Would it be against the law if you were to carry a short shotgun in a backpack on Crown Land or private property?
Thanks...
Well:
depends on whether or not the firearm is Non Restricted, Restricted or Prohibited.
it depends on what you were doing while on crown land or private property.
It would depend on the permitted uses of the crown land, or whether or not you had the land owners permission while on the private property.
There certainly are circumstances when carrying a shotgun in a backpack while on crown land or private property could be legal.
There are a grocery list of reasons why it might not be legal. You have not given enough information for anyone to give a decisive answer.
In addition to provincial laws which regulate hunting, and what firearms can be possessed and where under the pretense of regulating hunting, there are federal laws for possession, which include places where firearms can be possessed and under what circumstances.
Further there are regulations for the transportation, storage and carriage of firearms.
Lastly there are some very open ended criminal code sections that can be levied against you based on the officers discretion, such as S 86 (1) Careless Use, 88(1) possession for a dangerous purpose ("dangerous purpose" is interpreted broadly and can be anything the Police deem to be inappropriate) and S 90 Carrying concealed (yes, a back pack, even one that met the requirements of the transportation regulations, has resulted in people being convicted of carrying concealed), to name a few.
It should go without saying, but I will say it anyways, that there are pretty much no circumstances under which a shotgun in a back pack can be kept loaded. As silly as it might sound, strapped to the outside of the back pack, or slung on your body, will usually be more legal than in a back pack.
Concealed carry?
You sound like your from a eastern province...lol
Not at all. Would you call a shotgun under the seat of a side by side or truck concealed carry or in a duffle bag. Or how about when you're hunting Caribou or sheep in your pack?? Of course not.. too much eastern city thinking here...
Could you not put a lable on the backpack stating the contents? Then you aren't concealing anything.
Carrying a non restricted firearm during daylight hrs in anything is legal....case/pack/suitcase/duffle etc. No issue there with federal firearms .
As pointed out there are Federal firearms laws and then there are game/hunting regs and then there are bylaws.
Each are different, vary in penalty and severity with federal firearms law being felony criminal sentences when convicted.
You didn't mention the issue of the condition of carry...loaded or not??
Speaks to its state of readiness and intent.
This area will get weird depending on the Cop/CO and locale/activity/season etc.
Carrying a non restricted firearm during daylight hrs in anything is legal....case/pack/suitcase/duffle etc. No issue there with federal firearms law.
You may get into the technicality of "hunting" regardless if it is cased/packed etc as well as whether loaded/unloaded if/when confronted by a conservation officer if they discover the firearm for whatever reason. This will vary wildly based on the CO, the time of year/locale/activity etc.
The locale and activity will play a far greater issue.
Doing so in the true wilderness vs closer to cities and urban areas for example. Obviously in urban areas or provincial parks etc it will get very weird fast.
Activity will also mitigate....Doing so while working vs recreating.....acting like an ass or malicious behaviour and outright criminal activity....vs respectful, safe, non malicious activity.
Your activity alone will likely determine if the weapon is even detected or discovered at all. There is no reason to be questioned much less searched if your activity is isn't suspicious...in fact there is no legal grounds to do either if you are not.
You did not specify the purpose(s) of having the shotgun?
Hunting/plinking/defense/transport/storage ???
Again....an empty non restricted shotgun can be "cased" and carried in anything...pack/duffle/case/etc...how you carry that case is irrelevant.
Your intent/actions will be the determining factor(s) if/when you encounter the law.
Except for the BC case that Shawn already mentioned that ruled carrying a firearm in an unmarked non gun case could result in a conviction of carrying concealed.