I've only used a .22lr or a .410 for hunting so far. I was wondering if there were other calibers (besides .22wmr and .17hmr) that could be used for hunting grouse. I know .22lr is the most practical, but I think I'm just looking for an excuse for a new rifle.
legal calibers for grouse hunting in Ontario
- Thread starter sub1986
- Start date
There is no caliber restriction for shooting grouse in Ontario. For wing shooting, any shotgun will work. For sluicing on the ground, headshots are required if using solid single projectiles so as not to destroy the meat. I have shot them on the ground with my crossbow, pins them right to the ground. You can even carry an air pistol for shooting grouse as long as it doesn't exceed 500 fps.
Things changed a little this year:
There are regions where .275 is the limit for caliber, and for the rest of ontario you cant hunt with anything above 400 foot-pounds which pretty much limits you to rimfire (22 mag or 17hmr) during large game season. So if moose/bear is open then can't hunt grouse with a center-fire. Unless there is a center fire that produces less than 400 foot pounds.
There are regions where .275 is the limit for caliber, and for the rest of ontario you cant hunt with anything above 400 foot-pounds which pretty much limits you to rimfire (22 mag or 17hmr) during large game season. So if moose/bear is open then can't hunt grouse with a center-fire. Unless there is a center fire that produces less than 400 foot pounds.
"If you are hunting small game in an area where there is an open season
for deer, moose, elk, or black bear, you may not possess or use a rifle
of greater muzzle energy than 400 foot-pounds or shells loaded with
ball or with shot larger than No. 2 shot (or if using non-toxic shot, you
may not use steel shot larger than triple BBB steel shot, or bismuth
shot that is larger than double BB bismuth shot), unless you possess a
valid licence to hunt deer, moose, elk or black bear as the case may be. " - Ontario small-game regulations
I guess then if you get one of those licenses you can use whatever you want. Right?
for deer, moose, elk, or black bear, you may not possess or use a rifle
of greater muzzle energy than 400 foot-pounds or shells loaded with
ball or with shot larger than No. 2 shot (or if using non-toxic shot, you
may not use steel shot larger than triple BBB steel shot, or bismuth
shot that is larger than double BB bismuth shot), unless you possess a
valid licence to hunt deer, moose, elk or black bear as the case may be. " - Ontario small-game regulations
I guess then if you get one of those licenses you can use whatever you want. Right?
If you have a big game tag (deer, elk, moose, bear) the 400 ft.lbs rule for small game no longer applies to you.
This law was made to stop people from pretending to be small game hunters and dropping a big game animal with a slug out of a shotgun. Or wandering into the bush hunting small game with a .300 Win mag. It does not mean you can not shoot a grouse with a big game rifle.
There are loads larger than .275 caliber that are less than 400 ft lbs of energy and effective on small game. I use the 10 grains Unique under a 100 Gr half-jacket bullet load in my 30-30, makes for ~1200 FPS and 318 Ft Lbs of energy. Like an over-sized .22, but more quiet.
It doesn't mean anything if you are carrying full power loads at the same time, however.
It doesn't mean anything if you are carrying full power loads at the same time, however.
