Hunting Turkey with a rimfire in British columbia

Unless the hunting regulations have changed since I left the province, I'm pretty sure it's illegal to hunt turkey with a rimfire in BC.

I'd suggest calling your local CO tomorrow for clarification.

AFAIK, it is shotgun or bow only for turkey during their seasons.
 
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maybe not

According to this, rimfire is fair game, but I cant find the maximum magazine size :(
turkey_zpsdad4e0a8.jpg

turkey_zpsdad4e0a8.jpg.html


MapleSugar said:
Unless the hunting regulations have changed since I left the province, I'm pretty sure it's illegal to hunt turkey with a rimfire in BC.

I'd suggest calling your local CO tomorrow for clarification.
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AFAIK, it is shotgun or bow only for turkey during their seasons.
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It looks as though I stand corrected.

Can you provide a link to that page, please?

I couldn't find that information on their bloody website, and I don't have a copy of the regulations.

It used to be that you couldn't hunt pheasant or turkey with a rimfire or centerfire rifle in BC.

Grouse and quail were OK with a .22LR though.

I wonder when they changed the regulations?

Once again, the CO will have the answers to your questions about magazine capacity.

FWIW, I wouldn't hunt turkey with anything less than a 12 gauge and #4 shot.

They are supposed to be tough birds to knock down.
 
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You are absolutely legally allowed to use a rimfire for bobcat, lynx, wolverine, coyote, squirrels, upland game birds, turkeys...but not migratory
game birds in BC. I use nothing but my .17HMR for turkey hunting in BC, and I've shot five with it so far, it works really well and you don't have to
work so hard calling them in to that 40 yard zone...my furthest kill was 160 yards. There is no magazine restriction on rimfires for hunting, but you
probably would be wise to be seen by a CO using the ten round mags standard with the Ruger 10/22 and Remington 597, and not the 25/30 rounders.
If you're using a .22 for turkey, I'd use nothing but 40 grain CCI Velocitors and make 80-90 yards your max range, which still doubles your reach as
compared to a 12 gauge. With my .17HMR, I use 20 grain Hornady ammo(most consistent and powerful by test), and I limit myself to a max range
of 160 yards. Usually you'll see your turkey at well under 100 yards and with both the .22 and .17 you'll be in range, where the shotgun hunter is
still working to call the bird within range. Maple Sugar, I shot my first tom with #6 shot at 40 yards and it took off, so I had to shoot it again. The
second one had me switch to copper plated #5 turkey ammo with 2 ounces of shot, and it anchored the bird at 43 yards...so I'd recommend #5 if
you're going with lead, as you'll have more pellets than with #4.
 
Sully99 said:
22 magnum is plenty adequate for turkey, that's what I'll be using tomorrow here around Cranbrook.
According to the regs, rimfire is is okay for turkey in the spring but not in the fall.
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Where the heck did you read that you can't use rimfire for turkey in the fall? .22LR(Velocitor 40 grain) up to 80 yards, .22WMR and .17HMR
up to about 160 yards or as close to that as you can accurately shoot with the .22 WMR.
 
I would LOVE to use one of my HM2's on turkeys... but it is not legal here in Ontario... But, as for shooting them at 160 yards... I would not even consider it... not because it can't be done, but because the biggest rush turkey hunting is calling a gobbling tom into your lap... I have shot most of mine under 15 yards and some alot closer... the reason I would like to use HM2 is to precisely place a head shot rather than a 2 oz. load of #5's.
 
It's in the regs where the dates are listed for each species.
October is bow and shotgun season only.
In the spring you can use rimfire and the turkey has to be bearded.
At least that's the case here in region 4.

Actually, if you're in the Okanagan, I believe you can hunt with rimfire in the fall, as well as spring,
but here in region 4, rimfire is legal only in the spring, for some reason.

Sorry about the confusion.
 
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having never hunted turkey, only watched on TV with very serious 'mericans using anti-aircraft shotguns (10 and 12 guage choked up tight and heavy shot) aside from it being legal which it obviously is what are the chances of getting a second shot off and hitting the now flying bird (they seem "jumpy" on TV)...
 
Brutus said:
BC has some rather unique regulations. AFAIK, this is the one and only Canadian province that allows any rifle, rimfire or centrefire, for turkey hunting. I have no opinion one or another on this. Just pointing it out.
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I found that centerfire is exeption, all small games but turkey!
only rimfire is fair
 
pisces-guy said:
Maple Sugar, I shot my first tom with #6 shot at 40 yards and it took off, so I had to shoot it again. The
second one had me switch to copper plated #5 turkey ammo with 2 ounces of shot, and it anchored the bird at 43 yards...so I'd recommend #5 if
you're going with lead, as you'll have more pellets than with #4.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I bought an extra-full turkey choke to go with my Browning BPS Stalker, with the intent of using it someday.

I'm in Northern Ontario right now, so it hasn't seen any use yet.

I bought about ten boxes of Winchester #4 lead shotshells before the prices jumped.

I'll remember that info about the #5's though.

I mounted a Burris SpeedDot on my 10/22 thinking it would make a nice grouse hunting gun if I could manage a headshot.

Things sure have changed in BC, I never would have thought it would be legal to hunt any gamebirds other than grouse or quail with a rimfire.
 
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I always thought my BRNO 302 Combo 12ga/22hornet would be the best Turkey killing rig up close a away!

Neat to see you can hunt with Rimfire in BC, COOOLLLLL! 22Mag would be my minumum though.

Dale Z!
 
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