Hunting mistakes that can cost you

by Dale Hainer | November 4, 2013

hunting mistakes
Safety first was an unconditional rule that was instilled in me when I was a young lad visiting my father’s hunt camps. His words were forcefully blunt, but in hindsight I realize he only wanted a safe and successful hunt — something that all hunters should strive for.

Here’s a look at some of the often forgotten and overlooked safe hunting practices that could cost you a hefty fine or the loss of your firearms licence.

Encasing guns and bows
It seems simple, but failure to encase a firearm a half hour after sunset is an often forgotten regulation. Hunters go to their watch stand, hunt until 30 minutes after sunset, and then walk to their vehicle with the innocent intention of putting the firearm in a case at the vehicle. Joe McCambridge, president of the Ontario Conservation Officers Associations (OCOA), says he’s seen this happen too many times.

“If you are going to hunt until the end of legal shooting time, you must take a proper case with you and encase your firearm after [sundown]. This includes bows and crossbows,” stressed McCambridge.

Returning to camp by ATV after dark one evening, I was stopped by a C.O. who checked my licences, tags, ownership, and ATV insurance. He then gave me a warning about my gun case, which had a broken zipper, partly exposing the gun’s butt. He told me this could be considered an un-encased firearm. I replaced that case and have since gotten in the habit of checking my cases regularly.

On the watch
You cannot have a loaded firearm in or on any motor vehicle, whether the vehicle is running or not. This means that you cannot use your ATV, snowmobile, or truck as a watch seat. Although this is right in the hunting regulations, it’s a common infraction.

What’s a road?
The question of “what is a road?” is a highly discussed topic in hunt camps.

According to the legislation, “roads” means “a right of way for public vehicular traffic” or, in the northeastern Ontario context, “the travelled portion of a right of way for public vehicular traffic.”

“The prohibitions on discharging from or across the travelled portion do not necessarily apply to unmaintained rights of way, so if it is an abandoned logging road, this suggests that it is not maintained and therefore the prohibition would not apply, but section 16 – careless use of firearms for the purpose of hunting – would still apply,” explained Karen Passmore, communications and marketing specialist, for the Ministry of Natural Resources, northeast region.

If the road is a right of way for public vehicular traffic, the prohibitions set out in Section 17 of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act will also apply.

McCambridge warns that although hunting on an abandoned road is legal, hunters must always think in terms of safety when using firearms.

“Consider that even an abandoned roadway may be used by travellers, whether it be on foot or ATV,” he said.

Shooting down or across any travel-way might be legal in some instances but can be dangerous. Another hunter or hiker may suddenly appear around the corner. “Once you pull the trigger, there is no going back, there is no reset button,” said McCambridge. “Observation is everything.”

Having travelled thousands of miles and into hundreds of camps, I have come to understand that the rules and the C.O.s that enforce them are merely echoing the values of my late father — strive for legal, safe, successful hunts.

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Comments

  1. chameleon wrote: Encasing Guns and Bows I think even more of an issue are Hunters going to their watch stand before legal shooting time in the morning with an uncase firearm.
    • Dale Hainer wrote: agreed
  2. dukedog wrote: Hunters going to their watch stand before legal shooting time in the morning with an uncased firearm.--- Do it all the time- isee nothing wrong with this !!! Gun is unloaded !!!
    • oodmag wrote: Approve.
    • Rob Stewart wrote: Still a fine if you get caught. :-(
  3. BillH wrote: If I am hiking in the bush as part of a camping expedition and the sun has gone down, can I still keep my rifle ready for protection, for example, in Northern Ontario crown land?
    • oodmag wrote: If you have any questions about firearms regulations it is best to contact the RCMP. Here is a link the Firearms Act and Regulations: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/pol-leg/act-loi-eng.htm
      • Rob Stewart wrote: It's the provincial wildlife act that would force you to encase, not the firearms act. Under the firearms act you need only unload the firearm. It can be kept leaning up against a log next to you with the shells in a carrier on the side of it all night..under the Federal Laws... HOWEVER The provincial law then further restricts you to unloading and encasing it after hunting hours.
    • Rob Stewart wrote: The act states you can not "have a firearm in the person’s possession in an area usually inhabited by wildlife, unless the firearm is unloaded and encased"
  4. Judy wrote: Is a gun lock considered 'encased'??
    • Rob Stewart wrote: No. Buy a gun sock for $10.
  5. Carl LaMond wrote: what if i have a raccoon licence to hunt a raccoon with a firearm at night.
    • Rob Stewart wrote: You'd also need to be accompanied by a licenced dog AND I believe can only carry a 22 LR. (Pers I think they should add a shotgun with a shot size restriction to this as I'd much rather shoot a shotgun up into a tree than a 22LR!!!!)
  6. kwang wrote: “If you are going to hunt until the end of legal shooting time, you must take a proper case with you and encase your firearm after [sundown]. This includes bows and crossbows,” If in this way how do I protect myself from wild animal?
  7. Thomas Cecchetto wrote: Question.Are the cloth slip on gun socks considered legal for transporting firearms outside legal shooting times?
  8. Jason Baxter wrote: This is the problem with hunting regulations. There is no simple yes or no answer. I would like a yes or no answer from a c/o on this. Am i able to hunt from a logging road that is not maintained but is clearly used by people and vehicles to access hunting and fishing land in northern ontario? these roads are everywhere and people hunt grouse and other animals on these roads all the time. The answer below does not give a yes it is ok or no it is not answer. What’s a road? The question of “what is a road?” is a highly discussed topic in hunt camps. According to the legislation, “roads” means “a right of way for public vehicular traffic” or, in the northeastern Ontario context, “the travelled portion of a right of way for public vehicular traffic.” “The prohibitions on discharging from or across the travelled portion do not necessarily apply to unmaintained rights of way, so if it is an abandoned logging road, this suggests that it is not maintained and therefore the prohibition would not apply, but section 16 – careless use of firearms for the purpose of hunting – would still apply,” explained Karen Passmore, communications and marketing specialist, for the Ministry of Natural Resources, northeast region. If the road is a right of way for public vehicular traffic, the prohibitions set out in Section 17 of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act will also apply. McCambridge warns that although hunting on an abandoned road is legal, hunters must always think in terms of safety when using firearms. “Consider that even an abandoned roadway may be used by travellers, whether it be on foot or ATV,” he said. Shooting down or across any travel-way might be legal in some instances but can be dangerous. Another hunter or hiker may suddenly appear around the corner. “Once you pull the trigger, there is no going back, there is no reset button,” said McCambridge. “Observation is everything.” Having travelled thousands of miles and into hundreds of camps, I have come to understand that the rules and the C.O.s that enforce them are merely echoing the values of my late father — strive for legal, safe, successful hunts. JUST YES OR NO PLEASE?
  9. Scott Bisson wrote: During a bows only deer season wmu 90 can you carry a 22 rimfire for hunting squirrel while bow hunting for deer
    • Jason Bain wrote: Thank you for your question, Scott. We will ask the MNRF your question and may use the exchange in a future instalment of Ask a CO. Stay tuned.
  10. John ward wrote: is it legal to hunt from a barn loft or cabin loft with a bow or rifle for deer ,moose, bear , etc .
  11. Andrew McCord wrote: Is a gun sock considered encased when walking from your hunting stand after sun set
  12. Jay N. wrote: In response to Andrew McCord, yes, a gun sock is considered a "case" for the purpose of encasing a rifle outside of hunting times. It doesn't need to be trigger locked, but it does need to be unloaded and encased.
  13. Colin brown wrote: Can I discharge firearm from a horse whilst hunting
    • Meghan Sutherland wrote: Colin, You can download the Ontario OUT of DOORS app from the Apple Store or the Google Play store. You can also go to: https://digital.oodmag.com/ to view the issues on your desktop. Are you a subscriber?