General rules for firearms while huntin- transport and carry, number of shells, guns

GuiltySpark

GuiltySpark

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I'm thinking of getting a hunting license for either small game or birds so I can join some friends hunting. I'm not a hunter and I'd never shoot an animal outside self-defense but my plan was to help flush birds from the woods or be bear sentry (seen 7 bears in one day last time I was at my cabin). Plus carrying a gun in the woods feels normal.


I have an 870 that holds 7 rounds. Am I legal' if I only load 3 rounds into the gun while I'm out "hunting" or do I need to make some kind of device that physically restricts me from loading more rounds?

If I have an 870 with me can I carry an unloaded 9mm rifle (Keltec Sub200) folded up in a backpack?

If we're out exploring in jeeps are we alright if we have our firearms unloaded and trigger locked?

Do firearms need to be trigger locked or just inoperable? I can't attach a trigger lock to my KelTec Sub2000 because of the design but I can take a cable lock and lock it together so the rifle doesn't open- that acceptable?
 
Most places you will need to block the 870 to 3 rounds, use a wooden dowl. As far as non-restricted Fire arms you do not need to lock or disable them if they are with you.
 
check your provincial hunting regs. In Ontario you can carry two firearms while hunting, but one must be cased. shotguns need to be plugged to 3 rounds and normal FA rules apply for transporting and storing the firearm.
Things may be different in your province.
 
If you are hunting, you will need a hunting license. This will almost certainly mean taking a classroom course and passing a test to obtain a hunter ID number for your province before you can purchase a license. You should learn most what you are asking from the course. Since you are located in 'Canada' and hunting regulations are provincial we can't provide you with specific answers until you get more specific with your location. Not trying to be a d!ck, just there are probably 12 different correct answers, depending on where you live.
 
If we're out exploring in jeeps are we alright if we have our firearms unloaded and trigger locked?

Do firearms need to be trigger locked or just inoperable?
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I can understand you not knowing the hunting regulations, but how did you get a PAL without knowing the answer to your question?
 
I'm in Ontario. I had a hunting license when I was 16 or 17, it expired and it's been over 15 years since I've had one. Took the pal test quite a while ago.
 
Hunting regulations are provincial. You need to get to get this information from the provincial ministry that regulates hunting in your province. However, due to international (i.e. U.S.A. and Canada co-operation) agreements on hunting migratory birds, there are federal regulations that require you to plug the magazine of a shotgun used for hunting migratory birds to conform to the magazine capacity limits set in the international agreement. That means yes, you need to put a device in your 870's magazine so it can only hold two rounds (a third round in the chamber is legal.)
 
It depends who you ask, but the correct answer is unloaded. If anyone disagrees, ask them to demonstrate firing the gun without touching any of the ammo.
 
This is a few years ago and heresy, My brother hunted in Quebec on occasion and was told that it Quebec if you had detachable mag it was considered loaded. Now the firearms act should suprceed that decision but who knows. As far a number of shells in a shotgun most if not all specify a max of 3 , i in chamber and two in magazine for the purpose of hunting (anything with a shotgun) but if you are using the shotgun for self defense say while camping doing forestry work or to carry as a back up for bear the 3 rounds do not apply.
I suspect that if you have a hunting license and you shotgun holds over 3 shells you might be in doo doo unless you had a archery tag and was caring the archery equipment. A bear shot with the shogun might put you in jeopardy The onus is probably on you to prove that you weren't hunting. Even though there are loopholes in the law follow the requirements as if you were hunting, I found that when there is room for a judgement call it will propably go against you.

Neil
 
Neilm said:
This is a few years ago and heresy, My brother hunted in Quebec on occasion and was told that it Quebec if you had detachable mag it was considered loaded.il
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I've heard the same thing...luckily the Ontario regs specify that removing a loaded detachable magazine is considered unloaded. Again, depends on who you run into also...alo, always a good idea to have the newest reg summary in your pack somewhere with some key passages bookmarked, as well as RCMP safe storage guidelines. Very handy when you run into the occasional over zealous CO.
 
Definitely consult the provincial regs. Some provinces have hinky rules like if a rifle is leaning against the tailgate of your truck and is uncased then it is technically uncased in a vehicle which is against the rules. The only way to know these things is to consult the regulations, or better yet, read the Provincial Wildlife Act itself.
 
Not intended to be a substitute for refreshing yourself on the regs - there are plenty of other things that'll hang you - but here you are...

GuiltySpark said:
I have an 870 that holds 7 rounds. Am I legal' if I only load 3 rounds into the gun while I'm out "hunting" or do I need to make some kind of device that physically restricts me from loading more rounds?
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Just loading three is not legal. It has to be plugged "permanently" to a total of three rounds in magazine and chamber. Plug or dowel counts as permanent, that's fine.

GuiltySpark said:
If I have an 870 with me can I carry an unloaded 9mm rifle (Keltec Sub200) folded up in a backpack?
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Presuming you are following all the Ontario game laws, you may carry as many firearms as you wish, however you wish.

GuiltySpark said:
If we're out exploring in jeeps are we alright if we have our firearms unloaded and trigger locked?

Do firearms need to be trigger locked or just inoperable? I can't attach a trigger lock to my KelTec Sub2000 because of the design but I can take a cable lock and lock it together so the rifle doesn't open- that acceptable?
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More than acceptable. The sole requirement for the transport of firearms in Canada is that they are unloaded.

If you held a license previously, you should be able to renew your Outdoors Card no problem. Mine was lapsed for almost ten years, and long since lost; didn't take any longer to renew than if it hadn't lapsed at all. If you intend to carry shot size larger than #2 or any center fire rifle, look at getting a bear license too depending on what WMU you're in... It's by far the longest big game season, and if you only have a small game license you can't posses shot larger than #2 or CF rifle during an open firearms big game season... Like I said, lots of other things to hang you, best to sit down with the reg summary and even have a read of the FWCA itself.
 
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