Handguns for hunting? What do you think?

[Nine]

I would love to take the 22/45 grouse and squirrel hunting! I'd also try my hand and deer hunting with a 44 if given the opportunity....

 

[Foxer]

Also, we could use the "get closer, rather than bang the animal from 300 meters" angle. More difficult, so more chance for the animal.

Oh JEEBUS no!!

All that'll do is give the anti's ammo and we'll wind up with 'slugguns only' or some such thing.

 

[Foxer]

I know what you are saying foxer, but would like to ask another question. If you had a choice between rifle, handgun or bow which would you choose?

Well - perhaps the operative word there is 'choose'

I know what i'd choose. But unless someone can demonstrate a problem with the other choices (ie, demonstrate they're ineffective to the point they should not be used) then others should have the freedom to make their own choice.

Are bow hunters unethical?

No. No no. A little weird maybe.

Hunting with anything can and will be fun as long as it is done within reasonable limits. I would have no problem taking a moose at the proper range with a heavily loaded .44 magnum handgun. I will say it again "WITHIN REASONABLE LIMITS"

Sure.

LIke i said, i PERSONALLY have a problem with trying to make hunting more 'challenging' by equipping yourself with a less effective tool. Bowhunting I can understand a little - especially in those places where you can't use a gun safely.

However - i'm long past mistaking my personal choices as grounds to inflict my beliefs on others

I would have some concerns about handguns for big game, but realistically unless it can be shown that it's actually unethical (like hunting deer with 22lr) then i'd say let people choose.

 

[crazy_davey]

then i'd say let people choose.

I agree, too bad Canada is not as free a country as some of us would like to believe.

Handgun hunting should be a freedom that we as reasponsible hunters could choose if we would like. Too bad we do not have that choice, and probably never will

 

[Foxer]

Too bad we do not have that choice, and probably never will

We can have anything we want bud. All we have to do is say 'yes' one more time than they say 'no'. Never forget it. Their greatest strenght is thier ability to convince us of what is hopeless.

I don't know how much support it'd get from most hunters tho. A lot of hunters still have problems with pistols. I think you'd have a tough education program ahead of you showing them it's worth considering before you could really start the battle.

 

[tootall]

Collecting some links right now

http://www.handgunhunt.com/

http://www.sskindustries.com/hhi.htm

http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections...ide_to_Big_Game_Handgun_Hunting_10120412.html

http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Alaska/Handgun_Hunting_the_Alaskan_Brown_Bear_02050401.html

http://www.foggymountain.com/handgun-bear-hunts.shtml

 

[Calum]

Just like the thread about a 30-30 for moose. Most guys said they would never use a 30-30 on a moose, yet bowhunters take moose all the time and some even with trad bows, so why the hell not use a 30-30! Are bow hunters unethical?

Not trying to start an ethics argument, I just dont understand the way some hunters think sometimes.

I agree.

There are guys in our area that use 30/30's all the time for Moose, and all the way down to Grouse. I know I'm packing my new one for Deer this year...Iron sights and all.

Also yah I'd like to be able to use handguns hunting...esp' one of these bad boys:
http://www.tcarms.com/TC_HTML/TC_G2_Pistol_Home.htm

 

[prosper]

Elephant & Cape buffalo with a S&W 500, anyone?

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_167_28/ai_110457317

 

[Levi Garrett]

Its like shooting Moose with a 22 rifle, its still a rifle but not an option.
Shooting a deer with a 45 LC at 200 meters not an option, but at 25 meters, oh ya. Common sense must surface even if it were legal in Canada.
Frank

 

[gorky]

I recall a conversation with an old German guy. He was explaining how hunting is in Germany (Difficult and Expensive!), and mentioned that it was common to carry a sidearm for the Coup De Grace

This is quite true and makes sense on both an ethical and logical level. If you have an downed and injured animal, you want to finish it off. Now, what if you are only carrying that 375 H+H ?

However, that was exactly the problem. The governments of days gone by did not use a logical basis for their decisions. Fear always seems to be the preferred basis for public policy and in Canada, what is scarying than those oh-so-terrifying handguns ? I am still waiting for Windy Wendy to call them the tool of the devil ...

I am all for hunting with handguns providing that there are calibre restrictions similar to those in place with rifles (deer must be taken with at least ### calibre, etc) just so you do not get some inexperienced monkey trying to kill a moose with a 22mag or something. Personally, I would love to have a 22lr pistol for shooting gophers when using my centerfire guns for long range shots. Hell, I would love to use my IPSC guns for gophers - great practice and a VERY humane kill.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Handgun hunting

If we're deemed responsible enough to purchase handguns, own & shoot them then I would think we must also be responsible enough to hunt with them. I see no reason why we shouldn't at least have that choice.
I don't believe the question of ethics is applicable to handguns any more than it is to any tool or firearm of choice. You either are an ethical hunter or you are not.
I am in the process of making preliminary inquiries to go on a Moose hunt in Alaska within the next few years, using a handgun. If the plan does materialize, I plan to use a S&W 500 with handloads. Reguardless of what firearm I use, the ethics are, I take the shot if I'm confident I can make it and make it count.
Most likely our greatest problem as legitimate firearms owners in Canada is our reactive tendencies. We seem to wait until 'something' happens and then we 'try' to react. Too late. You can be the best goalie in the NHL but if all you're doing is reacting in a defensive position, sooner or later, 'one' is going to get by you. If we took a proactive stance and lobbied, for legalizing handgun hunting, and while 'they' were reacting to that item, we came up with another issue to enhance our position, sooner or later, we might get 'one' by 'them'. If nothing else, at least we'd have 'them' busy on defense rather than offense.

 

[Fall Guy]

Is this a federal or provincial issue? It is complicated. There are federal Criminal Code implications and provincial hunting regulations. Marrying the two hurts just to think about it. And I am sure that 'proficiency and safety courses' would have to factor in as well.
I have, recently, contacted the OFAH on this very issue and they seemed 'uninterested' in pursuing this further. If the loudest voice in Ontario doesn't care, this is an uphill (like Everest uphill) battle. Where do I sign up?

 

[safeguardguy]

I love hunting with a hand cannon. it is great fun and a novel challenge. Lots easier to tramp around in the brush too. As far as wounding animals, any reckless hunter with a rifle or handgun can do that. It is all about responsible hunting and shot selection.

Johnn you are right about getting them to be on the defense. Thats what we need more of.

 

[Foxer]

Is this a federal or provincial issue? It is complicated. There are federal Criminal Code implications and provincial hunting regulations. Marrying the two hurts just to think about it.

It's not bad at all actually.

It's provincial as to what you can and cannot hunt with.

It's federal to allow for the issue of ATT's - but they will be issued for any legitimate and legal purpose.

Therefore if hunting were legal within a province, the feds would be compelled to issue an att for someone to use their firearm in accordance with the license provided by the province.

We could have it tomorrow if enough people wanted it. The big obsticle is that MOST hunters simply don't want to see handgun hunting of big game. They are either against it, or ambivilent and won't support or protest it. So there's just not enough 'Drive' to push it thru.

If enough hunters wanted it - we could likely have it pretty quick in most provinces.

 

[Gibbs505]

There is no reason why we shouldn't be allowed to!!

 

[guess_kto]

We are not talking as much about ATT as about ATC. All we need is to add hunters to ATC wildness approved occupation list and we can hunt withing current law... Only bureaucracy limits us for now. Not the law itself. Since getting ATC for hunter was so slim to none, most provinces don't bother with regulations and decleared that "in general it's illegal to hunt with handgun"... Basically, right now you cannot hunt with any restricted or prohibited firearm... which doesn't make sence since I can do a nice varmint job with AR-15 with heavy barrel.... There is no logic to ban handgun use in wildness except for Liberal paranoia or anti-gun hidden agenda

 

[guess_kto]

This issue is also pro-active since it's step ahead on anti's agenda - offence is the best deffence... keep them busy with this issue and they wouldn't bother with our long guns too. If handguns banned, long guns will follow right after. NDP already want to ban any semi-automatic. Let's ask CSSA and NFA about this as well as local hunting organizations.... If you ask about it on top of me, it would make them think + it's excellent chance to show us how they can work "behind the scenes" and add a little part into regulations that can mean a lot to us.

 

[dumbdawg]

i would love to be able to have a side arm on me while out hunting