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Airguns are considered firearms under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, but are not considered bows/crossbows.
Airguns may be used to hunt small game (other than wild turkey and bullfrog) in Ontario, provided they are not restricted or prohibited firearms under the federal Firearms Act. Only bows, muzzle-loading guns, shotguns or rifles may be used to hunt deer, moose and elk in Ontario. Airguns do not qualify as a shotgun, rifle or muzzle-loading gun.
Should the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) consider making future regulatory changes, such as changes to permissible firearms used for hunting, they would be subject to a public consultation process.
If you require further assistance, please contact the Natural Resources Information and Support Centre at the toll-free numbers below.
We are currently in our peak season. Call volumes are typically higher early in the week, particularly after the weekend. The best time to reach us is Monday-Friday at 8:30am EST. Callers may receive busy signals and disconnects because of the call volume.
Regards