Hypothetical Scenario – Question:

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mogul_pro

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Hypothetical Scenario – Question:

I have my pal and all, no hunting licenses or permits (YET), but plan to shortly.

This coming weekend I will be going camping in a remote area in Ontario.

I would like to bring a shotgun with me, primarily for defense purposes (Allowed to do this?). Apparently there are a lot of bears where we are going and the girlfriend (her idea) said she would feel safer if I bring one.

Now obviously I will not be actively hunting on this trip (or hunting at all), but should the situation arise where I need to use the shotgun for defense against an animal while camping, what are the repercussions I should know about or any facts I need to be aware of? I have tried to look up this info on various sites without finding any results. Can you be fined for hunting without a license if it was legitimately for defense? Also, after the fact is there anything I should be doing or people I should notify?


I am not overly concerned because I don’t think that situation will come up, but its good to be prepared and I know a lot of people on here really know there stuff.

So lets here it guys…
(Thanks for your council/advice in advance.)
 
Well you obviously have the internet at your disposal to check your provincial regulations. Personaly, I'd do eveything on the up and up, but if my life or well being was being threatened, I'd do what I gotta do to preserve life and limb and deal with the consequences afterwards. :)
 
mogul_pro said:
I have my pal and all, no hunting licenses or permits (YET), but plan to shortly.

This coming weekend I will be going camping in a remote area in Ontario.

I would like to bring a shotgun with me, primarily for defense purposes (Allowed to do this?). Apparently there are a lot of bears where we are going and the girlfriend (her idea) said she would feel safer if I bring one.

Now obviously I will not be actively hunting on this trip (or hunting at all), but should the situation arise where I need to use the shotgun for defense against an animal while camping, what are the repercussions I should know about or any facts I need to be aware of? I have tried to look up this info on various sites without finding any results. Can you be fined for hunting without a license if it was legitimately for defense? Also, after the fact is there anything I should be doing or people I should notify?


I am not overly concerned because I don’t think that situation will come up, but its good to be prepared and I know a lot of people on here really know there stuff.

So lets here it guys…
(Thanks for your council/advice in advance.)
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Answer is NO you cant have your shotgun with you and yes the CO can charge you for hunting without a license if it was legitimately for defense along with a few other charges
 
My buddy killed two black bears that raided his camp site this spring. He called the MNR before hand and they said that if he felt that his life and property were in danger, do what you got to do! He shot them both and called the MNR back, they sent a truck to pick them and never asked any questions. Your best bet is to call them first and find out.
 
Red foreman said:
Man Ontario is one messed up province,in B.C. I think of a rifle as standard camping equipment,just like a coleman stove.
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You got it right! The rifle is on the top of the list for me, forget something else, but not the rifle or ammo.
 
I think it is hit and miss depending on which CO you run into. If you have a stored shotgun with you and it is not loaded, the CO cannot/ should not charge you with hunting. Look at it like in the same manner as you have to have your gun encased till half our before sun up. Your not hunting untill it is uncased

On an ATV trip a few years ago I had a shotgun with me. It was in its scabard on the bike when a CO cam to check us out. He only asked one of the guys for a fishing license. Never ven questioned what was in the scabbard. Now if your walking around the bush with a loaded gun in case a bear attacks.... Might be a totally different story.

Best bet is to talk to CO's from the aea yu plan on visiting
 
I agree with contacting the CO in advance, but if you are legitimatly at risk, does really matter if you will get fined afterward? Given the choice between getting mauled by a bear and ...well pretty much anything else, I would choose the latter. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
 
Here in Thunder Bay area a fellow was charged with letting meat rot after shooting a nuisance bear at a local lake and then just dragging it into the bush without calling MNR. MNR said if they had been called there would not have been a problem.
 
I thought Criminal Code said if the only way to protect your life is to break the law, you are free of the charge...

Examples:

1) You got no way to protect your life from a bear unless you scale a fence with 'No Trespassing' sign on it. Property owner is sueing you for trespassing. You should be free to go.

2) Someone is trying to knife you and you hit him with your DSLR on his head and kill the person; you should be free to go.
 
Im wondering: who would know if you had a shotgun in your dufflebag in your tent at night and locked in the trunk of the car during the day?

And under what circumstances would you allow someone to search your vehicle without warrant?

And what is your life worth?
 
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Ummmm...holy.

You've stated there are bears in the area....either bring the proper equipment, or just don't go.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save your daughter Mr. _____, I was going to bring a shotgun, but I didn't want to get in trouble"

Seriously. A rifle is standard equipment when I'm in the bush in bear country, wether I'm picking morels in the spring or scouting pre-season...ESPECIALLY if I have my wife or daughters with me.

If you are really that concerned....do you have a hunting lic? 'Cause 'yotes are open year round ;)
 
JB said:
Answer is NO you cant have your shotgun with you and yes the CO can charge you for hunting without a license if it was legitimately for defense along with a few other charges
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BS, you don't need a hunting license to carry a gun in the bush, UNLESS there is a BIG GAME season open, which there is not. You could be clay shooting for all they know, and target shooting is not illegal.

A hunting license won't do you any good if you shoot a bear anyway, they're not in season...
 
OK folks

Anybody got the stats on bear attacks in Ontaro for the last twenty years.

Never mind......

While the odds of being killed by a black bear are rare they can be a serious threat to person safety. Since 1900, there have been 58 deaths due to black bears across Canada and the United States. Thirty-two of those fatalities have been since 1980 while the 12 deaths since 2000 account for 21 percent of the total.
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Unless you've got a pound or two of bacon strapped to your ass or your traveling in a well used dumpster, chances of getting attacked by a bear are pretty slim.

For you from out west, we dont really need to carry because we dont have grizzly. Honestly I am more afraid of getting attacked by a cow moose with young.

CO's WILL interprid that you are hunting if you are carrying a loaded firearm around in the bush. It will be up to YOU to prove them wrong!!!!!!!

If you have one squared away, somewhat handily available there should be now problem. But then again this is lieberal ontario!
 
cdngunner said:
OK folks

Anybody got the stats on bear attacks in Ontaro for the last twenty years.

Never mind......



Unless you've got a pound or two of bacon strapped to your ass or your traveling in a well used dumpster, chances of getting attacked by a bear are pretty slim.

For you from out west, we dont really need to carry because we dont have grizzly. Honestly I am more afraid of getting attacked by a cow moose with young.

CO's WILL interprid that you are hunting if you are carrying a loaded firearm around in the bush. It will be up to YOU to prove them wrong!!!!!!!

If you have one squared away, somewhat handily available there should be now problem. But then again this is lieberal ontario!
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Sorry, but that's the wrong attiude...."It probably won't happen so why worry about it?"

Do you have a fire extinguisher in your house? Why? The chances of a house fire are pretty slim......
The old adage: "It's better to have it and not need it is far better than to need it and not have it" rings VERY true.

This past spring I had my 5 year old up in the bush wiith me picking morels (mushrooms), when low and behold a small sow comes through the hardwoods directly towards us at about 75 yards. The deerfield stays slung on the shoulder, and I point out the bear to Emmy.
I see movement 35 yards to my left, and see twin cubs climbing a beech.....NOW things have changed. rifle comes off the shoulder, 5 year old is put behind me, and momma is dead center in the crosshairs with 5X 240gr. SP's in wait.

At that point only do I announce myself to the bear (45 yards now). She looks up, turns tail and runs, with the cubs hot on her tail.

What if she had decided to act differently? That's the point...you don't know what a wild animal will do.

My worst case? A dead sow and two orphaned cubs, and a healthy 5 year old to bring back to her mother.

Worst case if I had the attitude that you display above? Not good.

YMMV of course, but I've been on the bad side of a blackie three times, and I know better than to be passive about the threat.
 
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Wrong way.

Yes there are areas where the chance of running into a bear are higher then others. I'm not arguing that. I myself usually take a 12 guage along, but I do not carry it around loaded during the day. it is more for a "camp defence" gun at night.

truth is though, that we are more than likely to be killed travelling to and from our campng areas.

I dont know of your situation but there is a big difference between bears which are close to populus areas and bears out in the "wild"

I know more people who have been attacked by moose then bear

everyones mileage may vary.

ps no I dont have a fire extingusher. I rather do pro-active things to lessen the chance of fire the reactionary to put it out
 
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