Handgun Hunting Support

How many of you would like to have it back?

  • YES, I strongly support it.

    Votes: 464 88.7%
  • I do not know what to think.

    Votes: 22 4.2%
  • NO, I would newer support it.

    Votes: 37 7.1%

  • Total voters
    523
But handgun hunting 'feels' like you're deliberately trying to make it more likley you'll get a bad hit, in order to make it more 'challenging'.

This must be why the COs want to carry handguns......;)
 
I voted yes.
I don't have any desire to go hunting with any handgun. I do however like to have the option to do so, if I ever wanted. I do like to be able to sport one for either smaller game (grouse or rabbit with a 22), or as a back-up gun when in remote wilderness.
There are more to say about calibers, but esentially I will support any form of convincing this government that we are to be trusted with handguns in the woods, as we are no lesser people that those employed to keep an ever viggilet eye on us.
 
Who said anyone had to give up any hunting season? Did the rifle hunters have to give up some of their season to bowhunters?

Yup, and the bow hunters are very aggressively asking for more. They don't feel like sharing the woods with youth rifle hunters for example. They have said they want the entire province shut down to rifle hunting in it's entirety so they can bow hunt for specific seasons.

And in the states, this is a real problem. 2 weeks for rifle, 2 weeks for bow, 2 weeks for black powder, 2 weeks for handgun, and maybe a week of 'anything goes. So - unless you're willing to become proficient and own dozens of different tools, your hunting is seriously limited time wise.

Frankly i'm dead set against special seasons for ANYONE, with the exception of new hunters and youth for obvious reasons. In this province, there's always somewhere to go where there's not another person around.

But for some reason every group that hunts with a different tool wants their own season. So hunters are a little leery of that, in bc anyway. At the first mention of it - support for handguns would nosedive.
 
Andy said:
Sorry, but I voted NO. Handguns are bad...:rolleyes:

I bet the archers who go for bear would like to legally carry a powerful handgun so that if the SHTF, they won't end up with their scalps peeled off their head and parts of their faces, necks, arm and legs chewed off.
 
Gatehouse and others have hit the nail on the head, it's not the gun it's the person holding it that is the problem if there is a problem. I can't for the life of me figure how a handgun is more dangerous in the bush than a rifle? They are easier to carry (in a holster), lighter weight (usually), and can pack as much killing power as you require.

The move to ban hand gun hunting was not based on logic but emotion. Look at the handgun in my avitar, there is no game animal on this earth that I can not kill cleanly with this gun, why can't I hunt with it? Just because someone "feels" I'm more dangerous with it than with one of my rifles ?? Pure BS.

Why shouyldn't I be allowed to pack my Browning Buckmark (.22) to use on grouse, it's the exact same cartridge as what I put in my Ruger 10/22 to shoot grouse with. Wild West Guns (and others) make guide guns that are chambered in 500 S&W, they are used in the bush as we speak. Why can not that same cartridge be shot out of my handgun to take an animal?

All arguments against seem to be based on emotion.
 
Foxer said:
Yup, and the bow hunters are very aggressively asking for more. They don't feel like sharing the woods with youth rifle hunters for example. They have said they want the entire province shut down to rifle hunting in it's entirety so they can bow hunt for specific seasons.

And in the states, this is a real problem. 2 weeks for rifle, 2 weeks for bow, 2 weeks for black powder, 2 weeks for handgun, and maybe a week of 'anything goes. So - unless you're willing to become proficient and own dozens of different tools, your hunting is seriously limited time wise.

Frankly i'm dead set against special seasons for ANYONE, with the exception of new hunters and youth for obvious reasons. In this province, there's always somewhere to go where there's not another person around.

But for some reason every group that hunts with a different tool wants their own season. So hunters are a little leery of that, in bc anyway. At the first mention of it - support for handguns would nosedive.

Maybe the answer would be to divy up the areas instaed of seasons. Maybe handgunners could apply for areas where a long shot with a rifle is unlikely.

Yeah, I know it's not that simple, just thinkin' is all.
 
gitrdun said:
Yes I do Gatehouse. I'd love to spend a lot more time on this, but I do have to earn a buck. Here's a primary and brief one though: can you imagine the added pressure and stress the it would cause law enforcement, cops and fish and wildlife officers alike? It just seems to me that it would open up a whole new "ugly" can of worms. Imagine now the implications of having to open handgun possession to everyone. Bottom line is, I'm not against handguns, just not in favour of seeing them out in the bush and I am also not compeled to copy cat everything the Americans do even though I read their mags.

You are entitled to your opinion, but I would have to say that you are in the vast minority of people on here. All Law Enforcement should go into every situation in the bush or in the city as presuming someone is armed or in possession of a weapon until proven different. I do believe this is a part of there training. So how does Handgun hunting make the job more dangerous or any different then it is now.

I suppose you are against CCW by good law abiding Canadian Citizens as well :rolleyes:

Yes I know the streets would erupt in constant gunfire if the good guys were allowed to be armed and as well the bush would be so incredibly dangerous for law enforcement and hunters alike......:rolleyes:

Not supporting any part of firearm use or ownership creates division among firearms owners and that is why we do not have one single powerfull gun lobby in Canada like the NRA in the US to fight for everyones rights!!!

Brings to mind a saying I was taught in Grade School "United we Stand Divided we fall"

We have been beaten down by gun owners who only support themselves and there own pursuits involving firearms ownership and use.
 
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Wild West Guns (and others) make guide guns that are chambered in 500 S&W, they are used in the bush as we speak. Why can not that same cartridge be shot out of my handgun to take an animal?

The concerns generally voice are that a) - it's a hell of a lot harder to aim a handgun accurately at hunting ranges (say, 100 yards) than a rifle, so you're just increasing the chances of a miss/wound for no reason, and b) - the shorter pipe of a handgun doesn't let the round develop enough power with many cartridges.
 
A true Canadian! BECAUSE. And don't forget to say we are not American as another reason. As all true Canadians know, we define ourselves in relation to our American cousins so saying your against handgun hunting becaues Americans do so we mustn't is a real Canadian answer. Well done.

You were joking but who posted about not doing everything the Americans did? the above is for you, sir.
 
Not supporting any part of firearm use or ownership creates division among firearms owners and that is why we do not have one single powerfull gun lobby in Canada like the NRA to fight for everyones rights!!!

Back up there bud. There IS a line. I wouldn't support a movement to allow moose hunting with 22 shorts either. Absolute blind obedience to others wishes has no part in gun ownership.

Discuss his arguments, present another argument to address the issue. Don't just call him down because he doesn't agree.
 
joe-nwt said:
This must be why the COs want to carry handguns......;)

Joe, I love your signature line:D but this statement shows no reason. COs want to carry handguns because they are law enforcement officers and since during the hunting season most of the offenders they deal with are armed that seems reasonable to me.
 
A true Canadian! BECAUSE. And don't forget to say we are not American as another reason. As all true Canadians know, we define ourselves in relation to our American cousins so saying your against handgun hunting becaues Americans do so we mustn't is a real Canadian answer. Well done.

You were joking but who posted about not doing everything the Americans did? the above is for you, sir.

I think maybe this is as good a time as any to move back towards discussing the issue, and not so much the personalities of those having the discussion.
 
I don't have a large desire to hunt with a handgun however I would like to carry one when I hunt. I think I should be able to carry and shoot a handgun wherever I can carry and shoot a rifle. I believe a large handgun is one of the most effective weapons in defending a dangerous game attack.

I don't have any problem with those that want to hunt with one and think that the range and not enough killing power arguments don't hold water. You probably shouldn't try to kill a deer with a 30-30 winchester with open sites at 350 yards and therefore you don't. Each tool has it's limitations. As Gatehouse already wrote a handgun is just a tool and like any other firearm we use it has it's limitations.

So the answer is yes.
 
geologist said:
I bet the archers who go for bear would like to legally carry a powerful handgun so that if the SHTF, they won't end up with their scalps peeled off their head and parts of their faces, necks, arm and legs chewed off.

I am sure they would, but that is sort of like being a little weakling and challenging the big bad bully while you are backed by a whole band of thugs.
Now if you want to hunt griz with a pointy stick, on his turf, well suck it up and don't come crying if he don't play by your rules.
 
Foxer said:
The concerns generally voice are that a) - it's a hell of a lot harder to aim a handgun accurately at hunting ranges (say, 100 yards) than a rifle, so you're just increasing the chances of a miss/wound for no reason,.

100yards is perhaps the extreme length of shot for most handguns. Most shot would likely be somewhat closer. Which do you think would be easier to shoot at close range at a fleeting target? A open sight rifle, or a scoped handgun? Or non-scoped handgun? In accomplished hands(meaning someone who practices, like all hunters should;) ) probably not much difference. Even for newbie, putting a crosshair on a target may be easier than lining up sites/target.

Foxer said:
b) - the shorter pipe of a handgun doesn't let the round develop enough power with many cartridges.

Many hangun/cartridge combos equal or outclass some of the rifle/cartridges that are commonly accepted as suitable.

While some envision "38 snubby" with regards to handgun hunting, I'm sure most "real" hunters are smart enough to use enough gun. Heck, some are even smart enough to use magnums in their rifles!;) :p
 
So we're back to the individual being the issue. Making good choices, am I close enough, is this a large enough calibre for this animal etc., the same choices a good rifle hunter makes. Hunters that make bad choices (shooting from too far away or with a lesser calibre than required) are just that, bad hunters, they are not only going to make those mistakes with a handgun, they are also going to make them with their rifle.

So again, a handgun for hunting (or a rifle for that matter) is only as good as the person using it. Handguns aren't inherently "bad" or under powered or inacurrate, there is no reason that they shouldn't be used for hunting. We are allowewd to hunt with rifles and we don't see people using Ruger 10/22's on Moose or trying 600 yard shots with their 30.06. If there are those that do, they will be equally retarded with a hand gun, but those that don't aren't automatically going to become idiots just because they can now use a handgun, they will apply the same diligence, safety, and care as when they hunt with a rifle. It comes down to the people, not the firearm. Not allowing handguns in the bush is not making unsafe hunters safer.
 
I shoot handgun bullets out of my BP rifle for hunting!! I no what its effective range is, I no how it groups at different ranges.

If I could handgun hunt Id use handgun bullets too...Id no its effective range, and how its groups as well !!
 
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