Non-resident discharging a firearm in BC ?

gorky

gorky

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
342   0   0
Location
Lethbridge, AB
What are the rules and regs for a non-resident (I'm from AB) to discharge a firearm in British Columbia, particularly on crown land?

Does time of year matter (ie. does it being hunting season change where/what I can shoot or how a fish cop will treat me) ?

I have my hunting papers and WIN card here in AB - would it help to buy any particular license in BC to mitigate any possible problems ?

How is sport/target shooting viewed by the government? I know that I will need certain licenses to hunt in BC and I do not plan to poach. However, I do not want to be hassled for shooting at rocks because some fish cop thinks I was shooting at an animal.

If I have to shoot an animal in self defense, what kind of fallout can I expect ?
 
I think you are free to come, and shoot. For years it was required that you have a BC permit to have a firearm here. To back up a bit, our hunting licences come due end of April. We buy a licence for the year and that is our OK to take a long gun, virtually anywhere. If at that time, a BC resident didn't get a huting licence, he needed a permit, even to go competitive shooting. It was cheap and lasted five years.
At that time a non resident Canadian needed the same permit for shooting, other than hunting.
After the federal gun licencing came in, BC did away with the permit required, if he didn't get a hunting licence. Now, any resident can take and target shoot, his long gun anywhere it is legal to do so, without any type of licence. I think the same thing now applies to a non resident Canadian.
 
Best to call a CO in the area you are going to be and confirm but I trust what bruce says. I would'nt suggest being out and about the mountains where sheep live on august 15th or being in elk country during the peak of the rut though. Who needs the hassle.
As for hunting unless you hire a guide or have an immediate family member get an accompany liscence you are out of luck for big game. Not sure about small game?

If you shoot an animal in defence (very unlikely) just like a resident you will need to be able to clearly show that it was justified and that you were not contrivining the wildlife act prior to the encounter. i.e if there is a dab of bean juice beside your fire pit , some cracker crumbs on the hood of your truck or a tube of toothpaste in the crook of a tree and you shoot a bear in your tent that night you will likely be charged.

Why not just give up on that alberta thing and move here? Then you can be amongst god's chosen.
 
david doyle said:
As for hunting unless you hire a guide or have an immediate family member get an accompany liscence you are out of luck for big game. Not sure about small game?
Click to expand...

I think you just need a guide for any Limited Entry hunting, you are ok for any general open seasons. There is a lot of land out there, chances are low of having any problems
 
Since 1998 you need Firearm Licence only no need for BC permit however it was called.
Firearm Licence is federal. I do not think you need anything as non resident to target shoot in BC. Just know how far away you have to be from roads and be SAFE
 
If you have a PAL you are good to have/shot your firearms anywhere it is legal to shoot them here in BC same as if I come into Alberta.

If you are on crown land you are good to shoot too your hearts content...

Plus depending on where you are you'll probably not see anyone else anyway.
 
I'm sure if you were to read our hunting Reg's online all of your questions would be answered. As far as shooting an animal in self defence it seems to me that you want to come here and shoot a grizz without the expense of hunting thru an outfitter, buying a licence or hunting during the hunting season. If your thinking about having to "shoot an animal in self defence" maybe your scared to go in the bush alone and should just stay home. This is my opinion on this topic.
 
eastwind said:
I'm sure if you were to read our hunting Reg's online all of your questions would be answered. As far as shooting an animal in self defence it seems to me that you want to come here and shoot a grizz without the expense of hunting thru an outfitter, buying a licence or hunting during the hunting season. If your thinking about having to "shoot an animal in self defence" maybe your scared to go in the bush alone and should just stay home. This is my opinion on this topic.
Click to expand...

WOW what a load of b*llsh*t spewing...

Myself I bring my guns with me because I love to shoot and doing it in actual remote areas for the experience is a major bonus also if I need them for self defense I have them.
 
eastwind said:
I'm sure if you were to read our hunting Reg's online all of your questions would be answered. As far as shooting an animal in self defence it seems to me that you want to come here and shoot a grizz without the expense of hunting thru an outfitter, buying a licence or hunting during the hunting season. If your thinking about having to "shoot an animal in self defence" maybe your scared to go in the bush alone and should just stay home. This is my opinion on this topic.
Click to expand...

Do you think before you type ? Don't even know where to start with this one *LOL*
 
Might want to bring along a target or two. Wandering around plinking at rocks might have you explaining a bit more to the fish cop. Just saying.
 
eastwind said:
I'm sure if you were to read our hunting Reg's online all of your questions would be answered. As far as shooting an animal in self defence it seems to me that you want to come here and shoot a grizz without the expense of hunting thru an outfitter, buying a licence or hunting during the hunting season. If your thinking about having to "shoot an animal in self defence" maybe your scared to go in the bush alone and should just stay home. This is my opinion on this topic.
Click to expand...

That is a lot of assumptions wrapped up in one paragraph ................... :rolleyes:


gorky, As for your original questions here are my opinions:

1) While legal to carry a firearm if you have your federal PAL or POL I would hesitate to do so during an open hunting season unless you have a BC hunting licence which would require you to either use the services of a guide or be hosted by a BC hunter who must acquire the proper permits.

2) Target shooting a non-restricted firearm is permitted on most - but not all - crown lands. Trespassing or shooting on private property - posted or not - is not allowed in BC without the owners permission.

3) While killing a bear or cougar in self defense is a very remote possibility it would be highly unlikely unless one went out of his or her way to get into trouble. If it were to happen you must contact a conservation officer immediately and report the kill. The onus will be on you to prove that shooting the animal was the last resort open to you.
 
Copied from MoE webpage:

"As a resident of the province, you need a Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC) or the new federal firearms licence (PAL or POL) in order to legally possess firearms in B.C.
The only exception to this is if you are being supervised (see below).

Firearms fall under the Criminal Code of Canada and are therefore regulated by the Federal Government, NOT the Government of British Columbia. All inquiries related to Canadian firearms regulations should be directed to the Canadian Firearms Centre.

As of January 1, 2001, the Wildlife Act will now accept a FAC, Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) or Possession-Only Licence (POL) for the purposes of carrying a gun in the bush. If you borrow a firearm you need a valid FAC or the new federal firearm licence (PAL, or POL) unless you are being supervised by someone who is legally allowed to have that firearm.

Note that in addition to the FAC or federal firearms licence, in order to hunt, you also need a hunting licence issued by the province.

If you are just carrying a rifle or shotgun in the bush, you must have a valid federal firearms licence."


I didn't find anything related to a non-resident, but I would assume it would be the same. As for shooting a bear or a cougar, chances are slim you would ever have a problem, but if it's life and limb who cares if they take you to court later? At least you are there to take to court...
 
PileBuck said:
I think you just need a guide for any Limited Entry hunting, you are ok for any general open seasons. There is a lot of land out there, chances are low of having any problems
Click to expand...

You need your Firearms License to shoot and or possess firearms in Canada, this is a federal law, to hunt in BC you can get a resident to apply for a "Permit To Accompany" and the resident hunter must hunt with you at all times, (within earshot and visibility). To hunt LEH critters you MUST have a guide/outfitter. If your just shooting at targets etc, the Federal Firearms Lic is good enough
 
Thanks for the help (almost) everyone :D For the most part, it sounds very similar to AB regs. I will try to read the BC regs here in the next few days for the details.

FWIW, the primary reason behind my questions was the comment by a BC resident that I could not shoot anywhere except for a designated shooting range unless I had a hunting license. I see him again this weekend and look forward to bringing some of this new information to light (particularly because he deals with a lot of Albertans and I want to make sure that they are not scared off from bringing their guns to BC due to misinformation).
 
Carrying a scoped, bolt action rifle during hunting season while walking through the bush? You probably need a HL:) Sub that with a defender shotgun loaded with slugs, you probably could argue it's for defense.

Shooting targets in the bush? Bring whatever you want.

Chances are you aren't going ot see a CO or RCMP anyway, unless you are close ot population.
 
Trespassing or shooting on private property - posted or not - is not allowed in BC without the owners permission
Click to expand...


Not true. If the land is fenced, cultivated or posted at the usual points of entry then you are not welcome. If none of the above apply then you are doing nothing wrong by entering or hunting.

Should you find yourself knowingly or unknowingly on private unposted/unfenced/uncultivated land and encounter the owner or thier agent you must give them your name and address if they ask. Consider broken or unmaintained fences as Fenced and consider any type of field even if it is half bush as cultivated. Luckily in most of BC you simply will not find much private property.

Posted means every so many meters. Lots of guys will create there own paradise by knocking up a few 'No tresspassing' signs on crown land or unposted land they, seldom conform to the legal standard. One example in the NE is the best crown land goose hunting in BC has a no tresspassing sign on the public ROW access! Keeps 99.9% folks away. At the same time I maintain about 75 signs on mostly fenced private land with cattle at large inorder to keep elk hunters at bay and usually find at least one truck a weekend 3 kms into private land past 4 gates and new signs! Never found the same crew twice LOL.

Grazing leases are often fenced but you usually have right of access once the cattle are off but I'd do some talking to the MOF before running afoul of any Cowboys.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom