Patterning a shotgun on Quebec public lands

[AdamRoby]

I have a new 12 gauge that I would like to pattern with targets.
When I called my local range, they said they only allow slugs at the range in case your pattern is too large you'll be impacting the target next to you. They also don't allow you to put up targets in the clay field for safety reasons. The girl told me I could come and try to convince the range officer in person, but a 45 minute drive to be told no doesn't sound very appealing.

I am wondering if I can simple do this target practice on public land? The municipality told me they have a public nuisance law prohibiting firing within 150 meters from any residence, which I will be much further than that, but I should contact the wildlife agency. I contacted them and they sent me to the natural resource ministry. When I called them, they sent me back to the wildlife agency. I just keep going round and around.

My only real concern is having some agent think I am out there poaching illegally. If I am carrying targets, and have no dead animals on me, am I in and danger of being arrested for some illegal activity?

 

[DavenK]

You are allowed to shoot on any crown land as long as you respect bylaws. You are also innocent until proven guilty.

You could always prepare yourself for the legal bandits visit. Print the bylaws section, a map and where you are to indicate its fine, all that stuff. They usually don't like it tho cause you'll make it seem like you know more than them and they get paranoid.

 

[Runningfool]

I have a new 12 gauge that I would like to pattern with targets.
When I called my local range, they said they only allow slugs at the range in case your pattern is too large you'll be impacting the target next to you. They also don't allow you to put up targets in the clay field for safety reasons. The girl told me I could come and try to convince the range officer in person, but a 45 minute drive to be told no doesn't sound very appealing.

I am wondering if I can simple do this target practice on public land? The municipality told me they have a public nuisance law prohibiting firing within 150 meters from any residence, which I will be much further than that, but I should contact the wildlife agency. I contacted them and they sent me to the natural resource ministry. When I called them, they sent me back to the wildlife agency. I just keep going round and around.

My only real concern is having some agent think I am out there poaching illegally. If I am carrying targets, and have no dead animals on me, am I in and danger of being arrested for some illegal activity?

You’ve done more due diligence than most. I don’t think you run any significant risk of getting charged for poaching when you have targets with you...whenever I’ve done similar I make a point of not wearing any camo as well as make sure I have no calls, decoys, seat cushions, etc. with me. You’d have to come across a pretty nasty CO to get charged with hunting in that circumstance, at least in Ontario (I know some provinces are different in this regard).