Ontario Small game hunting vs. food vs. waste

drvrage

drvrage

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Hi folks,


Sorry for the newb question, but I've read the 2008 guidelines and I don't find them clear. In Ontario, there is a provision that makes it illegal to waste (rot, throw away) any meat of a food quality animal, or any fur from furbearing animals. The hunting regs specify what is a fur bearer, but not what a "meat bearer" is.

As an example of the dillema I forsee. If I go hunting for rabbit, I can see that it is food, and it would be wrong to hunt such wonderful creatures just for sport and waste the meat. I would clean the annimal and make some tasty BBQ or stew. However, if I were to hunt skunk or crow or squirrel, would I be forced to eat them? I don't want to eat skunk.

If I were to go hunting for small game in Ontario, could I be charged for shooting something, then letting the meat waste? Is rotting skunk left in a field really a waste?

I would really appreciate any help here from those in the know.
 
I'm in NB so it may be a little different...but I shoot crows all the time and NEVER eat them...although I have heard of some liking crow pie. Not for me, the ones near here pretty much eat nothing that doesnt come from the local dump.
 
Don't hunt skunk. ;)

Don't worry about the rest. If it looks good, eat it, if not, throw it away. Just don;t go shooting deer/bear/moose for target practice.
 
Squirrels have a hunting season, as do rabbits. Crows and ground hogs don't. They're not game animals. They're varmints. Pepe, is just Pepe. His hide may have some value, but his meat does not. Letting game meat go bad and you can be charged.
 
Ah I see skunk is a furbearer. Do I have to harvest the skunk fur and find someone who would take it? I can't imagine why anyone would want one. I want to go small game hunting for practice on bigger stuff later. If I find bunnies, or partridge I would want them for dinner, but if I found crows or skunks, I would like the target practice, but I wouldn't want to do anything with the meat or fur.
 
"...want to go small game hunting..." Read the Hunting Regs. http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/239852.pdf
There are no squirrel or rabbit hunting seasons open in June. Go hunt ground hogs. Varmint hunting is excellent practice for deer hunting. There's no reason not to use your deer rifle either. Unless you're in one of the 'calibre restricted' areas(Southwestern Ontario, mostly, is .275 calibre or less. By the name of the cartridge. A .270 Win is ok, a .280 Rem is not. Yes, it's daft.) Most of those are listed in the hunting regs. There are some other municipalities that have a restriction of .270 or less too.
 
Bunnies and partridge are usually shot "on the wing" around here. Not because of sporting purpose, but cuz they are spooky. I don't know how much help they would be for big game.

Partridge season don't open till Sept, rabbits varies across the province.
 
Unless you put the dead animal in the trash, I can't see how it'd goto waste. Left in the field SOMETHING must eat it, even flies. I wouldn't do that to something tasty, just to a crow.
 
nlevandier said:
..although I have heard of some liking crow pie.
Click to expand...

One species of crow used to be shot and eaten in England. It is my impression that the practice ended around WWII and also that the birds shot were the young ones just before they were fledged enough to fly. That is the origin of "rook rifles". I get this from an english friend who remembered the hunts from when he was a boy.

cheers mooncoon
 
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