Taking a non-licensed "friend" with a rifle?

Well my opinion has not changed. If your companion is truely an observer - not flushing, tracking, stalking yada yada yada - but simpley following you along there is no problem as I read any of the regulations quoted here.

Sometimes trying to decipher legalese we loose track of common sence I think. It would be a very good idea however to discuss these rules with the non licenced friend, so that if the question was asked by a CO the answer given would be that the friend is simply an observer and not helping or participating in any way.:)
 
Guys - for heavens sake... when in doubt go to the regs.

You do NOT need a gun license to hunt with a gun. You would just need to be supervised by a licensed individual. You guys should have ALL got that one right.

In bc, you CANNOT carry a firearm out 'hunting' even if you don't intend to shoot an animal. You can certanly carry a gun if you're not hunting - but obviously she would be hunting as it's defined in bc.


Good news is - rumour mill says the law is changing and hopefully those changes will be here next year. New permits will come out that will allow people who have NOT passed the core to hunt under the direction of those who have. This is specifically to cover cases like your wife - or to expose newbies to it before they spend the time and money on taking the core to see if they like it.

The bc gov't is aware that the absolute requirement for a core is a hinderence to getting new people exposed to and into the sport - and they're looking at how to make it easier to take a guy or gal out and let them see what it's like before they commit to doing the core.
 
If your companion is truely an observer - not flushing, tracking, stalking yada yada yada - but simpley following you along there is no problem as I read any of the regulations quoted here.
Click to expand...

Yes - IF you are not carrying a gun.
 
Foxer said:
Good news is - rumour mill says the law is changing and hopefully those changes will be here next year. New permits will come out that will allow people who have NOT passed the core to hunt under the direction of those who have. This is specifically to cover cases like your wife - or to expose newbies to it before they spend the time and money on taking the core to see if they like it.

The bc gov't is aware that the absolute requirement for a core is a hinderence to getting new people exposed to and into the sport - and they're looking at how to make it easier to take a guy or gal out and let them see what it's like before they commit to doing the core.
Click to expand...

Hmmm Can they talk to our fools here in Ontario. We have an apprenticeship program but you still need a gun license to shoot.
Would be nice if kids under 16 did not need to worry about that.
 
Hmmm Can they talk to our fools here in Ontario. We have an apprenticeship program but you still need a gun license to shoot.
Would be nice if kids under 16 did not need to worry about that.
Click to expand...

That would be a long discussion i'm afraid. :)

We do have a minors license here that allows the very young to hunt without the core (can't remember to what age) but the new 'accompanied' or 'mentor' license will apperently cover all ages. Minors will also be given their own bag limit.

And here you CAN carry a gun if you're not hunting - it's not automatically assumed that you ARE hunting. But the co's can generally tell the difference.

But - you absolutely need to have a hunting license to hunt here. And if you're in the woods acting like a hunter and you have a gun, you can bet you'll get in trouble pretty quick.
 
Just re-reading my post i realize it may not be clear ..

You don't need a gun license to hunt if you're supervised.

You DO need a hunting license, and if you're 'hunting' and you're carrying a gun, you're in real trouble without it.
 
She can come along, but she cannot carry a gun. Same as if you're hunting buddy tags out before you. He doesn't have to go back to camp, but his rifle must be unloaded and cased.

In Saskatchewan you can shoot coyotes while hunting (if you have a tag, you must have blaze orange, white or red duds). Once you have tagged out, you must loose the orange garb (or white or red garb) before you can pull your rifles out of the case to hunt coyotes.

This is according to the CO's in the Yorkton area two years ago.
 
Thanks for clearing that up for me guys. I knew that she could have possession of a rifle under my supervision without a firearms license, but it is clearly against the hunting regs to do it while I'm hunting.

Somehow I don't think it will be too upsetting for her that I have to carry most of the weight. ;)
 
Somehow I don't think it will be too upsetting for her that I have to carry most of the weight.
Click to expand...

I'm sure she'll get over it. You know, with councelling and all. :D

Keep an eye on the regs next year - like i said changes are expected.
 
Same as if you're hunting buddy tags out before you. He doesn't have to go back to camp, but his rifle must be unloaded and cased.

In Saskatchewan you can shoot coyotes while hunting (if you have a tag, you must have blaze orange, white or red duds). Once you have tagged out, you must loose the orange garb (or white or red garb) before you can pull your rifles out of the case to hunt coyotes.

This is according to the CO's in the Yorkton area two years ago.
Click to expand...

Well that is certainly different than the position taken by other COs just north and west of Yorton where I hunt.We have been checked many times when bringing home deer.The rifles were unloaded but none were in cases although one or both of us were tagged out.As far as coyotes are concerned we always wear white outerclothes and a red or orange cap and the COs have no problem with it.This is understandable,as I can find no law that states that you can't wear white , orange,or red while hunting coyotes.
 
2fat2fly said:
She can come along, but she cannot carry a gun. Same as if you're hunting buddy tags out before you. He doesn't have to go back to camp, but his rifle must be unloaded and cased.

In Saskatchewan you can shoot coyotes while hunting (if you have a tag, you must have blaze orange, white or red duds). Once you have tagged out, you must loose the orange garb (or white or red garb) before you can pull your rifles out of the case to hunt coyotes.

This is according to the CO's in the Yorkton area two years ago.
Click to expand...


Yorkton Cos are wrong :confused: -

Only thing that prevents coyote hunting is Sundays during the big game season. There are no dress codes for hunting coyote or fox regardless of season.

The synopsis quotes it is illegal to :

"hunt wildlife on Sunday during an open game season. Exception Saskatchewan residents may hunt coyotes and fox on Sunday except during season for big game"

This is the reg that pertains to transporting firearms :

"carry or transport a firearm through a wildlife refuge, WMU , regional park, protected area or recreation area unless the firearm is encased and in the vehicle"
There is no law that states you need the rifle encased while driving during the big game season in Sask

Regs can be checked on page 6 of the 2006 Hunting and Trapping Guide

Cheers!!
 
stubblejumper said:
Well that is certainly different than the position taken by other COs just north and west of Yorton where I hunt.We have been checked many times when bringing home deer.The rifles were unloaded but none were in cases although one or both of us were tagged out.As far as coyotes are concerned we always wear white outerclothes and a red or orange cap and the COs have no problem with it.This is understandable,as I can find no law that states that you can't wear white , orange,or red while hunting coyotes.
Click to expand...

Well, there ya go. Apparently the CO's aren't very consistent. We were told expressly that once we were done hunting deer, the colors had to come off before going after yotes.
 
There is no law that states you need the rifle encased while driving during the big game season in Sask
Click to expand...

I guess it's just habit to put the rifle away when the photo's are done, and the gutting starts.
 
Sharkson said:
Sorry to disagree. The definition of hunting is very loose in Ontario. The observer would be considered to be hunting. Having said that, the CO may very well not care, i.e. Dad takes his 8 year along to observe his duck hunting. The 8 year old is clearly too small to shoot.
Click to expand...

I just wanted to put to rest this issue as far as Ontario goes. I spoke with a gentleman who is a retired CO and is currently a hunter/firearms safety instructor and regulations enforcement officer and posed the question; "I am wondering if it is legal to take an unlicensed person out hunting as an “observer". It was my understanding that it was acceptable to do this as long as the “observer” does not participate in the hunt in any way, shape, or form. An "observer" could not flush/pursue game, call, shoot or carry firearms, ect, but could legally observe/watch, learn, or film. Can you shed any light on this subject for me?

His responce was that this was; not a probelm and perfectly legal in Ontario.
 
rideauwrangler said:
I just wanted to put to rest this issue as far as Ontario goes. I spoke with a gentleman who is a retired CO and is currently a hunter/firearms safety instructor and regulations enforcement officer and posed the question; "I am wondering if it is legal to take an unlicensed person out hunting as an “observer". It was my understanding that it was acceptable to do this as long as the “observer” does not participate in the hunt in any way, shape, or form. An "observer" could not flush/pursue game, call, shoot or carry firearms, ect, but could legally observe/watch, learn, or film. Can you shed any light on this subject for me?

His responce was that this was; not a probelm and perfectly legal in Ontario.
Click to expand...

What you have to consider is that some CO in Ontario are anti-hunting. Taking someone with you leaves it open to the interpetation of the CO that you run into. And unfortunately, it is up to you to prove your innocence. So take someone with you and hope that you run into someone like the gentleman that you spoke of. But if you run into one of these "nutjob" CO's have your lawyers phone number handy.
 
What you have to consider is that some CO in Ontario are anti-hunting. Taking someone with you leaves it open to the interpetation of the CO that you run into. And unfortunately, it is up to you to prove your innocence. So take someone with you and hope that you run into someone like the gentleman that you spoke of. But if you run into one of these "nutjob" CO's have your lawyers phone number handy.
Click to expand...

What you can do to increase your protection in a case like that is call the co's office in your area, and ask the co if he'd mind confirming an email that this is 'ok'. Discuss with him what you're going to do and your understanding of the rules as you've just posted them to us, and then ask for his email - send him an email saying 'as i understand it the following is accurate, is this the case?..." and ask him to reply. Print it out and take it with you.
 
That makes no sense. So if I go out bird-watching in the summer, are they going to charge me with harassing wildlife? What if I'm lying in wait with a camera in my goose decoys in August, trying to get some great photos?

If she's carrying a rifle, that would be big circumstantial evidence that she's hunting. If all she has is a camera to record YOU hunting, I don't think they've a leg to stand on. Now, she better not do any coyote calling herself, right?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom