I know that many people shoot stationary grouse with a 22 LR in Northern Ontario. My question is it legal to do so? If this info is in the Ontario Hunting Regulations, I could not find it. I might pack my Nylon 66 when we go moose hunting rather than a shotgun (the 66 and the shotgun are for the grouse not the moose). Thanks for any advice.
Ontario Grouse Hunting with 22 Rifle
- Thread starter hiredgun
- Start date
Interesting question, my thoughts without looking directly at the regs are that you would have to use a shotgun.
In general, I have noticed anytime you are shooting horizontal or above the horizon, the ontario regs seem to rule out a rifle.
In general, I have noticed anytime you are shooting horizontal or above the horizon, the ontario regs seem to rule out a rifle.
- Location
- St. Albert, AB
alberta and BC say you can use a .22
but i looked through ontarios regs and it doesnt say yes or no... from what i found anyways
but i looked through ontarios regs and it doesnt say yes or no... from what i found anyways
- Location
- scotland, ontario
22 for grouse
Perfectly legal in Ontario for grouse.
Perfectly legal in Ontario for grouse.
.22+grouse= good to go 
Just to add my one cents worth, I grew up at a time and place where grouse was a substantial food item. We shot them with a 22, but 98% of the time, shot them in the head or neck.
Even when I was thirteen years old, I would catch hell if I brought in a grouse shot anywhere except the head or neck.
I, in turn, taught our sons and grandsons to shoot grouse in the head or neck, and it soon just becomes second nature to do it.
However, if you think you can't hit their heads or skinny necks, by all means us 22 shorts, instead of long rifle ammunition, as it saves a great deal of meat. Strangely, a body hit with a short is more effective than a hit in the same place with a long rifle. A body hit with a long rifle will sometimes result in the bird flying off to die, whereas, a body hit with a short will nearly always result in him dropping over on the spot.
Even when I was thirteen years old, I would catch hell if I brought in a grouse shot anywhere except the head or neck.
I, in turn, taught our sons and grandsons to shoot grouse in the head or neck, and it soon just becomes second nature to do it.
However, if you think you can't hit their heads or skinny necks, by all means us 22 shorts, instead of long rifle ammunition, as it saves a great deal of meat. Strangely, a body hit with a short is more effective than a hit in the same place with a long rifle. A body hit with a long rifle will sometimes result in the bird flying off to die, whereas, a body hit with a short will nearly always result in him dropping over on the spot.
Perfectly legal. Perfectly acceptable in N Ontario too. In S Ontario it is legal too, but people might not be so accepting of shooting a bird on the ground in some areas.
The 'Firearms' part of the small game regs (p71 in this year's summary) is written in a way that is general to the whole section and only limits use of of certain cartridges some situations when a big game season is in progress, and even then 22s are ok.
RG
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The 'Firearms' part of the small game regs (p71 in this year's summary) is written in a way that is general to the whole section and only limits use of of certain cartridges some situations when a big game season is in progress, and even then 22s are ok.
RG
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I used to use a .22 to hunt grouse in Southern Ontario. The places I hunted were forested, so once they are in the air they would be gone, even if I had a shotgun.
The ones that got shot tended to want to turn themselves toward me and give me a look over before deciding whether or not to fly off.
They were shot centre of visible mass. Remington yellowjacket hyper velocity .22 hp's worked the best to stop them with one shot. These bullets have very soft lead and a big hollow point that would go in through the breast of the bird without damaging the meat and then fragment and blow out the back.
I tried this once with a regular 40gr .22 solid, and it didn't work so well...but I did get it eventually.
The ones that got shot tended to want to turn themselves toward me and give me a look over before deciding whether or not to fly off.
They were shot centre of visible mass. Remington yellowjacket hyper velocity .22 hp's worked the best to stop them with one shot. These bullets have very soft lead and a big hollow point that would go in through the breast of the bird without damaging the meat and then fragment and blow out the back.
I tried this once with a regular 40gr .22 solid, and it didn't work so well...but I did get it eventually.
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
Yes, very legal. Have fun!
blacksmithden
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I've hunted in Ontario since the mid 70's. For partridge, you're good to go with a 22.
Like H4831 said. Try for head/neck shots. There isn't enough meat on them that you can afford to waste any.
Like H4831 said. Try for head/neck shots. There isn't enough meat on them that you can afford to waste any.
- Location
- not sure yet
It is legal in Ontario
- Location
- Sudbury, On
Slightly different story here in the NW. Heres what our local MNR said about this last July on a local outdoor forum:
http://fishingboard.thunderbayfishing.com/index.php?showtopic=3394
.17HMR
Whats the hunting regs on these little fire crackers. Some rumors about them not being classified with rim fires for some strange reason. (Speed and velocitys)
Couldnt quite remember the story but it sounds like some grey areas with this new caliber and small game hunters.
The MNR answer:
The answer to this question is somewhat technical in nature due to the firearms ballistics involved and provincial legislative requirements.
The .17 HMR, is the abbreviation for the .17 Hornady Magnum Rim-fire. The new .17 HMR is a rimfire rifle cartridge that is a descendant of today’s common .22 Winchester Magnum. It was developed by necking down the .22 Winchester Magnum case to take a .17 calibre bullet.
The legislative provisions which govern the use and possession of certain classes of firearm for the purposes of hunting are found in Ontario Regulation 665/98 (pursuant to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997).
In applying sections of Ontario Regulation 665/98 in the scenario involving the .17 HMR to strictly the small game hunter; the regulation states that a small game licence holder can NOT possess or use a rifle during an open big game season (without a big game licence) if that rifle’s “projectile power” (or muzzle energy) is greater than a .22-calibre rim-fire rifle chambered for cartridges known as a .22 short, .22 long or .22 long rifle.
The .17 HMR is commonly loaded with a 17 grain bullet which can deliver muzzle energy in excess of 245 ft - lbs. This far exceeds the muzzle energy of a .22-calibre rim-fire rifle chambered for cartridges known as a .22 short, .22 long or .22 long rifle.
Even though the .17 HMR has a smaller bullet “diameter” than the noted .22 calibres; the .17 HMR has much greater muzzle energy than the mentioned.22 calibres. As well, the .22 Winchester Magnum is in an entirely separate category of cartridges than the .22 calibre rim-fires previously mentioned above and would also have projectile power greater than a .22 short, long or long rifle.
Hence, the calibre known as the .17 Hornady Magnum Rim-fire is permitted for hunting small game in Ontario, but for a licenced small game hunter to legally possess and use a .17 HMR rifle for the purposes of hunting small game in Ontario, he or she must also be the holder of a valid big game licence when hunting small game if the area being hunted has an open season for a species of big game (bear, moose, deer) .
- Location
- London,Ontario
Now there's a law that needs to be brought up to speed. Or perhaps I should start a "17HMR for Bear Defence?" thread, or send the MNR a note asking if we could legally hunt deer, bear and moose with our .17 rimfires! Heaven forbid if someone takes a .22Mag/20 ga Savage 24 into the woods after Fall Bear opens up....
Frank
PS. I'm all for using a .22 for grouse when and where the birds cooperate, though nothing beats dropping a flying bird with a nice shot from a light double shotgun.
