Flashlight on rifle while hunting.

Butcher Bill - sounds like you have never been out in back yard in the dark after hearing your dog in a scrap with something - then turning around and finding your wife out there trying to "help" with a stick or something. As mentioned - too many years underground - people tell me it is dark down there - I wouldn't know - was always lighted where I was looking.

I am a little curious how your light "illuminates" your iron sights - that means your light is shining towards your sights. Most gun lights I have seen are mounted on the fore-arm, or underneath the double barrel - not shining on the sights at all.

Dogs are inside at night, if there’s anything that needs attending to with a gun they stay inside. The wife as well, both neighbors and I have had the talk about shooting predators, we know where each of our buildings/barns are and what’s a safe direction for shooting. Trust me if there’s something that set off the dogs from inside the house I’m the only one outside with a gun.

My sights are fiber optic, they glow even with the light near the muzzle. If it’s a gun without f/o sights they are silhouetted and I can easily see them to line them up, they’re easy to see in the dark.
 
So, just an old guy's comment, after too many years working underground - you might want to consider a light on your head - that way, what you look at it is illuminated, regardless where the firearm is pointed. I do not have a light on any firearm, but I do have a "head light" - but seems to me that you have to point that firearm towards what you want to see - which could also turn out to be something that you do not want to shoot. I do not understand that an illumination light is an aiming device - might be different if it also contains a laser, but that is different discussion??

Thanks for your comment however as stated in the OP I'm not asking about using the light while hunting I'm asking about legalities of having a light on the rifle while hunting during daylight(not being used).

Thanks
 
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I’ve been harassed by a bear in the dark.. WML’s could save your life. But like most things in our Country, that doesn’t mean it’s legal. Do what you think is best, but if stopped you will very likely be harassed. I mean how would that look to a fish cop right? Can’t blame them if they think your plan is to spotlight game.. Even if you are just trying to see what goes bump in the night on your walk out.
 
Thanks for your comment however as stated in the OP I'm not asking about using the light while hunting I'm asking about legalities of having a light on the rifle while hunting during daylight(not being used).

Thanks

If you are only using your rifle mounted flashlight during daylight, I think you should buy a pair of sunglasses for the walk out after dark, Mr. Hart...
 
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Read the OP and try again with a better insult...

The consensus is that "it's not worth the risk." Depending on jurisdiction, it is open to the interpretation of the field officer as to whether or not it is legal. Do you ONLY go afield during legal hunting hours? You don't head out before legal light or return after legal light? What about transporting your rifle with flashlight attached during non-legal hunting hours? Did you know that you can be found to be in contravention of the "no light for hunting" regulation regarding the headlights on your vehicle? If you use your vehicle to look across a field after dark or even make extra wide sweeping turns on a corner you can (technically) be deemed to be using "a light source" to search for game animals. I have a long winded story that would illustrate exactly that scenario in Ontario. How hard is it to remove the flashlight and why would you not do that if you have no intention of using it?

P.S - Sunglasses at Night by Cory Hart was a joke not an insult.
 
In Ontario,a flashlight attached to a firearm isn't illegal. As per the FWCA,all firearms must be securely encased one half hour after "official" sunset and one half hour before "official" sunrise. when hunting. Any attached flashlight just adds weight and is practically useless. The exception is for night predator protection on farms where flashlights attached to firearms is not only practical,but,desirable. Many a Coyote and Wolf has met their waterloo in that manner.
 
I think it's actually impossible for the majority of people on CGN to resist the urge to vomit their unsolicited opinion on someone asking purely about the legalities of something.
 
I was wondering the same thing, but I guess I will stick with my drone mounted 50,000 lumen flood light that I have programed to follow me everywhere I go hunting in the middle of the night.
 
I think it's actually impossible for the majority of people on CGN to resist the urge to vomit their unsolicited opinion on someone asking purely about the legalities of something.

lol, the reality is that the "legalities" are open to debate. Not only does everyone on CGN have an opinion on this but no doubt so would different Conservation Officers and Judges at the end of the day if it goes to a court room. It is what it is.
 
lol, the reality is that the "legalities" are open to debate. Not only does everyone on CGN have an opinion on this but no doubt so would different Conservation Officers and Judges at the end of the day if it goes to a court room. It is what it is.

Uhh not real often, no.
 
things like this should be covered under each province and territory's Wildlife Act and may not be in the printed regulations.
I don't have an opinion either way but I have never found the need for a weapon light while hunting...... I have a perfectly good headlamp that turns night into day in bright mode, has full range of adjustment and can also be operated in red light mode for being sneaky while creeepin into the stand.


In the end...... opinions are like @ssholes and there are a lot of both on this site so If you ask a question that can only be answered by actually taking the time to look up and read the laws and regs of your province/territory then you must be prepared to deal with both the opinions and the @ssholes equally :)
 
Just have a rail mounted on your forend. The light attaches in 2 seconds with a lever. Keep it in your pack when you’re hunting.

It’s real handy for packing meat out in the dark (in addition to your head lamp) as well as bumps in the night. Not sure if any of you have tried shooting a high powered rifle at night with a head lamp but it doesn’t work very well.




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Both epoxy bedded and screwed in. That’s a friends rifle but I have one done by the same smith in the same (brown precision) stock.
 
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