Please explain plinking laws?

tootall said:
The OP is in BC.
In BC, plinking is allowed in the bush, no requirement for a hunting license, or only during hunting season.
You do still need to be aware of No Shooting zones, and follow all federal gun regs, of course.

Generally speaking, fed regs say what you can own,
prov regs state what you can hunt (Fed for migratory game birds...),
and local regs for where you can shoot.
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Not trying to be an ass, but any idea where I would find this in the laws or regulations?
 
tootall said:
The OP is in BC.
In BC, plinking is allowed in the bush, no requirement for a hunting license, or only during hunting season.
You do still need to be aware of No Shooting zones, and follow all federal gun regs, of course.

Generally speaking, fed regs say what you can own,
prov regs state what you can hunt (Fed for migratory game birds...),
and local regs for where you can shoot.
Click to expand...

If it's the same in Ontario, I'll be in luck.

Time to research.
 
I found a .pdf of the City of Niagara Falls "Area Prohibiting Discharge of Firearms" and there is a nice section in the south of the city where it is allowed. Just gotta find a place that isn't private property.
 
Apocryphal said:
As far as I understand it, as long as you need to have a hunting license and need to make sure that you know what is in season or a conservation officer could bust you for poaching..
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How can you get charged for poaching if you are only shooting squirrels, paper, gourds etc. that doesn't make sense. Lots of people plink legally on crown land or RM gravel pit etc.
 
I posted this in another thread but since your in BC its relevent. This is a link to a tool used with google earth, you have to download google earth first and have it open, then open the front counter tool. So far its the only thing i can find that lays out crown and private land.

ht tp://www.frontcounterbc.ca/mapping/index.html
 
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norman said:
How can you get charged for poaching if you are only shooting squirrels, paper, gourds etc. that doesn't make sense. Lots of people plink legally on crown land or RM gravel pit etc.
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I was under the impression (not sure from where) that plinking on Crown land was not allowed so they assumed that if you were carrying a firearm, you were hunting. Hunting without a license is poaching... Maybe wouldn't be much of a problem if they caught you shooting targets but going to or from where you're shooting (or an officer on a bad day)...

Like I said, I don't know the actual laws, I've only been shooting at the range other than hunting.
 
Apocryphal said:
I was under the impression (not sure from where) that plinking on Crown land was not allowed so they assumed that if you were carrying a firearm, you were hunting. Hunting without a license is poaching... Maybe wouldn't be much of a problem if they caught you shooting targets but going to or from where you're shooting (or an officer on a bad day)...

Like I said, I don't know the actual laws, I've only been shooting at the range other than hunting.
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on crown land is the only place that your allowed to plink , unless your on private property with permission, out of city limits not breaking any bylaws and the property has to be at least 300 acres or something along those lines.

Thats why I use that google earth layer to tell me where the crown land is so that I know its good to shoot on ( granted it meets all the other requirments).
 
To the OP. Just make sure you are outside of Courtenay town limits which may extend farther than you think. You should be able to view a map at city hall. Get a copy of the BC Hunting synopsis and look at region 1. There are maps that show no hunting and no shooting areas. After that, pretty well pick any logging road heading inland that is not gated off and not a active logging area. Be sure of your backstop. Have fun.
 
There are no plinking laws. Only firearms discharging and local hunting regs.
"...someplaces do still have Not On Sunday laws..." Those usually apply to hunting on Sunday, but not target shooting(got out of being charged with it, long ago, just by having targets in my truck). At one time, Ontario's anti-Sunday hunting law said 'within earshot of a church'. As daft as that sounds.
 
kolkim said:
Hey so if I wanted to plink, the only part of the law I understand is that I am allowed to do it on private land with permission. I don't know anyone with land like that so where could you plink legally?

Campgrounds far from the road?
Random forests?
Does it have to be certain amount of KMs away from a town.

Where do you most often go.
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Go find a gravel pit out in the bush and have at it.
If it is posted "No Trespassing'' then stay out.
If it says "No Shooting" then stay out.
If you can see someones cabin then you likely should not be shooting there and failing all of the above information pick up a copy of hunting regs. and do some reading on local areas .
Or you can ask at your local gun shop where you might be able to go and do some shooting.
Plinking is just another word for informal shooting of static targets.
One last item, clean up the mess when you are done too.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
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