Hunter orange

Doogs

Doogs

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If I am out target shooting on crown land (not hunting) Do I have to wear hunter orange? Can I shoot a .308 during moose or deer season? The only regulations I can find only mention "hunters"
 
My understanding, right or wrong, is that if you are in the bush with a gun during open season, you are hunting.

You can't carry ammo that will take down big game without a big game tag. ie. if you are hunting grouse, you can't have slugs/buckshot in your pocket unless you also have a tag for big game.

If you are found on crown land with guns that are capable of taking game, without wearing hunter orange and without game seals, you could be mistaken for a poacher.

That said, if you were parked in a gravel pit or known "shootin' spot" simply blastin at targets, you may be able to convince a CO otherwise.

FWIW, I was up hunting moose and grouse for a week and anyone we passed on the bush trails had orange on, if they were walking the dog, quading or hunting. I certainly wouldn't want to be mistaken for a bear in the woods.

Can't find this written anywhere in the regs though.
 
Saty out of the bush if you dont hunt... Some people put in alot of time to set up and the last thing they want to hear is random gun shots ... And yes wear orange unless you want to get shot...
 
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_97f41_e.htm#BK111


Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act said:
Proof of hunting or trapping
109. In a prosecution under this Act in respect of hunting or trapping,
(a) proof that a person possessed, in an area usually inhabited by wildlife, a firearm, trap, decoy or other hunting or trapping device, a ferret or a specially protected raptor or other bird of prey, is proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that the person was hunting or trapping, as the case may be; and
(b) proof that a person shot at or stalked a decoy or other device placed by a conservation officer to suggest the presence of wildlife is proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that the person was hunting. 1997, c. 41, s. 109.
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I think it would be common courtesy if you're not hunting and want to go shoot then do it at a range and not where folks will be hunting. If you must then wear blaze. Anyone going into the bush during hunting season should wear blaze.
 
I went by ATV to a pit near my house today on crown land; we unfortunately have one of those townships that still do not allow Sunday hunting. I checked the scope on my sons 308 and the last thing I was worried about was the MNR and I did not bring hunter orange. You are good to target shoot anywhere on crown land any time of year. I am sure if you get stopped by the MNR and have a bunch of shot up targets or are shooting targets you will have nothing to worry about. Poachers don’t want to make too much noise to attract attention. Also keep a good eye out when you are hunting. I had a lady pop out of nowhere this year hunting partridge and I was about mile from any road, I thought it might be a deer coming. She asked if I could see hear as she was wearing clothing that blended in pretty good and I said I could see her for a while, I was wearing my blaze orange even though I was not required to. I just left but I was thinking afterwards maybe I should have asked if she was lost.
 
Another reason why I stick to private property to hunt. Reduced worries about people coming out and ruining the hunt. Although there are some trepassers on one farm I hunt, I stick to an area where people would not be to avoid any confrontation or chance of losing permission to hunt the farm.
 
I hunted my whole life almost with out having to wear orange or red. I found that the only times I did get shot at was when I did have orange on.I am having trouble since I moved east to even remember I have to wear it here. Lucky I had bought some to hunt on the army base in Alberta years ago.
 
oldbill said:
My understanding, right or wrong, is that if you are in the bush with a gun during open season, you are hunting.
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not 100% true. The wording in the wildlife act says,

"proof that a person possessed, in an area usually inhabited by wildlife, a firearm, trap, decoy or other hunting or trapping device, a ferret or a specially protected raptor or other bird of prey, is proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that the person was hunting or trapping, as the case may be; and"

you just need to make damn sure you have evidence to the contrary of hunting.
 
I'm not going out to try to be a douche to hunters. I want to go to a gravel pit on crown land that is a known plinking area. If I have pumpkins and Canada Ammo paper targets, I should be in the green?
 
Doogs said:
I'm not going out to try to be a douche to hunters. I want to go to a gravel pit on crown land that is a known plinking area. If I have pumpkins and Canada Ammo paper targets, I should be in the green?
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I believe you would be fine legally, people around here are blasting targets all the time this time of year, myself included. I have never been stopped or questioned, if you have targets in your posession especially shot up ones how could any C.O. really think or prove you were doing something else? If you are shooting in a place that is known for target shooting I doubt they would even investigate.
 
You have to have proof you are target practicing. Something like targets would be useful, I would also keep the guns cased except when in the pit. If the gun is uncased in your vehicle I suspect you would get to explain it in court.

If you're not hunting you don't need hunter orange.
 
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