Is there anything i can shoot without a hunting licence in Ontario?

Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act:

PART II
HUNTING, TRAPPING, FISHING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

General Restrictions

No hunting or trapping of certain species

5. (1) A person shall not hunt or trap,

(a) a specially protected mammal;

(b) a specially protected amphibian;

(c) a specially protected reptile;

(d) a specially protected invertebrate; or

(e) a specially protected bird or any other bird that belongs to a species that is wild by nature and is not a game bird.

Exceptions

(2) Clause (1) (e) does not apply to,

(a) an American crow, brown-headed cowbird, common grackle, house sparrow, red-winged blackbird or starling;

(b) a bird that is declared to be a migratory game bird in the Convention set out in the Schedule to the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (Canada);

(c) a bird that has been transported into Ontario, or propagated from stock that was transported into Ontario, and that is released with the Minister’s authorization under section 54, other than a specially protected bird or a member of a species prescribed by the regulations for the purpose of this clause; or

(d) any other bird, other than a specially protected bird, that is hunted with the authorization of the Minister. 1997, c. 41, s. 5.

Requirement for hunting or trapping licence

6. (1) Except under the authority of a licence and in accordance with the regulations, a person shall not hunt or trap,

(a) a black bear, white-tailed deer, moose, caribou or elk;

(b) a game mammal that is not referred to in clause (a);

(c) a game bird;

(d) a furbearing mammal;

(e) a game reptile;

(f) a game amphibian;

(g) a bird referred to in subsection 5 (2); or

(h) wildlife that is not referred to in clauses (a) to (g), the hunting of which is not prohibited by section 5.

Trappers

(2) Despite subsection (1)’s requirement for a licence but subject to section 9 and to any requirement for a licence under section 79, the holder of a licence to trap furbearing mammals may, in accordance with the licence and without any other licence, in the area described in the licence and to the extent that the open season falls within the period from September 1 in a year to June 30 of the following year,

(a) hunt or trap black bear and other game mammals, other than white-tailed deer, moose, caribou or elk;

(b) hunt game birds, other than wild turkey;

(c) hunt birds referred to in subsection 5 (2); and

(d) hunt wildlife referred to in clause (1) (h).

Farmers

(3) Despite subsection (1)’s requirement for a licence, a farmer or a member of a farmer’s family who resides with the farmer may, during the open season and without a licence, on the farmer’s land,

(a) hunt or trap furbearing mammals;

(b) hunt or trap game mammals, other than black bear, white-tailed deer, moose, caribou or elk;

(c) hunt game birds, other than wild turkey;

(d) hunt or trap game reptiles or game amphibians;

(e) hunt birds referred to in subsection 5 (2); and

(f) hunt wildlife referred to in clause (1) (h). 1997, c. 41, s. 6.
 
Around my part of Ontario, it used to be that a plinker was encouraged to call into the MNR office and tell them ahead of time what you were doing (eg. beg for permission). Now, unless it's open season for something and you have a license, they'll almost always deem you as hunting out of season, even if you're just banging up some pop cans. The conservation officer's stock response is: 'how do I know you weren't hunting 5 minutes ago?' An if you happen to be carrying something that is capable of taking bear, they'll automatically figure you're hunting bear.

Then you'll get the speech about not feeding bears, as they strip your truck to look for anything you might have poached.

Not a friendly bunch of guys any more here in Ontario. They have so little money to get out into the field that most likely you can plink with impunity, but don't get caught.


If you run into a Conservation Officer and he concludes that you are hunting instead of target shooting he could charge you. If he's convinced you're just plinking then you'll be fine.

Get the small game licence. Also be aware that Ontario hunting regulations put certain shot and cartridge size restrictions depending where you are and what seasons are open.
 
i would have to think that if there is no evidence of hunting, i.e. a dead something or if the co didn't witness you shoot at a bird or animal, then any charge he may lay could easily overturned. ofcourse the next item is, who wants to go through the process of having to proove their innocence in a court of law. there's already enough people cited for minor infractions, where it's cheaper to pay the fine rather than fight it when it's debatable whether there was an offence or not.
 
i would have to think that if there is no evidence of hunting, i.e. a dead something or if the co didn't witness you shoot at a bird or animal, then any charge he may lay could easily overturned. ofcourse the next item is, who wants to go through the process of having to proove their innocence in a court of law. there's already enough people cited for minor infractions, where it's cheaper to pay the fine rather than fight it when it's debatable whether there was an offence or not.

Sorry buddy, this is one instance where you would have to PROVE you were not hunting.

Look up the definition for hunting. You dont need to kill anything to be hunting. I had a discussion with a CO and if you are scouting (on the trail of, see regs) you could be charged with hunting wether you have a gun or not!!!! Depends on the disposition of the CO


HUNTING:

Includes lying in wait for, searching for, being on the trail of, pursuing,
chasing or shooting at wildlife, whether or not the wildlife is killed,
injured, captured or harassed. You need a hunting licence to do any of
these things, except where the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act states
otherwise.
 
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does this apply to your own land as well?
ie: is it OK to shoot common black squirrels on your own property if they are destroying things like a vegetable garden or garbage containers without a hunting license?
 
does this apply to your own land as well?
ie: is it OK to shoot common black squirrels on your own property if they are destroying things like a vegetable garden or garbage containers without a hunting license?

This falls under the wildlife act. You can do what you want to protectyour home and property. Except for some spiecies like deer, moose etc

Here ya go

Protection of property
31. (1) If a person believes on reasonable grounds that wildlife is damaging or is about to damage the person’s property, the person may, on the person’s land,
(a) harass the wildlife for the purpose of deterring it from damaging the person’s property; or
(b) capture or kill the wildlife.

Assuming it is legal to discharge a firearm where you live
 
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Every hunter in Ontario should have access to this

Fish and wildlife act

http://www.canlii.org/on/laws/sta/1997c.41/20080115/whole.html

Oh and

Schedule 2
GAME MAMMALS

Common Name
Scientific Name
Bear, Black
Caribou, Woodland
Cottontail
Deer, White-tailed
Elk, American (Wapiti)
Hare, European
Hare, Varying (Snowshoe)
Moose
Squirrel, Gray (Black)
Squirrel, Fox
Ursus americanus
Rangifer tarandus
Sylvilagus floridanus
Odocoileus virginianus
Cervus elaphus
Lepus europaeus
Lepus americanus
Alces alces
Sciurus carolinensis
Sciurus niger
Under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act squirrle are game mammals
 
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Sorry buddy, this is one instance where you would have to PROVE you were not hunting.

Look up the definition for hunting. You dont need to kill anything to be hunting. I had a discussion with a CO and if you are scouting (on the trail of, see regs) you could be charged with hunting wether you have a gun or not!!!! Depends on the disposition of the CO

i know the definition of hunting is harrassing, lying in wait for, molesting, worrying etc., my point was, in court you would still probably have a strong case with no dead game around, regardless of the wording in the fish and wildlife conservation act. i didn't make myself clear tho. it isn't worth a court case to be out ,even on your own property without a hunting lisence, even if your plinking, and end up getting charged for what you alluded to. the only safe place to be is at a gun club. sorry about that.it really wouldn't surprise me in the least if some one did get charged without a hunting lisence,even if they were plinking.
 
i would have to think that if there is no evidence of hunting, i.e. a dead something or if the co didn't witness you shoot at a bird or animal, then any charge he may lay could easily overturned. ofcourse the next item is, who wants to go through the process of having to proove their innocence in a court of law. there's already enough people cited for minor infractions, where it's cheaper to pay the fine rather than fight it when it's debatable whether there was an offence or not.

when you pay the fine you are admitting that you are guilty
 
This falls under the wildlife act. You can do what you want to protect your home and property. Except for some species like deer, moose etc

Here ya go



Assuming it is legal to discharge a firearm where you live

thank you :)

not a firearm, btw. it actually applies to my mom - i bought her a <500 FPS Weihrauch air pistol to shoot squirrels that were eating her plant bulbs, vegetables and chewing up her bird feeders. shes turning into Billy the Kid, making 20 yard snap-shots on squirrels with pistol sights :eek:

the cool part is that this is secretly preparing her for the zombocalypse and she doesnt even know it.
 
You can shoot all the barn pigeons you want in Ontario and you do not need a licence. There are a lot of farmers that will welcome you as long as you do not put holes in the roof.
 
Can anyone provide a link to the BC regs on what is a pest species and may be controlled without a hunting license?

My favorite pests, to be destroyed, without a hunting licence, are English Starlings, and Grey Squirrels.They are considered invasive, and can be shot on sight.[As long it is legal to shoot in area.] Blueberry farmers often welcome, the deadly harrassment, airgunners can do to a flock of starlings.Gray sqirrels have created much turmoil around here,[Southern BC] displacing native species, and overunning neighborhoods.[Mine is a squirrel free zone]Basically anything that was, brought here ,from somewhere else ,can be hunted without a licence .[Except gamebirds[Ring-neck Pheasants etc.]
 
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