big game in water??

[Lazy Ike]

"It's illegal to shoot or harass big game when it's swiming in AB." A soon as my kid looked up from the hunters-ed course and told me this, I got to wondering.

What are the regs re. swimming game in BC?

 

[northwoodslivin]

I dont know about BC, but you cant shoot any big game animal while it is swiming. If it is by the waters edge having a drink "say a moose" your ok there.

 

[TimberPig]

In BC, the reg states no shooting game while it is swimming unless previously wounded.

Not sure if that applies to ducks on the surface, which are technically floating more than swimming.

 

[Eagleye]

I really hate shooting moose even close to a pond, since many years ago I had an experience that weaned me from this practice. I spotted a young bull moose standing in about 3" of water right at the edge of the pond. Now to get this in perspective, it was about mid October, and the water was quite frigid already. I shot this moose right through the lungs with a 30-06 from approximately 125 yards away. He took about 4/5 big steps....guess which direction? Yep, right into deep water, then proceeded to die there. Now a moose floats quite easily with all that hollow hair, but he was in 8 feet of water, so I had to strip down to the ginch and go after him. My buddies were there by then, having heard the shot, and neither of them was so kind as to offer to go and get that moose, can you imagine? By the time I got that moose dragged to shore, I was so cold I was speaking in a high pitched voice. Right then and there I made a note to self. Make sure moose is not close enough to cold water to get in after being shot unless you have a boat handy. I have kept that promise, even though I made it 46 years ago. Regards, Eagleye.

 

[Lazy Ike]

Thanks. When I heard about this, I immediately thought of one of the 3 Canada in the Rough episodes I've seen.

My own experience was at age 10, trying to convince one of my Dads buddies to go out an achor the huge Bull moose I saw feeding in a swamp. He told me it was a bad idea and I've always believed him to be right

 

[sealhunter]

I have been around when moose have been shot in water. It is one hell of a mess to work with. Rocky bottom is one thing, but water and mud, ... Heart Attack waiting to happen

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

Seriously off topic

... so I had to strip down to the ginch and go after him.

Ginch, gotch, gotchies? Seems to be regionally specific.

And, shooting near water causes ricochets. Therefore the prohibition.

 

[Smokepole]

And, shooting near water causes ricochets. Therefore the prohibition.

Actually it has to do with sportsmanship and fair chase. It is considered to be unsportsman-like to approach and shoot an animal in the water.

 

[martinbns]

Moose to me are best shot beside a road. I have one very nice moose rack in my garage and don't need another one bad enough to shoot one near water without a boat and a gang.

 

[bigstickpilot]

not to mention a miss ricocheting off the water who knows where. And its "gitch" in these parts.