Encounter with a Game Warden

Right from the mouth of a local CO - CALL AHEAD

I take one along backpacking. I call the office ahead of time. I ask for the CO's name that will be in the area for the dates I am backpacking. Usuually 4-5 days in the bush, a week in advance.

"Hello, I'm going to be camping in this _______ area. I plan to bring a shotgun with me for protection, how many, and what type of rounds do you want me to bring."

he'll mark the dates, the area, and tell me no more than 4, 00 rounds...Its a shorty shotty, so clearly I'm not trying to hunt at greater distance...

have done that 3 times so far - no issues. Takes all of 3 minutes.

haven't bumped into a CO in the bush yet - intent shows that I called ahead, explained I was not hunting, that indeed it was for protection from bears and wolves...and if and when you do bump into a CO - "yep, its my shotty, I called MR._______, told him/her, I would bere here with it from these dates."

it sucks that I have to do that - but nothing hurts planning ahead...meh
 
... The ONLY Rules governing the number of shots in a Shotgun ( Plugs ) are under the Migratory Birds Act. Therefore unless one is Hunting Migratory Birds, a "plug" is not mandatory. That being said, if there were any Birds around and you were in possession of an unplugged Shotgun, you'd have some explaining to do to avoid Prosecution. .... From having dealt with Idiots in the Bush, although not mandated if otherwise locked/Secured, if with a group, even more so if there's any Liquor around, a Trigger Lock is a good idea to prevent any foolishness, arguments etc.etc. from turning into a Tragety...... David K PS I speak of BC specifically, thus other Provinces MAY have overriding Hunting Regs. )
 
Slooshark1 said:
So the next day we're out fishing and we packed up to go to another lake and saw two game wardens on the side of the road loading up a boat on a trailer. We pulled over to say hello and see what was new. One of the game wardens came over and chatted with us. He asked if he could have a look in our cooler and we told him sure. The second game warden was the fellow from the day before. He walked up and asked me where the shotgun was. I told him it was behind me, locked, with the plug in and stored out of site. He asked me again, what reason I had carrying a shotgun and I told him again, "Because it makes me feel safer." I didn't want to tell him that it was for protection from bears because then he might charge me with poaching bears, which I most certainly was not doing.
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After what you just went through, why would you stop and and small talk with them? Weren't you just asking for more interogation?
I never initiate small talk with any LE officer anywhere. A simple nod, or "hi", if the situation warrants it.
 
TheTooner said:
In Ontario if you have a gun in your possession, the game wardens think you are hunting and you have to prove otherwise, regardless of whether there is game in the area or what the season is. Just because there aren't any migratory birds migrating through your area in January doesn't mean you aren't hunting migratory birds. You have a shotgun ...

In fact, in Ontario generally it seems the legal principle of "presumption of innocence until guilt is proven" doesn't operate. There it seems to be that you are guilty of existing and of doing whatever it is you are doing, but officials have the option to decide to let you off according to their whims of the day.
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So true. Terrible province.
 
I can't see this-if a firearm is in the truck-thats not hunting-if I am out walking around carrying it ,then it might be construed as hunting,or then again, it could be just plinking/targetshooting.I know one thing-if I'm going fishing in a wilderness area with bears around,reguardless of the season -its plain foolishness NOT to have a firearm.The only way it could be ''hunting'' would be with game in possession
 
You weren't lucky, you were right.

No problem leaving a gun out of sight in a locked vehicle.
EFF trigger locks on non-restricteds.
No plug with a slug barrel, = obviously not hunting migratory birds.


But even though you're right, some LEO still like to be the bully and can cause you some problems. Best bet is to avoid them if possible, and if you do have to talk to them don't volunteer any info so you don't get hung by your tongue. If they're in the mood they'll turn something you say into problems.

Good job!
 
ratherbefishin said:
why should you have to have paper targets to be target shooting?-some guys shoot cans.I'd be far more concerned if they found a shotgun in a truck downtown at 1am -a guy out fishing isn't likely to be posing any threat to anybody...
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You dont, but if you do end up being charged the paper targets will be used by your lawyer to (dis)prove intent. Just saying. I always have 30 or so paper targets in my car. Just an additional measure of insurance for me I guess.
 
I am planning to goto norther Ontario, Red Lake, this summer to visit my brother-in-law and was going to bring some firearms to play with. After reading this I am not sure I want to bother. The hassel if I run into a CO may not be worth it. If I do decide to bring some firearms what do I need to know in the Republic of Ontario so I don't get sent to a 'work camp' for being in possession of a firearm.
 
Hi Guys
I live in Bantario and I was told by a CO that I could only take #2 shot into the bush if I had a shotgun.:eek:. Fat lot of good that does me if Mama with Boo Boo finds me and it's pissed off.:kickInTheNuts:
 
''I always have 30 paper targets in my car''-good point,and without game in possession, pretty irrefutable proof of intent to go target shooting-no matter WHAT shells you have
 
tbooker said:
I am planning to goto norther Ontario, Red Lake, this summer to visit my brother-in-law and was going to bring some firearms to play with. After reading this I am not sure I want to bother. The hassel if I run into a CO may not be worth it. If I do decide to bring some firearms what do I need to know in the Republic of Ontario so I don't get sent to a 'work camp' for being in possession of a firearm.
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Red Lake is not in northern ontario. Red Lake is in North Western Ontario.:D Totally different class of people. Here in NW Ont, we are out in the "bush" lots doing some target practice. Never been truly hassled about it. Stopped and asked whats up but thats about it.
 
I could be wrong but I think in this province, the only time you are "allowed" to transport a firearm is if you have a valid hunting license or you have an ATT......?
If anyone knows for sure, please let me know.
 
.330 Dakota said:
First of all, The shotgun does not require a plug if the only ammo present is a single projectile type (slugs) 2nd, you can carry that thing anywhere in Canada whenever you want as per the RCMP transport laws under bill C-68
Pickup the pamplet from your local OPP called "Legal Transport and Storage of Firearms"
and carry it with you in your truck at all times. The C.O s in Ont are dicks mostly that think they can intimidate sportsmen at will. Leaving the gun in the truck as long as every reasonable effort has been made to keep it out of sight is perfectly legal as per Federal Firearms Law, and the C.O are enforcing Provincial Law. They cannot overide federal law and if I were in that scenerio I would insist that the CO call the RCMP to send an officer to the scene. If he would not then I would tell him to bugger off.
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This may be so in BC, but not in Ontario. You cannot hunt with any shotgun, not even a slug gun with a rifled barrel, unless it's plugged. This is a provincial regulation, made under the fish and game act.

In Ontario, they do not allow CO's to use common sense when it comes to this sort of thing, much safer you know to have robots in the field enforcing our game laws.
 
Mr. Bean said:
Just talked to a CO and he stated that if you are in the truck, in control of the gun, you do not need a trigger lock. If you leave the truck, without the gun, you need "two" locks; trigger lock and truck must be locked and also recommended out of sight. This is federal ,not provincial.

Cheers[/QUOT Dont ask a CO, READ C-68 , RCMP website under the firearms program, trigger lock is not a legal requirement, ammo must be locked seperate, and if not then the trigger lock is required. Truck locked and gun out of site is the law. Look it up please
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tjsudbury said:
This may be so in BC, but not in Ontario. You cannot hunt with any shotgun, not even a slug gun with a rifled barrel, unless it's plugged. This is a provincial regulation, made under the fish and game act.

In Ontario, they do not allow CO's to use common sense when it comes to this sort of thing, much safer you know to have robots in the field enforcing our game laws.
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I am from Ontario, and moved to BC in 2006, has something changed?
As I recall the Ministry of Natural Resources Regs said that for deer and large game when using a shotgun the shell limit was not applicable
 
redryder said:
Red Lake is not in northern ontario. Red Lake is in North Western Ontario.:D Totally different class of people. Here in NW Ont, we are out in the "bush" lots doing some target practice. Never been truly hassled about it. Stopped and asked whats up but thats about it.
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So what you are saying is bring my fireams find a safe place to shoot and don't worry about this crap?
 
This proves once again that it is sensible to download the CFC pamphlet on transport/storage regs, print lots of copies and leave at least 1 or 2 in the glove box of each of your vehicles. That way you can show them in writing that they are full of shi* and should fcuk off.
 
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