Bear protection when fishing in N. Ontario

I was being a bit facetious about the lightning thing. What you have to worry about is a predetory bear and they really are rather rare but they do occur and mostly in very remote regions. I have some experience at this and am not too sure that you are even going to see a predatory bear coming. If you are carring any kind of firearm in this neck of the woods you will be asked some very pointed questions by a CO--and it is really up in the air how that will turn out. In my experience calling the MNR is a complete waste of time as nothing they tell you will go very far with the boots on the ground.
I have noticed that many of the CO's in the north, when in the bush, with a sidearm, a gov't issued truck with flashy red lights and a uniform sit at the right hand of Micheal the archangle and answer only to God.
 
it must realy suck with the BS rules you guys get hosed down with back east , out here a CO asks if you have a firearm and you say no he asks if your crazy, I pack 1 even when we just go out 4 wheeling in the trucks just in case I have to walk for whatever reason, and come actual hunting season my back seat has been known to suport more firearms than some gunshops :)
 
Bear Protection

When working around bears on salmon streams in B.C.,DFO workers used to carry 870's with a mag extention,loaded with slugs,and 000Buck.The shotguns had slings for carry.Of course nowadays they are probably using bear bells and pepper spray,to keep the tree-huggers happy!Cheers,Mur.:D
 
I live in a town just down the road from algonquin park and we all lost 3 class mates on a camping trip in the eighties to a hungy predator bear. Damn staight a black bear is worth every pound of prevention you can handle to carry. The black bear is alot less predictable then the western griz. I have seen many people talk down a pissed griz on the nature channel but nobody has the balls to go have an unarmed chat with a blackie. I have been charged at and stalked by bears growing up in this area many times, and was very close to inccedent many times, The military police once shot a bear that folloewd my brother down the street and into the school yard when he was 7...We have learned in ontario the rights of a freakin bear is worth more then the people who pay for the resources that are put in place to protect said bear...imho the mnr need to wake the hell up
LEE
 
If going for a day of trout fishing there is no way I'm humpin a shotgun with me. I dont feel the need.

If I'm going for a weekend fishing trip where I will be camping on site I will have a gun for sure.

There are currently a lot of black bears in Ontario, and because there are so many any smelly campsite will cause bear encounters and may need to be defended. I also realize that a guy stumbling along a stream that reaks of bug spray isnt going to encounter to many bears to begin with.
 
cereal83 said:
Bring a stick if you are scared of bears. I go up north all the time and never carried a firearm. Sure I couldn't buy them before but even now I can buy one and I wouldn't bring it for protection. They usually run away when I see them
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I pray that's all you'll ever need friend. I however live by the rule.
It's better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it.

Am I the only ex-scout here? :D
 
krausb said:
Are people in Ontario really scared of black bears??? :confused:
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I don't know if I am just paying more attention because I have a property up north where I am building or there are, indeed, more bear encounters and stories out there.

We had our first nuisance encounter last spring and it was a big wake up call for a lot of folks. This bear was especially bold.

Either way, with the wife and kid around, I haven't been taking any chances.
 
The bear population is booming to almost overcrowded in Ontario (can you say no spring bear hunt?- dumb ass law). I use to live in Northern Ontario, which I consider central Canada in lateral terms ( sorry I live in SW Ontario now and everyone here talks about "going way up North" to places like Barrie or Sudbury. That just cheeses me off)

Back on topic; I use to carry a shotgun while fishing. No biggie, the CO's and OPP never bothered me about it. If you are that paranoid, carry a flare gun and lots of flares. I'm sure a flare to the bears head will be more effective then squealing like a school girl. It may also start a signal fire for you, so they can find your body, after it's been mauled :D
 
trubluscrew said:
If you are that paranoid, carry a flare gun and lots of flares. I'm sure a flare to the bears head will be more effective then squealing like a school girl. It may also start a signal fire for you, so they can find your body, after it's been mauled :D
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LOL ...that cracks me up!
 
krausb said:
Are people in Ontario really scared of black bears??? :confused:
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Sorry, i used a :confused: when I meant to use a :D . I was, of course, just kidding around. Blacks certainly are capable of being extrtemely dangerous. The incident in Tennesee a couple weeks ago proves that.
 
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gth said:
If going for a day of trout fishing there is no way I'm humpin a shotgun with me. I dont feel the need.

If I'm going for a weekend fishing trip where I will be camping on site I will have a gun for sure.

There are currently a lot of black bears in Ontario, and because there are so many any smelly campsite will cause bear encounters and may need to be defended. I also realize that a guy stumbling along a stream that reaks of bug spray isnt going to encounter to many bears to begin with.
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We catch TOO MANY fish! so we tend to smell like them. Never mind the beer and nachos!!!:D :D :D :D :D :D

We purchased the new thermacells so we will not be smelling like bug spray.

In the area where we are going, THE NEAR NORTH for some of you sticklers, There was an instance where a black bear entered a trailerpark, entered a trailer where a family with kids was having dinner. Not ten minutes after it was chased out of the park, it was back athe main buildings garbage bin.

This is the same park where we are starting our trek from.

I guess I am just trying to get a feel for how bad things really are. Is this a one in a million incident or is this common place???????????

We will be taking our ATV's and going near Algonquin Park. Some times we can be more then 50 km from any road.
 
Ontario confuses the phuk out of me!

On this topic, so if:

1. I have a PAL, hunting license w/small game, registered model 94 (30-30)
2. I am in the woods up north fishing but have the rifle close by
3. Rifle has ammo in the mag tube but not in the chamber

I am breaking the law???? Please advise me, if this true we live in one phuked up province.
 
Pocketfisherman said:
On this topic, so if:

1. I have a PAL, hunting license w/small game, registered model 94 (30-30)
2. I am in the woods up north fishing but have the rifle close by
3. Rifle has ammo in the mag tube but not in the chamber

I am breaking the law???? Please advise me, if this true we live in one phuked up province.
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I have to find it , but i believe that possesing a firearm in an area where no season is open, is enough for the CO to charge you with poaching and it is up to you to prove otherwise.

I THINK IIRC

I think the easiest thing to do is get a good tan and tell them you are native!
 
this is the closest thing I could find


Question 163:

I don't have hunting license and I don't hunt and I am not interested in hunting. I am a licensed gun owner and I would like to go plinking in the wilderness with my nonrestricted rimfire carabine, centerfire rifle and shootgun.

I want to know the following:

1. If I find a safe location such as a hill slope or a deep pit that is located on Crown's property, would I be able to just bring my guns and cans ( of course, I'll pick them up aftewards) and plink them?

2. Would I be asked to show an Outdoors Card with hunting rights if approached by CO or PO ? How can I "safely" indicate that I am just plinking not hunting?

3. Where can I find the calliber restrictions for certain areas ? Is there are any publication (map) that shows calliber restrictions?


Asked April 23, 2003

Answer from the MNR

1. It is legal to target shoot on Crown land without a hunting licence. Of course the officer will have to believe that you are not hunting. I would suggest you plink as close to home as possible.

2. Section 109 of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 states that: In a prosecution under this Act in respect of hunting or trapping, (a) proof that a person possessed, in an area usually inhabited by wildlife, a firearm, trap, decoy or other hunting or trapping device, a ferret or a specially protected raptor or other bird of prey, is proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that the person was hunting or trapping, as the case may be….

In other words, the onus is upon you to prove that you were NOT hunting. The CO or PO would ask why you have firearms and it will be officer discretion. You likely would get asked for a hunting licence and why you have firearms. Refer to '2' above.

3. Check the 2003 Hunting Regulations Summary. They are available at no charge at most tackle shops and some Canadian Tire stores or check online at http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/pubs/pubmenu.html

If you still feel unsure about going target practising you might want to call you closest MNR office and advise a CO where and when you'll be out plinking
 
I've had a CO give me grief for having a loaded shotgun in my camp for wildlife defense. The camp was an abandon DNR site that was still designated as a recreational area. The CO inspected my paperwork and firearms, and informed me that it was not legal to have my shotgun out of it's case in this area.
My buddy told the CO's of the bears, cougar and bull moose (in rut) that we've encounterd at this location. His partner made the usual comment that "they are more scared of you than you are of them". My buddy simply offered that the CO could leave his sidearm with his partner, and walk to the road...we would pick him up there. That got a chuckle out of the big fella, and the BS came to an end. No stern warning, no tickets, no confiscation of weapons. Of course this was in Saskatchewan where common sense seems a little more common than in your area.

This was NE of Chitek Lake. The officers didn't know anyone camped there although we've camped there for the last 15 years regularily. We leave the place as we find it, or significantly cleaner if there has been other, less caring, campers using the site.
 
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