Trappers are they allowed to carry a pistol.

[CGS]

Much like criminals who use guns to commit crimes, poachers who illegally take game don't worry too much about the rules governing when and where you can take a firearm into the bush, or what firearms you might use. Newfoundland's poaching issues have little to do with our antiquated laws prohibiting shooting on Crown land without a valid permit and a lot more to do with traditional (if poorly reasoned) practises and lack of enforcement.

Begging to differ, but if the restrictions were off, anyone at all could take a firearm into the woods, both citizens and poachers; making it difficult for Wildlife officers to tell who is just target shooting and who is poaching; unless the poacher is actually standing over a dead moose.

As it stands now, if your in the woods with a firearm, your either a shooter with a permit or a poacher. No trouble to tell who's who now.

The permits are free, and available at any Wildlife/Forestry office. No reason why someone shouldn't have one.

It's a small price to pay to ensure the health and safety of our wildlife resources.

 

[Shooting Centre]

Begging to differ, but if the restrictions were off, anyone at all could take a firearm into the woods, both citizens and poachers; making it difficult for Wildlife officers to tell who is just target shooting and who is poaching; unless the poacher is actually standing over a dead moose.

As it stands now, if your in the woods with a firearm, your either a shooter with a permit or a poacher. No trouble to tell who's who now.

The permits are free, and available at any Wildlife/Forestry office. No reason why someone shouldn't have one.

It's a small price to pay to ensure the health and safety of our wildlife resources.

Really? Here is a counter point. Suppose a poacher were to obtain a free permit to shoot? Would this not throw the system into chaos? Its funny that most of the rest of Canada can operate without permits to shoot and still sort out the poachers.

 

[Canuck44]

What likely is true that most trappers do what they have to do and ignore for the most part what the CFO thinks he thinks. I hope so anyway. I suspect the RCMP has more on their plate to worry about than a trapper dispatching animals with a .22handgun, a practice likely better served with a .22 rifle from my limited experience. Back in the day I used to wonder around the Father in Laws line, helping out where and when I could.

Take Care

Bob

 

[emerson]

Yes, in BC, there is a protection wilderness ATT for those whose jobs qualify and can prove they make some money at said job. Also an ATT for dispatch of animals by trappers. Actual issuance of such permits... YMMV.

 

[9.3 Hunter]

The RCMP precis lists trappers in the wilderness protection section. However if you look at the form, wilderness protection is a separate reason from trapping. Also the law lists trapping as a separate reason http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-98-207/fulltext.html

And at least in Alberta, Trapping regs discuss Handgun use for dispatching animals http://www.albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/genregs.html

This....

 

[highlander]

Really? Here is a counter point. Suppose a poacher were to obtain a free permit to shoot? Would this not throw the system into chaos? Its funny that most of the rest of Canada can operate without permits to shoot and still sort out the poachers.

Having caught a few poachers in my time, I never found one with a permit. I'm sure that the odd one has, but I don't see how it would throw the system into chaos. Mind you, around here most of the regular poachers are known to the Conservation Officers so a permit would make no difference in that case.

 

[jongun]

I apply for an ATC for my trapline every season. Here we can only carry one pistol so I choose one for protection rather than dispatch.

 

[wayupnorth]

i haven't talked to the guys i know who have traplines yet but upon reading Jonguns post above it wouldn't surprise me if they went for protection gun over dispatch gun.
having listened to them in passing over the the years they have stated they hate putting holes in the pelts of any kind.... hence the traps.

im not back on shift till next week but ill try to remember to ask the one fella in my station who i know currently has his ATC for trap-line what he is using and licensed for.

 

[wayupnorth]

Heard by rumor that the current Alberta CFO has usurped this allowance, with the excuse of 'more defined guidelines' or words/phases to that same effect. Regardless if the trapper legally owns a registered trapline in his or her name.

not sure if this true or not.......

that would surprise me because there are only so many trap-lines in Alberta.

 

[CV32]

Begging to differ, but if the restrictions were off, anyone at all could take a firearm into the woods, both citizens and poachers; making it difficult for Wildlife officers to tell who is just target shooting and who is poaching; unless the poacher is actually standing over a dead moose. As it stands now, if your in the woods with a firearm, your either a shooter with a permit or a poacher. No trouble to tell who's who now. The permits are free, and available at any Wildlife/Forestry office. No reason why someone shouldn't have one. It's a small price to pay to ensure the health and safety of our wildlife resources.

Nonsense. We already allow people to take their coyote rifles into the bush from September through July, and there's virtually no conservation officers on patrol, so ensuring the health and safety of our wildlife resources isn't the lofty goal that you think it is. At least as far as the Wild Life Act and the government is concerned. They pay lip service to it, at best. Meanwhile, especially in western Canada, there are no such restrictions and no pandemic in poaching because of it. In fact, most of the poaching that goes on is, as you say, from people who are often known repeat offenders.

 

[jongun]

i haven't talked to the guys i know who have traplines yet but upon reading Jonguns post above it wouldn't surprise me if they went for protection gun over dispatch gun.
having listened to them in passing over the the years they have stated they hate putting holes in the pelts of any kind.... hence the traps.

im not back on shift till next week but ill try to remember to ask the one fella in my station who i know currently has his ATC for trap-line what he is using and licensed for.

Majority of my traps are lethal so no need for dispatch. If I need to I'll grab the 22 rifle as it's not that big a deal to have such a tiny hole in the head. Did use a TT33 to dispatch a wolf and lynx a couple years ago and wasn't that big a deal but did make a little more of an impact than the 22

 

[fraserdw]

Not sure about the regulations in BC, but in Nfld (and I believe other provinces) the Wilderness Permits would only cover long guns. Here these permits are issued by the DNR only. In order to carry a handgun, you would need permits from DNR and the RCMP.

I doubt if any permits have ever been issued for handguns here.

Concur, NB specifies 22 calibre long gun. No pistols allowed which is basically been in place since the eighties.

 

[Canuck44]

The only reason to get a Wilderness Permit in BC & Alberta and I suspect Saskatchewan and Manitoba would be for carrying a Restricted Firearm eg Handgun.

I might buy into the argument that would suggest firing center fire rifles in densely populated areas may not be in anyone's interest but beyond that, the poaching justification seems to me to be a straw-mans argument. Poachers are going to poach no matter the law. Kinda like the whole gun registration argument. Those are going to murder or worse are not going to be to concerned about registering their forearms.

We have given over our lives to the bureaucrats and governments to such an extent since WW11 that I should not be surprised. Sad really. The saddest part is we have two generations who think this is relationship is as it always was.

Take Care

Bob

 

[j_06]

Social engineering nearly complete

 

[blasted_saber]

Not sure about the regulations in BC, but in Nfld (and I believe other provinces) the Wilderness Permits would only cover long guns. Here these permits are issued by the DNR only. In order to carry a handgun, you would need permits from DNR and the RCMP.

I doubt if any permits have ever been issued for handguns here.

Not in Ontario. You dont need any permit (beyond a PAL) to carry a long gun and Wilderness carry permits are issued for Trappers who apply and qualify. Ive known of two who have carried.

 

[Shooting Centre]

Having caught a few poachers in my time, I never found one with a permit. I'm sure that the odd one has, but I don't see how it would throw the system into chaos. Mind you, around here most of the regular poachers are known to the Conservation Officers so a permit would make no difference in that case.

I guess you missed the sarcasm. My point is you find the poachers poaching not because they don't have permits to carry firearms. The permit itself is useless bureaucracy, as a poacher could in fact obtain one (Unless I suppose he is prohibited from possessing, which brings up another instance of ignoring regulations).

 

[wayupnorth]

Begging to differ, but if the restrictions were off, anyone at all could take a firearm into the woods, both citizens and poachers; making it difficult for Wildlife officers to tell who is just target shooting and who is poaching; unless the poacher is actually standing over a dead moose.

As it stands now, if your in the woods with a firearm, your either a shooter with a permit or a poacher. No trouble to tell who's who now.

The permits are free, and available at any Wildlife/Forestry office. No reason why someone shouldn't have one.

It's a small price to pay to ensure the health and safety of our wildlife resources.

i missed your post my first pass through the thread, but id like to go back to it now that i see it.
i live in the high north.
when i go out for a hike or when i go quad'n in the summer or ski-dooing in the winter i take my 308 scout gun with me for defense in the old gun boot.
ive never...... never ever in my life seen fish cop when ive been out but im only 45 so thats only...... 33 years of hunting and quad'n?
sarcasm aside even the Canadian Rangers are issued a center fire rifle to take along with them when they go out to do search and rescues or patrols or training or whatever and that is strictly for predator defense (i know this first hand).

to go into the forest in the north without a rifle you will at some point become a snack for something furry.

so your statement that if your in the forest with a rifle and you dont have a permit on you your a poacher..... well thats just bullpucky.
maybe things are different down near the big city's but up above the 57th parallel you will run into something furry every time your in the timber, so if your not prepared in case one of them is hungrier than you are fast then you are in trouble deep.

 

[Canuck44]

CGS if the permit is free and you just have to go get one and it is issued then all the permit is doing is providing someone something to do while he or she sleeps through their shift. Such regulations are the best example I can think of to illustrate the nanny state in action.

Oddly enough we are not there yet in BC though I suspect if you are in the bush with a center fire rifle during hunting season without a hunting license you would be charged with hunting without a license. Not sure where or how far that would go in court. I have seen fish cops along the Skeena but never far from roads so I doubt it is much of an issue away from fishing holes.

Provincial Wildlife may or may not be a problem. They, from my experience, seem to have more common sense then the federal fish chasers. Just saying.

The Criminal Code of Canada is pretty specific on your rights to defend yourself against harm and that legislation certainly should trump Provincial regulations. Only Lawyers would be able to comment with some certainty.

I carry a firearm when in the bush. The option to provide anything on four legs with their daily protein is not on my to do list.

Take Care

Bob

 

[Brutus]

that would surprise me because there are only so many trap-lines in Alberta.

So the real question is;

How many here actually own a registered in Alberta trap line and have a permit for a handgun for snared animal dispatch??

 

[squamishhunter]

I know trappers here in northern bc that carry .44 mag and 22lr for dispatch. From what I understand you can be authorized for 1 of each, not two.