.308 for coyotes in ontario?

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SteveM

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Is it legal to hunt coyotes in Ontario with a .308? I live/hunt in WMU 80. I looked in the regulation book but couldnt find anything about caliber size restrictions.
 
SteveM said:
Is it legal to hunt coyotes in Ontario with a .308? I live/hunt in WMU 80. I looked in the regulation book but couldnt find anything about caliber size restrictions.
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I know what you mean. If you go by what the regulation book says you can only hunt coyotes and wolves with a rimfire. But that can't be right.
 
Underthegun said:
I know what you mean. If you go by what the regulation book says you can only hunt coyotes and wolves with a rimfire. But that can't be right.
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That's only for hunting them during big game season (Deer, Moose, Elk or Bear) if you are not the holder of a big game tag (It's actually using a rifle with a muzzle energy greater than 400 ft/lbs, but that basically eliminates all centre fire rifles).

The actual text is on P.79 of the 2011 Hunting Regulations Summary.
 
Check again wmu 80 has a restriction on caliber and 308 is to large for 80,other areas are different!!!
 
SteveM said:
Alot of the old timers I shoot with say you can only hunt them with a .270 or smaller.......
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That depends on the local discharge by-laws within your respective WMU, as well as any applicable ministry regulations. It may be legal to hunt them with any calibre in your WMU if not for local discharge by-laws that limit the calibre you may use.
 
CROWCA said:
Check again wmu 80 has a restriction on caliber and 308 is to large for 80,other areas are different!!!
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Yep, WMU 80 is covered by the geographic areas of Wellington and Waterloo, so no carrying or using a rifle of calibre greater than .275 for small game. It's covered on the page in the Regulations Summary I quoted above.
 
SteveM said:
Is it legal to hunt coyotes in Ontario with a .308? I live/hunt in WMU 80. I looked in the regulation book but couldnt find anything about caliber size restrictions.
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It has nothing to do with the game. Anything South of... what is it...I think its The French River... (not 100% sure), but you cant discharge a firearm bigger that .270. Other than at a gunrange of course.
 
Ar180shooter said:
Yep, WMU 80 is covered by the geographic areas of Wellington and Waterloo, so no carrying or using a rifle of calibre greater than .275 for small game. It's covered on the page in the Regulations Summary I quoted above.
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Correct me if I'm wrong but the term "small game" is redundant. Wether it's small or large game, I don't think you can DISCHARGE any caliber larger than .275 other than at an approved gun range.
 
You must have a caliber less than .275 south of #7 hwy. in ontario!
A person hunting small game may not carry or use a
rifle of greater calibre than a .275-calibre rifle, except a
muzzle-loading gun, in the geograhic areas of of Brant,
Chatham-Kent, Durham, Elgin, Essex, Haldimand, Halton,
Hamilton, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Niagara, Norfolk,
Northumberland, Oxford, Peel, Perth, Toronto, Waterloo,wellington and york.
 
You can not HUNT for small game and nuisance animals (coytoe, etc..) in Southern Ontario with any caliber larger than .275

You can not hunt Coyote or small game with anythign larger than a .22 if the "big game" season is open in your area unless you have a license for that game and the caliber you are using is allowed. (don't take you 308 out to kill coyote when the shotgun only season is on for deer.)

You may discharge any caliber for target shooting, at any location. ie: perfectly legit to take a 50 BMG to the back 40 on the farm and punch paper, but you can't hunt anything with it.

Local municipal By-Laws may override some of that and reduce calibers allowed for shooting in some locations.

That is how I understand the regulations here in Ontario.
 
IMagius said:
You can not HUNT for small game and nuisance animals (coytoe, etc..) in Southern Ontario with any caliber larger than .275

You can not hunt Coyote or small game with anythign larger than a .22 if the "big game" season is open in your area unless you have a license for that game and the caliber you are using is allowed. (don't take you 308 out to kill coyote when the shotgun only season is on for deer.)

You may discharge any caliber for target shooting, at any location. ie: perfectly legit to take a 50 BMG to the back 40 on the farm and punch paper, but you can't hunt anything with it.

Local municipal By-Laws may override some of that and reduce calibers allowed for shooting in some locations.

That is how I understand the regulations here in Ontario.
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Good post. thanks
 
Stupid law IMO. A 357 magnum isn't allowed but a 243 is? Stupid broad stoke laws.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want to be the guy responsible for writing caliber laws in southern Ontario. ;)
 
IMagius said:
You can not HUNT for small game and nuisance animals (coytoe, etc..) in Southern Ontario with any caliber larger than .275

You can not hunt Coyote or small game with anythign larger than a .22 if the "big game" season is open in your area unless you have a license for that game and the caliber you are using is allowed. (don't take you 308 out to kill coyote when the shotgun only season is on for deer.)

You may discharge any caliber for target shooting, at any location. ie: perfectly legit to take a 50 BMG to the back 40 on the farm and punch paper, but you can't hunt anything with it.

Local municipal By-Laws may override some of that and reduce calibers allowed for shooting in some locations.

That is how I understand the regulations here in Ontario.
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correct except, what is considered southern Ontario? south of barrie? south of 9? south of 7?

I go by the municipality list in the regs, if its not there, and a google search of the township bylaw doesnt say anything, you are good to go.

My 30-06 hasnt taken anything yet, so coyote will be its first.... and i hunt in simcoe county wmu 76, 77
 
From the latest Ontario Huntign Regualtions booklet (2011/2012)

Page 4:
Due to a recent regulatory change that updates language to be
consistent with industry terminology, a person hunting small
game, when hunting during an open season for a species of big
game, shall not possess or use a rifle of greater muzzle energy
than 400 foot-pounds or shells loaded with ball or shot larger
than No. 2 shot. This is equivalent to a .22 calibre rimfire rifle
chambered to .22 short, .22 long or .22 long rifle cartridges.
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Same booklet, Page 79:
If you are hunting small game in an area where there is an open
season for deer, moose, elk, or black bear, you may not possess
or use a rifle of greater muzzle energy than 400 foot-pounds or
shells loaded with ball or with shot larger than No. 2 shot (or
if using non-toxic shot, you may not use steel shot larger than
triple BBB steel shot, or bismuth shot that is larger than double
BB bismuth shot), unless you possess a valid licence to hunt
deer, moose, elk or black bear as the case may be.

A person hunting small game may not carry or use a
rifle of greater calibre than a .275-calibre rifle, except a
muzzle-loading gun, in the geograhic areas of of Brant,
Chatham-Kent, Durham, Elgin, Essex, Haldimand, Halton,
Hamilton, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Niagara, Norfolk,
Northumberland, Oxford, Peel, Perth, Toronto, Waterloo,
Wellington or York.
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Under the specific pages for Wolf/Coyote, page 83 in the Small Game section, the reader is told to refer to Page 79 in reference to Firearms allowed.

So ... if you live in a bolded area, no 308's for coyote ... and I guess that rules out using the 35 Whelen for me as well :(

Talked to a buddy of mine, and he told me the "south of the French/Mattawa" part ofthe caliber restrictions was removed a few years ago and replaced with the County/Region specifc list, so if you live outside of those lited areas, you can shoot coyote/groundhog with whatever you want. (I stand corrected on my previous statement)

Also, found an interesting note in the regualtions as well. Handgun hunting is NOT banned in Ontario. I did not know that. The regs clearly state on page 21:
Firearms include rifles, shotguns, air or pellet guns, bows and
crossbows. You may use semi-automatic or repeating firearms for
hunting in Ontario, but not handguns that are restricted or prohibited
firearms or fully automatic firearms. Air and pellet pistols
with a muzzle velocity less than 152 metres (500 feet) per second
may be used for hunting in Ontario (see restrictions on page 22).
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I would read that as saying a non-restricted handgun may be used - which means an antique handgun is a viable option :D I could have fun chasing bunnies with one of them!
 
25 years ago when i did my Hunter Safety course, the regs were not quite this complicated ... have to re-learn them each year or two :( and as I don't use anything bigger than a 223 for coyote, I never really cared what the actual regs were - if anything, I'd have been "overly legal" if I had gone by what I remembered from years ago.
 
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