Grouse in BC with an air pistol?
- Thread starter Lexthedestroyer
- Start date
It is not a pistol or handgun by definition of the firearms regulations... under 500 fps, it is a toy... your BC Hunting regulations would have to stipulate an alternate definition and/or name it as a weapon of exclusion from the practice of hunting in BC... I am unfamiliar with the BC regs and don't know how they dealt with "approved weapons" for the purposes of hunting.
BC Hunting and Trapping regulations, paper copy, available everywhere.
page 16
Legal hunting methods
upland game birds : rimfire, centerfire, shotguns, archery Bow B,C&D
other small game (includes coyote) rimfire, centerfire, shotguns, bow B,C&D
migratory game birds, shotgun, archery bow D
so no, you can not hunt in BC with a pellet gun of any kind
there is also on page 15, under the "it is unlawfull" section, item #38 to hunt wildlife with a handgun ...... that would apply to ALL living species classed as wildlife under BC Hunting and trapping regulations.
there's no loophole or misinterpreting it either.
because it specifically states the "legal hunting methods" and it does not say a 'firearm in .22cal or larger" this would also rule out pellet and air rifles classed as firearms.
page 16
Legal hunting methods
upland game birds : rimfire, centerfire, shotguns, archery Bow B,C&D
other small game (includes coyote) rimfire, centerfire, shotguns, bow B,C&D
migratory game birds, shotgun, archery bow D
so no, you can not hunt in BC with a pellet gun of any kind
there is also on page 15, under the "it is unlawfull" section, item #38 to hunt wildlife with a handgun ...... that would apply to ALL living species classed as wildlife under BC Hunting and trapping regulations.
there's no loophole or misinterpreting it either.
because it specifically states the "legal hunting methods" and it does not say a 'firearm in .22cal or larger" this would also rule out pellet and air rifles classed as firearms.
*sigh*..... So many guys get hung up on the synopsis pg 16 as "The Law"...
Air rifles are completely legal to hunt with in BC. Pistols are not. One needs to read the Wildlife Act to see whats legal and not legal. If not specifically stated as illegal, its legal.
PG 16 in the Synopsis is just a quick breakdown for those who don't have the inclination or wherewithal to look up the actual laws.
Air rifles are completely legal to hunt with in BC. Pistols are not. One needs to read the Wildlife Act to see whats legal and not legal. If not specifically stated as illegal, its legal.
PG 16 in the Synopsis is just a quick breakdown for those who don't have the inclination or wherewithal to look up the actual laws.
If that is the case than perhaps a pellet pistol under 500 fps "IS" legal in BC... as the firearms regulations stipulate it is not a firearm and is considered a toy... this is the reason that it is legal in Ontario... one of you BC boys should look into that...
No dice. Pistols are specifically prohibited in BC, regardless of what or how they fire.
Pretty tough to reference information that ISN'T there...........
But feel free to use up some of your google fu to look up the BC Wildlife Act and read it. Might be informative for you. Other things you may notice (or more likely not....) is that slingshots are not referenced, nor are spears......
I will do thatKodiakHunter is correct on all counts. BC Wildlife Act define a handgun and prohibit using handguns for hunting.
BC Wildlife Act does not prohibit air rifles from hunting. Page 16 is nothing more than a quick reference table showing common weapons.
BC Wildlife Act does not prohibit air rifles from hunting. Page 16 is nothing more than a quick reference table showing common weapons.
From the BC Wildlife Act under definitions:
"firearm" includes a rifle, shotgun, handgun or spring gun and any device that propels a projectile by means of an explosion, compressed gas or spring but does not include a bow;
From the BC Hunting Regulations:
Offence — weapons
17 #(1) A person commits an offence where he hunts
(s) with a firearm that is designed, altered or intended to be aimed and fired by the action of one hand or that has a barrel less than 305 mm in length.
"firearm" includes a rifle, shotgun, handgun or spring gun and any device that propels a projectile by means of an explosion, compressed gas or spring but does not include a bow;
From the BC Hunting Regulations:
Offence — weapons
17 #(1) A person commits an offence where he hunts
(s) with a firearm that is designed, altered or intended to be aimed and fired by the action of one hand or that has a barrel less than 305 mm in length.
