Bear Hunting. Why are hunting shotguns limited to only three rounds when centre fire rifles get five?

[canadian hunter312]

You're right. It's bear defence I'm wondering about?

I know you’re talking bear defense, but what’s the difference if it’s a bear or a deer or a rabbit running at you?

Make the first shot count, it’s the most important.


What’s the purpose of the 3 shell rule anyways?

 

[Ex3dy]

Easy rules are easier to follow and enforce. "excuse me sir is your #4 shell for bird or large game?"

 

[9.3mauser]

The blanket 3 rd restriction is basically laziness/convenience. It removes all the "I'm not hunting ducks, I'm hunting 'X'. A lot of deer hunters would have a few birdshot in their pocket for ground swatting grouse. It removes all ambiguity.

I think it's stupid, but this is Ontario after all.

 

[lucky07]

Neither the govt. nor the fish cops care whether or not you get mauled by a bear.

When asked about these things they'll pull the "them's the rules and no need for change because it hardly ever happens" card.

Just because something statistically doesn't happen often doesn't make you any less dead if a sow thinks you're after her cubs. There is quite literally 0 downside to allowing more slugs/buckshot in a shotgun, but they don't care. You could knife a damn bear and they would still investigate whether you tried other means of deterence first and whether or not the kill was warranted.

Basically their attitude is these are the rules and if you don't want yogi to eat you stay out of the woods.

 

[DogTazmania]

I'm adding thoughts that come up. Here's another good reason I like a shotgun for the area I'll be hunting bears. Increased danger from range of the projectile from a rifle compared to a shotgun. I'm acutely aware of "know your target and your backstop." I pay attention to my shooting lane, direction and anticipate what lies beyond. When hunting areas with wilderness homes/cottages or party hunting in dense cover, ricochets are a possibility to consider and I believe a heavy slug is less likely to bounce off a branch and generally not carry as far as a high velocity rifle round. That's why we have some controlled hunts limited to shotguns, muzzle loaders and bows, only, right? In the USA there are several "straight wall projectile states" for the same reasons. Please correct me if I'm wrong. So in an aggressive bear encounter, like hunting down a wounded animal in dense cover that I have an obligation to retrieve, why is my government limiting me to a potential to miss or only hit with one round, increasing risk? How many rounds do rural police and COs shuck into the tube of their 12 Ga to euthanize bears hit by cars?

 

[possum]

Yes. But no-one uses slugs for that capacity.

And either OO or OOO Buck would make a real mess if used for that.

Yes Matt; I just figured that they may have had a restriction to how many rounds could be loaded if the 2 seasons overlapped.

 

[DogTazmania]

I know you’re talking bear defense, but what’s the difference if it’s a bear or a deer or a rabbit running at you?

Make the first shot count, it’s the most important.


What’s the purpose of the 3 shell rule anyways?

Did you hear the one about the bear and the rabbit "sitting" in the woods?.....

 

[Grain]

Yes Matt; I just figured that they may have had a restriction to how many rounds could be loaded if the 2 seasons overlapped.

I believe SK had the law at one time that if hunting during overlapping seasons w/ a shotgun least number of shells applies. May still be in effect.

 

[Grain]

I know you’re talking bear defense, but what’s the difference if it’s a bear or a deer or a rabbit running at you?

Make the first shot count, it’s the most important.


What’s the purpose of the 3 shell rule anyways?

It's to do with migratory bird hunting where multiple kills per shot are frequent for decent hunters.

 

[Duramax6.6]

One thing that's goofy in Ab is still being limited to 3 shells for ANY game bird.

I’m in AB and never understood the 3 shells rule for anything but birds. It makes it more sporting on birds being limited to 3 tries. *

**But what if someone doesn't even buy game bird licences? Hence they mustn’t be hunting anything with wings. And don’t even carry birdshot, only slugs and proper buckshot. Why would this hunter be limited to 3? The only answer is that in the eyes of law enforcement is you must automatically be a poacher because you have a dual-purpose gun. So instead of enforcing caught in the act criminals it’s easier to paint every hunter a poacher by restricting them to the lowest denominator for the chosen gun.

While I’m over here with my pump 30-06 knocking heads off chickens while deer hunting because I HAVE A BIRD LICENCE and my 10 shot aftermarket mag.

If the rule was proper, only those in possession of any game bird AND an unplugged shotgun will face charges.

 

[mmattockx]

I believe SK had the law at one time that if hunting during overlapping seasons w/ a shotgun least number of shells applies. May still be in effect.

This is how Kanadian law works in general. When two rules overlap or conflict, the most restrictive one dominates.


Mark

 

[Suther]

Three round capacity is only when hunting migratory birds. Load it to whatever when hunting bears (unless semi then stick to 5).

From the BC wildlife Act:

Hunting, trapping and firearm prohibitions
26 (1)A person commits an offence if the person hunts, takes, traps, wounds or kills wildlife

(a)that is an endangered species or threatened species,

(b)in a wildlife sanctuary,

(c)at a time not within the open season,

(d)with a firearm or a bow during the prohibited hours,

(e)by the use or with the aid of a light or illuminating device,

(f)with poison,

(g)with a set gun, or

(h)with a pump, repeating or auto loading shotgun unless the magazine contains a plug that is incapable of removal except by disassembling the gun, and that makes the magazine incapable of holding more than 2 cartridges.

The regulation synopsis says you don't need the plug if you're using single projectiles (slugs), but I can't find that in the wildlife act or the actual regulations, only the synopsis. (If anyone can point me to the specific regulation id be grateful!)

From page 12 of the synopsis:

» It is unlawful to hunt or trap with a set gun or with a pump, repeating or auto loading shotgun unless the magazine contains a plug that is incapable of holding more than 2 cartridges. Where the use of a shotgun is allowed for hunting or trapping big game, an unplugged shotgun holding more than 2 cartridges and firing single projectiles only (slugs) may be used.

Migratory is federal. Every province sets their own rules for the rest, and at least in BC your gun needs to be plugged unless it's loaded with slugs only (maybe. Still looking for the actual law that allows for that exception).


Edit - found the exemption for single projectile.

(3) A person who hunts big game with a shotgun loaded with single-projectile ammunition is exempt from section 26 (1) (h) of the Act.

 

[Gatehouse]

BC's shotgun capacity laws are ridiculously easy.

Any and all Hunting with a shotgun:
Multiple projectile (shot of any type) - 3 round limit
Single projectile (slug) -no limit


NOT Hunting with a shotgun, including carrying a defense firearm or target practice:
Multiple projectile (shot of any type) - No limit
Single projectile (slug) -no limit

 

[1516]

I'd say the same for your general 3 round shotgun limit when not hunting migratory waterfowl, along with the retarded .270 calibre restrictions. I believe Alberta is the same as BC, no limit when using slugs on big game in manual actions, 5 round limit with semi's.


Mark

Here in AB three shot capacity for shotguns applies to hunting of all game birds (both migratory and upland). No capacity restrictions for other uses.

 

[fwm]

If you're shooting at a running whitetail and miss with the first 3, a 4 and 5th shot aren't going to do you any good.

The 3 shot limit isn’t really a handicap. With our group if you hear 3 quick shots you can pretty much count on there not being a deer down.

 

[savage112]

The 3 shot limit isn’t really a handicap. With our group if you hear 3 quick shots you can pretty much count on there not being a deer down.

So true.

 

[tactical lever]

Funny that F&W packs 20 ten shot mags for an AR-10 and a .40 S&W for THEIR wildlife control.

 

[struff55]

only on gun stupid let's post questions that are self explained if you would only read regulations and if you don't get it the first re read
it
but instead let's tell the world how incompetent i am

 

[lucky07]

The 3 shot limit isn’t really a handicap. With our group if you hear 3 quick shots you can pretty much count on there not being a deer down.

This was way back before I started deer hunting with my gang of old guys but apparenty, according to the stories, in his younger days uncle Bob had a semi automatic lever action lol

 

[Hunter John]

Dosen't make much sense to me either. But my family farm is there and I've been blackpowder hunting for 25 years on it. After awhile you get used to it.

Ya but you guys grow some big bucks down there.