Hunting with a laser - is it legal ?

Ericbergeron said:
This question was triggered (pun intended) on a separate thread.

Here is what I found for Quebec:

"Laser guided sights (red dot) are allowed to hunt". It is not clear if this means a holographic sight (EOTech-like) or a laser pointer...

http://www.mrn.gouv.qc.ca/english/publications/online/wildlife/hunting-regulations/arms/gears.asp
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it may be different from one province to another, try calling ur local gunshop. if they don't seem certain,call the mnr...no sense torturing urself. btw effective range of laser is severely limited during daytime use, even red dot scopes can be difficult to see the dot on a sunny day.
 
I've not heard of any restrictions on sights for hunting. Surely anything that would help a hunter shoot more accurately would be an asset. I can't imagine the government making up rules that would be senseless ........ wait a sec! ...... uh, I take that back.
 
you would need to get a true laser and not a focused superbright LED. these devices are going to be restricted due to jackarses using them on aircraft. they're already being restricted in the US with no one allowed to own one more then 5mw in power. I happen to own a green one in 9mw for astronomy, so if you were ingenious (read really good with duct tape) you could probably jury rig something up for attaching one to your rifle. I should mention that while they come primarily in green, there are red and blue one's that are becoming more popular. it should also be said that these things shoot a visible beam of light at night for hundreds of meters, so if all you need is the dot to appear on the target, it may work, tho it might be too diffuse at the longer ranges.
 
there was a thread on probably the same forum that Eric mentions where people stated they had been told by Ontario COs that lasers were illegal for hunting. I searched the regulations summary and could find no mention of lasers- then I went to the consolidated Ontario statutes http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/navigation?file=browseStatutes&reset=yes&menu=browse&lang=en and found no mention either. However the statutes I found were all over the place thus hard to search so I'd still like to find a specific legal prohibition in ON if such exists.
 
Night hunting

20. (1) A person shall not, during the period from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise,

(a) hunt wildlife;

(b) have a firearm in the person’s possession in an area usually inhabited by wildlife, unless the firearm is unloaded and encased; or

(c) shine a light for the purpose of hunting wildlife.

this is what i've found so far. it doesn't specifically say u can't use it during the day, or during an eclipse...take it as u will
 
yep agree but that applies to night hunting only . Also believe it applies to illumination lights not targeting lasers. You can also get a license to hunt raccoon at night.

it's a grey :rolleyes: area - if you're walking back to camp at night with your gun encased and you shine a flashlight around to look for a landmark to get your bearings - are you hunting?

This is what drives me nuts about laws in Ontario - laws and regulations are vague or not written, yet COs or traffic police lay charges based on these vague and/or non -existent laws (and some times based on your attitude, for instance not tugging your forelock and saying "yes Massah" loud enough) , and hope you 'll plead guilty and pay the fine because you're too busy or poor to take it to court.
 
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my understanding is you can NOT project light to hunt. Red dot sights dont project light.

A laser that puts a red dot on your target IS projecting light therefore not allowed.

Feel free to correct me :D
 
farmerbob said:
my understanding is you can NOT project light to hunt. Red dot sights dont project light.

A laser that puts a red dot on your target IS projecting light therefore not allowed.

Feel free to correct me :D
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:agree:
i agree with u completely but still would like to see where it says we can't, otherwise all we have to go by is what the yogies tell us is the law.
 
Where does it say you can't "project light" during the day? - I admit it's silly but I'd like to have that knowledge if some cop ( fish or traffic) stops me because I have an Eotech - which does project light even if its just on a screen - on my rifle All i've ever seen is you can't use a light at night - which is fair enough, but doesn't address lasers...
 
JohnC said:
Where does it say you can't "project light" during the day? - I admit it's silly but I'd like to have that knowledge if some cop ( fish or traffic) stops me because I have an Eotech - which does project light even if its just on a screen - on my rifle All i've ever seen is you can't use a light at night - which is fair enough, but doesn't address lasers...
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eotechs and red dots are not in question. the light even if it is projected is done so within the scope and does not have an external beam. i agree with u that there doesn't seem to be a clear definition of the law here, but until there is, i wouldn't put one on anything i intend to use for hunting. seems like a good way to get charged with poaching.:nest:
 
From Alberta's regs.

All unlawful to use:

set out, use or employ any of the following items for the purpose of hunting any wildlife:
an arrow equipped with an explosive head,
a firearm that is capable of firing more than one bullet during one pressure of the trigger or a firearm that can be altered to operate as such,
a light,
a shotgun of a gauge greater than 10,
a device designed to deaden the sound of the report of a firearm,
recorded wildlife calls or sounds, or an electrically operated calling device, except when hunting snow geese with the use of calls or sounds that mimic snow geese and the hunting does not occur with the use of decoys that mimic migratory game birds other than snow geese.
a pistol or revolver,
live wildlife,
a swivel set or spring gun, or
a poisonous substance or an immobilizing drug.

Being that a laser is projected light it is illegal here.
 
I used to hunt coon at night, with a license and a licensed dog and a light all legal and all.
I once was in a gun store and they had these little lazers made for pellet guns made by crossman I think. Well being curios i wondered what it would do on my 22 cal rifle at night for hunting coon. So i bought one and mounted it on one of 22's and sighted it in for the average height of trees around here ( about 60 feet). That thing was the neatest thing i ever tried, shine your light on the coon and his eyes light up red and you put the red dot from the lazer inbetween his eyes and ka blam. No need to even shoulder the rifle , shoot from the hip lean the gun on a tree...how ever you want. It was a really neat shooting like that.

Never till this thread did i wonder if it was legal....hmmm
 
I'm not aware of any restriction in Manitoba. A pal of mine has one on his bear gun, which as a protection gun falls outside the rules for hunting in any case. The laser is excellent for close range low light situations, but is useless in bright light over snow.
 
skoalbandit said:
From Alberta's regs.

All unlawful to use:

set out, use or employ any of the following items for the purpose of hunting any wildlife:
an arrow equipped with an explosive head,
a firearm that is capable of firing more than one bullet during one pressure of the trigger or a firearm that can be altered to operate as such,
a light,
a shotgun of a gauge greater than 10,
a device designed to deaden the sound of the report of a firearm,
recorded wildlife calls or sounds, or an electrically operated calling device, except when hunting snow geese with the use of calls or sounds that mimic snow geese and the hunting does not occur with the use of decoys that mimic migratory game birds other than snow geese.
a pistol or revolver,
live wildlife,
a swivel set or spring gun, or
a poisonous substance or an immobilizing drug.

Being that a laser is projected light it is illegal here.
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Skoal, with respect, I think that calling a laser sight a "light" as it is meant in the regulation might be a misinterpretation, as the law was written to prevent someone from illuminating his target in the dark. A laser does not illuminate a target, it only marks it. I'm not saying you are wrong with respect to the legality of lasers when hunting in Alberta, just that your interpretation might be an arguable point.
 
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