Presently the Wildlife Regulations here in Newfoundland and Labrador only permit the use of .22 calibre rimfire rifles for small game hunting (snowshoe hares, grouse, ptarmigan). Some of the gun clubs in the Province are now looking to persuade Government to allow the use of other rimfire calibres, particularly the .17HMR. So, I'm wondering, what other Provinces and Territories have caught up with the times and allow the use of the .17HMR ?
Legality of 17HMR for hunting in Canada
- Thread starter CV32
- Start date
Here is what the Ontario Regs say for small game.
Firearms
In an area where there is an open season for deer, moose
or black bear, if you are the holder of a small game
licence you may not possess or use a rifle of greater
calibre or projectile power than a .22 calibre rim-fire rifle
chambered to .22 short, .22 long or .22 long rifle 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 or black bear as the case may be.
The above does not apply to the holder of a small game
licence, hunting small game only south of the French and
Mattawa Rivers during an open season for deer that is
restricted to the use of bows.
You may not use a rifle of greater calibre than .275, except a
flintlock or percussion cap muzzle-loading gun, for hunting
small game in the counties of: Brant, Elgin, Essex, Huron,
Lambton, Middlesex, Northumberland, Oxford, Perth and
Wellington and the regional municipalities of Chatham/ Kent,
Durham, Haldimand-Norfolk, Halton, Hamilton-Wentworth,
Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York and the City of Toronto.
Furbearing Mammals
If you wish to hunt raccoons at night, you must carry your
licence to hunt raccoon at night and your Outdoors Card
with a small game licence. You must also be accompanied
by a dog licensed for raccoon hunting. You can only use a
.22 calibre rim-fire rifle chambered for the following
cartridges: .22 short, .22 long or .22 long rifle. Raccoon
night hunters must have their guns encased while in the
vehicle. A licensed night raccoon hunter may use a light if it
is not shone from or attached to a vehicle or boat.
Firearms
In an area where there is an open season for deer, moose
or black bear, if you are the holder of a small game
licence you may not possess or use a rifle of greater
calibre or projectile power than a .22 calibre rim-fire rifle
chambered to .22 short, .22 long or .22 long rifle 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 or black bear as the case may be.
The above does not apply to the holder of a small game
licence, hunting small game only south of the French and
Mattawa Rivers during an open season for deer that is
restricted to the use of bows.
You may not use a rifle of greater calibre than .275, except a
flintlock or percussion cap muzzle-loading gun, for hunting
small game in the counties of: Brant, Elgin, Essex, Huron,
Lambton, Middlesex, Northumberland, Oxford, Perth and
Wellington and the regional municipalities of Chatham/ Kent,
Durham, Haldimand-Norfolk, Halton, Hamilton-Wentworth,
Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York and the City of Toronto.
Furbearing Mammals
If you wish to hunt raccoons at night, you must carry your
licence to hunt raccoon at night and your Outdoors Card
with a small game licence. You must also be accompanied
by a dog licensed for raccoon hunting. You can only use a
.22 calibre rim-fire rifle chambered for the following
cartridges: .22 short, .22 long or .22 long rifle. Raccoon
night hunters must have their guns encased while in the
vehicle. A licensed night raccoon hunter may use a light if it
is not shone from or attached to a vehicle or boat.
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Firearms and Ammunition
When hunting big game in the NWT you must use .23 or larger calibre ammunition. The empty cartridge case of the ammunition must be greater than 44mm in length. There is an exception to this for caribou, wolf and wolverine north of the tree line, where .222, .22-250 and .223 calibres are permitted. To hunt wood bison, bullet size must not be under 200 grains.
For the purpose of hunting big game, rim fire ammunition is illegal.
Ammunition containing non-expanding bullets, steel-jacketed bullets or tracer ammunition may not be used for hunting.
When hunting small game and migratory game birds, no one may use a shotgun that holds more than three shells in the magazine and firing chamber combined.
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Smart laws...some of the most common sense/simplest I've seen....
Otherwise its game on....
When hunting big game in the NWT you must use .23 or larger calibre ammunition. The empty cartridge case of the ammunition must be greater than 44mm in length. There is an exception to this for caribou, wolf and wolverine north of the tree line, where .222, .22-250 and .223 calibres are permitted. To hunt wood bison, bullet size must not be under 200 grains.
For the purpose of hunting big game, rim fire ammunition is illegal.
Ammunition containing non-expanding bullets, steel-jacketed bullets or tracer ammunition may not be used for hunting.
When hunting small game and migratory game birds, no one may use a shotgun that holds more than three shells in the magazine and firing chamber combined.
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Smart laws...some of the most common sense/simplest I've seen....
Otherwise its game on....
I took a few coyotes with my .17HMR. One was a pretty good poke. He dropped and got up running and tumbled for about 50 yards. I paced it at 192 paces. I hit one behind the ear and there was so much pressure in the skull, it blew one eye out of the socket...
I have no complaints.
I have no complaints.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan, the game guide says it is illegal to use a CENTERFIRE rifle for hunting game birds, and says trappers can use a .22 caliber rimfire rifle (or less) for normal trapping operations during big game season.
No specific mention of .17's, and I know people do use them for both varmints and grouse. Rabbits are not formally considered game animals here and are always open season.
No specific mention of .17's, and I know people do use them for both varmints and grouse. Rabbits are not formally considered game animals here and are always open season.
BC only differentiates between "Centrefire" and "Rimfire" They do not get into "Calibres" so a 17 HMR is Legal here for all "Small Game(inc. coyotes)" animals..even 3 "Big Game" animals here too......Linx, Bobcat & Wolverine are classed as Big Game in BC and Legal with Rimfires.CV32 said:Thanks, prosper. If CGN members from other provinces could chime in, maybe even point to their particular regs, it would certainly save me some time researching.
I seen a Yote shot with a 17 HMR at about 50 paces..head shot and it left a golfball sized exit out the otherside. Although I now conceed there are much better choices for Yotes the 17 HMR will work at ranges well under a 100 meters and with perfect shot placements.
However the 17 HMR and it's laserbeam trajectory & accuracy will hit things far beyond what it can Kill them at so Use with common sense and have Fun
Here's a Link for BC's Regs in PDF
The info you wanted is on pg 16.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wild/documents/hunting_regulations.pdf
Here is a Surprising 17 HMR Test page as well.....Worth a Read
http://www.varmintal.com/17hmr.htm
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NB, Varmints can be hunted outside big game seasons with rifles of 23 cal or less. No specfication on rimfire or centrefire. Varmints can be hunted during big game seasons with all cal centerfires provided you have a bear or deer or moose license. There are additional regs for shotgun and you can use all cal muzzleloader anytime you want with any license.
Adrian J Hare
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- NewLowell On. Can.
the 17 is more of a fox round. I hear that the 17wssm is some what harder hitting then the rest...
badgreenbird
Regular
- Location
- Dawson Creek, BC
Lots of guys in BC shoot wild turkeys with .17 HMR. Regs just say 'rimfire' (as stated above). More like sniping than hunting I think, but it is a popular choice!
In MB. the guide says you can not use a pellet gun or rimfire rifle to hunt big game. You can use a pellet gun or rimfire to hunt upland game birds and any small game not classed as fur bearing. The regs allow the use of either 17 or 22 cal rimfire or pellet gun but I think they were wrote long before the 17HMR was introduced and the 17 cal refers more to the pellet gun.
Very interesting. Always wondered about that clearly ridiculous shotgun only rule and why we can't hunt turkey with rifles. Head shots with the 17HMR or 22LR are gonna kill a turkey just as dead as a 12ga with 3.5" shells. Guess it's just rifles are more efficient and more hunters would fill their tags more easily than with a shotgun.
