 
After reading the actual regulations for BC and Saskatchewan they both say that the shotgun magazine must be limited to hold only two shells.
Technically, the floating fourth shell isn't in the magazine and would be perfectly legal according to the regs.

I'm sure they will change these one day and say the gun will only be allowed to hold 3, but righ now it only talks about the mag being limited to two. (in BC you can have the plug out only for big game hunting using slugs)
 
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