.223/5.56mm for Deer Hunting Provinces and Territories

[horseman2]

The restriction in BC applies to an energy requirement for bison.
Years ago, maybe 30, a hunter class turkey shoot required 243 or larger so IIRC there was a restriction then.
There was so much crying and snivelling they created a class and anyone could shoot in it. My 70 grain load with 36 grains of 3031 in a 6mm Rem still won.

 

[gks]

243 is the minimum in Ont.

 

[Grouse Man]

Remember that you can change the calibre of the AR-15 by changing the upper. Larger calibres are easily available making it very suitable for hunting.

 

[tiriaq]

Its legal in Ontario. Our regulations say that where there is an open rifle season for deer any centrefire may be used. No size restriction.

I thought the Ont. regs state not lower than. 243 cal??? But it's been awhile since I have read that portion. I'm always hunting in shotgun only or bow these days.

As far as I know regs only state, Centre Fire - Yes, Rimfire _ No Some areas state not larger than 270 cal for small game though..... Always has been tough to understand some of the regs though.

This is correct. .223 is perfectly legal in Ontario for deer in every respect in every area that has a rifle season for them.

243 is the minimum in Ont.

When all else fails, check the regulations.

 

[AP]

243 is the minimum in Ont.

Could you provide your reference for that please? Page number of the current Ontario Provincial Hunting Regulations would be helpful. I cannot find such a restriction and carried a .223/5.56 (Rem 7615) last season.

 

[dutchhunter]

243 is the minimum in Ont.

Not true.any center fire rifle is legal for deer in ontario

 

[ratherbefishin]

Our coastal Blacktails aren't big deer and I would feel perfectly comfortable using a well placed 223.I choose to use a 65x55 swede,mainly because we have a lot of Black bears here,and I like a good bear .

 

[Mosin42]

Thanks to everyone who has responded so far. I'm still waiting to read something from Newfoundland, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. So far I have...

NS = No ON = Yes
AB = No BC = Yes
QC = No NB = Yes
SK = No MB = Yes
YK = No

 

[razorbeck]

MB is a yes on any centre fire but recommended larger than 24 calibre, seems dumb to me that I can hunt deer with my 17 hornet

 

[MIRAMICHIER]

.223 is legal in NB to hunt Deer.The oddest rule in NB is after Deer season I can not use my.280 I have to put away for another year.Go Figure.

 

[tiriaq]

NU - no deer - but .223 OK for caribou.

 

[xdmer]

I know this makes no sense, and I think there is going to be some lobbying against this and other backwards regulation in N.B.

.223 is legal in NB to hunt Deer.The oddest rule in NB is after Deer season I can not use my.280 I have to put away for another year.Go Figure.

 

[blasted_saber]

243 is the minimum in Ont.

This is absolutely wrong.

Any centrefire may be used where there is an open rifle season for deer.

 

[heliace]

243 is the minimum in Ont.

Time to re-read the regs.

 

[AP]

MB is a yes on any centre fire but recommended larger than 24 calibre, seems dumb to me that I can hunt deer with my 17 hornet

No such caveats in Ontario....but I could live with a 6mm or larger (.243W is a terrific deer cartridge) BUT I would be curious about the percentage of WT deer injured and lost to a 300 Weatherby fired by a new hunter vs a .223 Rem fired by an experienced and patient hunter. If you own and load for a 17 hornet - you probably dont need to be told what is an effective rifle calibre for your use and skill - I suspect that the current Ontario regs (and MB) reflect common sense and that sort of potential.

 

[cdn1canhunt]

Just checked...( I was sure in years past .243 was min.) BUT. The Ontario regs have no mention of centerfire caliber restriction to hunt deer Ref page24 of the booklet ...yet they do mention 20 ga as min for shotgun. Maybe I'll drag out a 204, see how it performs lmao!

 

[fraserdw]

Strange, how they have arbitrary and illogical rules. Kinetic energy should be the determent.

 

[dan belisle]

Small deer, small cartridges, I guess. - dan

 

[pastway]

Strange, how they have arbitrary and illogical rules. Kinetic energy should be the determent.

Please don't advocate this in NB. It is as silly as the rules we have now. Kinetic energy changes with distance. So are you going to use muzzle energy or energy at 500 yds.? I think you can see where this would go.

The other day I loaded some round balls in the 30-30, 44 grs, with a muzzle velocity of 1300 fps, for energy of 168. According to our regulations, they are legal for hunting all big game in NB, because the regs are stupidly based on caliber only. Common sense would tell me its not a good choice.

Common sense should be the rule, not caliber or energy. Otherwise, where would it ever end? Are we going to make rules about whether the deer should be standing broadside, or there should be no bushes between you and the game, or whether the crosswind should be below a certain speed if shooting over 200 yds, or open sights are limited to 100 yds and beyond that you must use a scope? How about age limits, you know, old people like myself that are getting a little less steady can only shoot game if less than 75 yds.? We allow people to use common sense in most ways now when hunting. It should be the rule in calibers too, Just my opinion

 

[xdmer]

There is a crap load more to terminal performance than energy, e.g. there is a reason FMJ is not legal to hunt with.

Strange, how they have arbitrary and illogical rules. Kinetic energy should be the determent.