Hunting in Ontario with a pellet gun?

LeePeterson

LeePeterson

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Hello guys!

I was curious as to why the MNR doesn’t allow hunting with pellet guns with a muzzle velocity over 500FPS? Yet they allow .22LR. I was thinking my .22cal pellet gun at 800 FPS would be good for bunnies.
 
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I always thought this is a 'government employees can't write english clearly' issue. A pellet gun over 500fps is legally considered a firearm (subject to registration, safe storage/transportation, requiring a PAL/POL). As such it would fall under the designation of a firearm for the MNR regs. I BELIEVE that the sub-500fps was included as an ADDITION to the firearms sentence, not as a limitation, was poorly written and has never been rephrased. I'd be curious to find the actual law to see how it's worded. I took a quick look but didn't find it. Anyway, that's the interpretation that makes the most sense.

The 2006 Hunting Regulations say "Firearms include air or pellet guns, bows and crossbows. You may use semi-automatic or repeating firearms for hunting in Ontario, but not handguns or fully automatic firearms. Air and pellet pistols with a muzzle velocity less than 500 feet per second may be used for hunting in Ontario."
 
That is the key...and it IS worded clearly:
You may use semi-automatic or repeating firearms for hunting in Ontario, but not handguns

...................................... and .................................

Air and pellet pistols with a muzzle velocity less than 500 feet per second may be used for hunting in Ontario.

In simple terms: You cannot hunt with a pellet PISTOL over 500 FPS, because then it is considered a firearm (specifically a handgun), but under 500 FPS is OK.

So yes, you can hunt with your 800 fps rifle, but not a 501 fps pistol.

Hope this clears it up!

Ryan
 
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I've read that probably a dozen times over the last few years. You're right, it is written clearly.

Maybe I need to get hooked on phonics or something...
 
brianp said:
Maybe I need to get hooked on phonics or something...
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I think I need to as well, it doesn’t seem so clear. This is what’s got me F-up.

Air and pellet pistols with a muzzle velocity less then 500 fps may be used for hunting.

Now does that mean all air guns with more then 500fps and all pellet pistols.

I don't know, I think they could have made it more clear.
 
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as a general rule set by an appendix introduced with the express consent of BC and AB hunters:

<<You cannot hunt with a non-semiautomatic whatever in Ontario.>>

this includes pellet pistols, revolvers, rifles, slings and spears.
 
brianp said:
I always thought this is a 'government employees can't write english clearly' issue. A pellet gun over 500fps is legally considered a firearm (subject to registration, safe storage/transportation, requiring a PAL/POL). As such it would fall under the designation of a firearm for the MNR regs.
Click to expand...

Actually the Firearms regs and the firearms act, have DIFFERENT definitions for what is a "firearm".

Firearms

Firearms include air or pellet guns, bows and crossbows.
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plus the transportation rules are different as well (eg prior to sun rise..)

got to love a confusing government.
 
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I believe that ckc123 is refering to the Hunting regs vs the FA.

Where the FA act states that the transportation of a non-restricted; the said gun must be unloaded.

In the hunting regs (Ontario, as this is an Ontario hunting thread), states that firearms (including airguns, bows, guns, etc) must be encased up to 1/2 hr before sunrise and recased 1/2 hr after sunset, where game is likely to be present.
 
eltorro said:
I have to disagree here. You positively have to encase the pellet guns as well.
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I think we are saying the same thing..

in the FA you do not have to encase or lock a pellet gun but in the hunting regs you have to lock and encase it.
 
Yup.
I thought we're debating the differrences between the hunting regulations regarding firearms using solid proppelant and those using spring tension/compressed air.
 
LeePeterson said:
Hello guys!

I was curious as to why the MNR doesn’t allow hunting with pellet guns with a muzzle velocity over 500FPS? Yet they allow .22LR. I was thinking my .22cal pellet gun at 800 FPS would be good for bunnies.
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Crypes, that means that I should probably leave my pellet gun that I take for my back up moose rifle at home now. She will be sadly missed.
 
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