Ask a CO: Is a gun inside a gun sock considered encased when walking to your stand?

Q: Is a gun inside a gun sock considered encased when walking to and from your stand outside of legal shooting times?

Andrew McCord

A: A firearm that is completely enclosed within a gun sock is considered to be encased. The firearm cannot be partially sticking out of the gun sock. Also, remember that the firearm needs to be unloaded.

– David Critchlow, Provincial Enforcement Specialist, MNRF

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Originally published in the Fall 2020 edition of Ontario OUT of DOORS Magazine. Ask a CO is also a regular feature in the print edition.

Please check the most recent Ontario hunting and fishing regulations summaries, as rules and regulations can change.

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Related posts:

Ask a CO: Using a crossbow in gun season Ask A CO: Do hut operators have any legal claim to areas on the ice? Ask a CO: Can you buy licences on behalf of a hunting party? Ask a CO: Explaining the tagging system

Tags: Answers, ask a CO, Conservation Officers, gun laws, gun sock, hunting regulations, Legal shooting times, MNRF, Questions, Tree stand, Unloaded

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Comments

1. October 23, 2021 at 11:01 pm

   Gordon Grice wrote: Does a gun need to be encased while walking to your stand? Does a gun need to be encased while travelling to your hunting site. Please quote firearms regulations manual page and section.

   Reply
   • November 3, 2021 at 9:43 am

     Meghan Sutherland wrote: Gordon, From page 28: https://files.ontario.ca/books/mnrf-2021-hunting-regulations-summary-en-2021-04-01-v2.pdf "Before hunting, check local sunrise-sunset times. You may only hunt from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset (exceptions: night raccoon hunting and spring hunting hours for wild turkey). If you are in an area usually inhabited by wildlife during the period from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise you must unload and encase any firearms in your possession. To be considered encased, firearms must be enclosed on all six sides. A firearm is considered to be loaded if it has an unfired shell or cartridge in the chamber or in a magazine that is attached to the firearm." (And page 29): "There is an exemption on transport restrictions when traveling between hunting sites."

     Reply
2. March 11, 2022 at 10:14 am

   Michael wrote: I have a similar question but its regarding bow and crossbows, Do crossbow\bows need to be fully encased before sunrise and after sunset if its more than 1/2 hour before and after.

   Reply