Hunting in Ontario, info please.

Motorcycle Mike

Motorcycle Mike

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I know I can find this info using google, but I thought that there is a wealth of information here that might be able to summarize what I want to know. I looked at MNR websites, etc, but still confused.

I am planning to get a FAC and hunting license this coming spring/summer. I would like to be able to hunt deer, turkey, maybe geese and partridge (or other small birds) -- perhaps moose up north if I managed to get the license and found some buddies into that.

Q1: Can I only use a shotgun to hunt in southern Ontario? I thought I remember reading that, but a shotgun wouldn't be suitable for hunting deer (and definately not moose), would it?

Q2: If I can hunt with a rifle in southern Ontario, what would you recommend for a decent all-around hunting/target shooting rifle? If I can hunt deer with a rifle here (or if I travel to hunt up north), I suspect I would need a 30-06 or a 308, right?

Q3: If you could only choose two guns... one rifle, one shotgun, what would those two be? Bear in mind that I don't want to spend a fortune... and I don't want to have to get the most expensive ammo, so common calibres would be better.

Thanks for any info provided, and if there are any active hunters who wouldn't mind a new hunting buddy, I could be the guy. I am ex-military (3rd RCR Infantry), but haven't touched a rifle in 17 years and counting.
 
I think 30-06 would be appropriate in hunting deer and large game. I wouldn't use a .22 LR.

I've heard some ppl using military rifles to hunt.

I think rmemedic should be able to provide more info.

Personally, I'm not gonna trust a stanger with a gun around me. Remember the Dick Cheney incident?
 
CGN is the place to go on everything gun-related including hunting.. By the way, I'm assuming you meant PAL (Possession and Acquisition Licence) as FAC's are obsolete when it comes to new shooters. You might also wanna consider getting a restricted licence as the hassle is only marginally greater and you never know when you might get bit by the sport-shooting bug. By the way, if you wanna take the PAL/rPAL course, I recommend going to guns.to and dropping Gerhard a line. He and the Mrs. are excellent instructors and they charge the market rates. I have no experience with hunting, but CGN has a hunting section and lots of helpful folk even if they swing way right of center :cool:
 
Diesel said:
I know I can find this info using google, but I thought that there is a wealth of information here that might be able to summarize what I want to know. I looked at MNR websites, etc, but still confused.

I am planning to get a FAC and hunting license this coming spring/summer. I would like to be able to hunt deer, turkey, maybe geese and partridge (or other small birds) -- perhaps moose up north if I managed to get the license and found some buddies into that.

Q1: Can I only use a shotgun to hunt in southern Ontario? I thought I remember reading that, but a shotgun wouldn't be suitable for hunting deer (and definately not moose), would it?

Q2: If I can hunt with a rifle in southern Ontario, what would you recommend for a decent all-around hunting/target shooting rifle? If I can hunt deer with a rifle here (or if I travel to hunt up north), I suspect I would need a 30-06 or a 308, right?

Q3: If you could only choose two guns... one rifle, one shotgun, what would those two be? Bear in mind that I don't want to spend a fortune... and I don't want to have to get the most expensive ammo, so common calibres would be better.

Thanks for any info provided, and if there are any active hunters who wouldn't mind a new hunting buddy, I could be the guy. I am ex-military (3rd RCR Infantry), but haven't touched a rifle in 17 years and counting.
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FACs were phased out a while back.. you get what's called a possession and acquisition license now (PAL) which lets you own long guns. You can also get a restricted PAL for handguns. I took a course with the York Region Firearms Academy - great people there, highly recommended. It was a weekend course, 8 hours Saturday and 3 on Sunday morning. I didn't get my RPAL, because I don't have any interest in handguns. If you want both, it's a full day 8 hours on the Sunday. Register ASAP.. the courses fill really early. Also, the paperwork on their end takes months and months, a friend of mine had to wait 6 months after completing the course to have his license. It was 4 months for me.

The hunting license was a full day course for me (I believe you need to have completed the PAL course beforehand). They teach you a lot of the rules and regs so you don't get into trouble. It's a mandatory course if you want to get hunting, so make sure you get registered for that, too. They will provide you with the hunting regulations for that year, which will include information on the legal minimum muzzle energy you need to hunt different game, rules on hunter orange, etc. VERY useful book.

If you want to hunt turkey, you need to attend an additional seminar (or order the turkey hunting DVD from the OFAH) and then complete an exam by a registered instructor. The reason being is that hunter orange is not mandatory for turkey hunting, and that makes it probably the most dangerous form of hunting.

To answer your specific questions,

Q1: Ontario is divided up into WMUs, wildlife management units. The regulations on what you can and cannot hunt, and what you can and cannot use, are all dependent on which WMU you will be hunting in. The MNR provides all the information you need to figure this out. Check here for the regs: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FW/Publication/MNR_E001275P.html

Shotguns are typically the only powderburner allowed in the southern part of Ontario. North of Barrie (I believe.. maybe Keswick) is where you start getting into the WMUs that allow centrefire rifles. You cannot hunt anything with a rimfire unless it's small game.

Shotguns are very very versatile. You can take anything from waterfowl to deer (with slugs). Great for turkey hunting as well.

Q2: If you want to get a rifle (and hunt in the northern WMUs) then the best all-rounder would probably be the .308. It can pack enough punch to take down a moose, and the ballistics are thought to be very good, which makes it a good gun on the target range. Check out the Remington 700 - they are very simple, very reliable, and most of them out of the box, no mods, will shoot sub 1/2 MOA (1/2 inch groupings at 100 yards)

Q3: I myself use a Remington 870 Supermag shotgun. Can't go wrong with the 870.. like the 700, they are as reliable as anvils. And easy on the wallet. The supermag means it accepts 2 3/4 inch up to 3 1/2 inch magnum shells, so it is very versatile. Look at the 870 for a shotgun, and the Remington 700 for a centrefire. Reviews on both are very positive

If you need any more info, gimme a shout via PM and I'll try to answer as best as I can. As for hunting.. get your licenses, and maybe we'll be good to go for the spring turkey hunt :D

P.S - Join the OFAH - the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. They do great work. I believe you get automatically subscribed to Ontario Out of Doors, a great magazine. Hunting insurance also comes with the membership fees.. I believe it's 3 million liability.
 
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tricky said:
FACs were phased out a while back.. you get what's called a possession and acquisition license now (PAL) which lets you own long guns. You can also get a restricted PAL for handguns. I took a course with the York Region Firearms Academy - great people there, highly recommended. It was a weekend course, 8 hours Saturday and 3 on Sunday morning. I didn't get my RPAL, because I don't have any interest in handguns. If you want both, it's a full day 8 hours on the Sunday. Register ASAP.. the courses fill really early. Also, the paperwork on their end takes months and months, a friend of mine had to wait 6 months after completing the course to have his license. It was 4 months for me.

The hunting license was a full day course for me (I believe you need to have completed the PAL course beforehand). They teach you a lot of the rules and regs so you don't get into trouble. It's a mandatory course if you want to get hunting, so make sure you get registered for that, too. They will provide you with the hunting regulations for that year, which will include information on the legal minimum muzzle energy you need to hunt different game, rules on hunter orange, etc. VERY useful book.

If you want to hunt turkey, you need to attend an additional seminar (or order the turkey hunting DVD from the OFAH) and then complete an exam by a registered instructor. The reason being is that hunter orange is not mandatory for turkey hunting, and that makes it probably the most dangerous form of hunting.

To answer your specific questions,

Q1: Ontario is divided up into WMUs, wildlife management units. The regulations on what you can and cannot hunt, and what you can and cannot use, are all dependent on which WMU you will be hunting in. The MNR provides all the information you need to figure this out. Check here for the regs: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FW/Publication/MNR_E001275P.html

Shotguns are typically the only powderburner allowed in the southern part of Ontario. North of Barrie (I believe.. maybe Keswick) is where you start getting into the WMUs that allow centrefire rifles. You cannot hunt anything with a rimfire unless it's small game.

Shotguns are very very versatile. You can take anything from waterfowl to deer (with slugs). Great for turkey hunting as well.

Q2: If you want to get a rifle (and hunt in the northern WMUs) then the best all-rounder would probably be the .308. It can pack enough punch to take down a moose, and the ballistics are thought to be very good, which makes it a good gun on the target range. Check out the Remington 700 - they are very simple, very reliable, and most of them out of the box, no mods, will shoot sub 1/2 MOA (1/2 inch groupings at 100 yards)

Q3: I myself use a Remington 870 Supermag shotgun. Can't go wrong with the 870.. like the 700, they are as reliable as anvils. And easy on the wallet. The supermag means it accepts 2 3/4 inch up to 3 1/2 inch magnum shells, so it is very versatile. Look at the 870 for a shotgun, and the Remington 700 for a centrefire. Reviews on both are very positive

If you need any more info, gimme a shout via PM and I'll try to answer as best as I can. As for hunting.. get your licenses, and maybe we'll be good to go for the spring turkey hunt :D

P.S - Join the OFAH - the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. They do great work. I believe you get automatically subscribed to Ontario Out of Doors, a great magazine. Hunting insurance also comes with the membership fees.. I believe it's 3 million liability.
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Awesome... that is the specific information I was looking for.

Cheers
 
Diesel said:
I know I can find this info using google, but I thought that there is a wealth of information here that might be able to summarize what I want to know. I looked at MNR websites, etc, but still confused.

I am planning to get a FAC and hunting license this coming spring/summer. I would like to be able to hunt deer, turkey, maybe geese and partridge (or other small birds) -- perhaps moose up north if I managed to get the license and found some buddies into that.

Q1: Can I only use a shotgun to hunt in southern Ontario? I thought I remember reading that, but a shotgun wouldn't be suitable for hunting deer (and definately not moose), would it?

Q2: If I can hunt with a rifle in southern Ontario, what would you recommend for a decent all-around hunting/target shooting rifle? If I can hunt deer with a rifle here (or if I travel to hunt up north), I suspect I would need a 30-06 or a 308, right?

Q3: If you could only choose two guns... one rifle, one shotgun, what would those two be? Bear in mind that I don't want to spend a fortune... and I don't want to have to get the most expensive ammo, so common calibres would be better.

Thanks for any info provided, and if there are any active hunters who wouldn't mind a new hunting buddy, I could be the guy. I am ex-military (3rd RCR Infantry), but haven't touched a rifle in 17 years and counting.
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Steps you'll want to do:
#1 do your PAL course and send in all the paperwork
#2 as you wait for your PAL to clear and return to you, do your hunter education course. This gives you your hunters card. Make sure you get the "H1" license, as this allows you to use guns and archery. the "H2" is Archery only.
#3 Do your Turkey course so you can hunt Turkey.

In order to hunt Deer, all you need to do is buy a tag. However, that is only for antlered deer (bucks). In order to hunt Does, you need to enter a draw, I think the date for that draw is around June.
To do moose, it is also a lottery system for any tag.
Birds is a migratory bird stamp at the post office as well as having the small game tag on your hunting license.

For your questions:
Q1: Yes, you can use a shotgun in Southern Ontario. I was hunting down on a public beach this fall, just across the road from houses and it was totally 100% legit and legal. A shotgun is probably the most versatile gun you will ever own. You can do birds, and rabbits without needing anything special. You can use buckshot for deer (obviously) and also coyote. I'm the youngest pair of legs in our hunting outfit so when we go coyote hunting, I'm the "pusher" and carry my shot gun simply because I don't need a rifle to shoot up something that will likely be running at close range.
You can get a turkey choke and hunt them with it, or but a special barrel and a small scope if you feel like being fancy.
You can get rifled barrels for them now to shoot slugs. These also can come with a scope mount, and guys are shooting them accurately to about 200metres. Take down Deer, BEARS with them just fine. I suspect you could do a moose in with them too, but I wouldn't choose it.

Q2: It's "close quarters" here in Southern Ontario. You are responsible for where that round goes. There are very few places you will hunt that will be a long range shot. Honestly, the longest practical hunting kill you would do on something like a deer is about 300 meters. My next gun will be a .243 rifle that I will use for coyote hunting. The gun season for deer is shotgun/black powder.

Q3: My shotgun choice, that's easy. I own a Browning Maxus. An amazing gun. Fastest auto-reloader in the world (trust me, it's FAST) has a very low recoil, I can have it stripped down for cleaning in about 30 seconds, and that includes taking the trigger group out. It's also not that expensive, considering the quality of a gun you're getting. They are around $1400+ now. My dad, a life long hunter (seriously, the guy is nutty about it) really, really likes the gun and wants one for himself but he isn't allowed says his wife. The gun shoots so smooth and fast, that I "double tapped" a duck this year. I had the second shot off as the first shot hit the bird, both shots were dead on. Not something easily done.
For a rifle... That's a hard call, as they have so many different uses. But, something like a .308 would be a good all around gun.

Diesel said:
I know I can find this info using google, but I thought that there is a wealth of information here that might be able to summarize what I want to know. I looked at MNR websites, etc, but still confused.

I am planning to get a FAC and hunting license this coming spring/summer. I would like to be able to hunt deer, turkey, maybe geese and partridge (or other small birds) -- perhaps moose up north if I managed to get the license and found some buddies into that.

Q1: Can I only use a shotgun to hunt in southern Ontario? I thought I remember reading that, but a shotgun wouldn't be suitable for hunting deer (and definately not moose), would it?

Q2: If I can hunt with a rifle in southern Ontario, what would you recommend for a decent all-around hunting/target shooting rifle? If I can hunt deer with a rifle here (or if I travel to hunt up north), I suspect I would need a 30-06 or a 308, right?

Q3: If you could only choose two guns... one rifle, one shotgun, what would those two be? Bear in mind that I don't want to spend a fortune... and I don't want to have to get the most expensive ammo, so common calibres would be better.

Thanks for any info provided, and if there are any active hunters who wouldn't mind a new hunting buddy, I could be the guy. I am ex-military (3rd RCR Infantry), but haven't touched a rifle in 17 years and counting.
Click to expand...

tricky said:
FACs were phased out a while back.. you get what's called a possession and acquisition license now (PAL) which lets you own long guns. You can also get a restricted PAL for handguns. I took a course with the York Region Firearms Academy - great people there, highly recommended. It was a weekend course, 8 hours Saturday and 3 on Sunday morning. I didn't get my RPAL, because I don't have any interest in handguns. If you want both, it's a full day 8 hours on the Sunday. Register ASAP.. the courses fill really early. Also, the paperwork on their end takes months and months, a friend of mine had to wait 6 months after completing the course to have his license. It was 4 months for me.

The hunting license was a full day course for me (I believe you need to have completed the PAL course beforehand). They teach you a lot of the rules and regs so you don't get into trouble. It's a mandatory course if you want to get hunting, so make sure you get registered for that, too. They will provide you with the hunting regulations for that year, which will include information on the legal minimum muzzle energy you need to hunt different game, rules on hunter orange, etc. VERY useful book.



Q1: Ontario is divided up into WMUs, wildlife management units. The regulations on what you can and cannot hunt, and what you can and cannot use, are all dependent on which WMU you will be hunting in. The MNR provides all the information you need to figure this out. Check here for the regs: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FW/Publication/MNR_E001275P.html

Shotguns are typically the only powderburner allowed in the southern part of Ontario. North of Barrie (I believe.. maybe Keswick) is where you start getting into the WMUs that allow centrefire rifles. You cannot hunt anything with a rimfire unless it's small game.

Shotguns are very very versatile. You can take anything from waterfowl to deer (with slugs). Great for turkey hunting as well.

Q2: If you want to get a rifle (and hunt in the northern WMUs) then the best all-rounder would probably be the .308. It can pack enough punch to take down a moose, and the ballistics are thought to be very good, which makes it a good gun on the target range. Check out the Remington 700 - they are very simple, very reliable, and most of them out of the box, no mods, will shoot sub 1/2 MOA (1/2 inch groupings at 100 yards)

Q3: I myself use a Remington 870 Supermag shotgun. Can't go wrong with the 870.. like the 700, they are as reliable as anvils. And easy on the wallet. The supermag means it accepts 2 3/4 inch up to 3 1/2 inch magnum shells, so it is very versatile. Look at the 870 for a shotgun, and the Remington 700 for a centrefire. Reviews on both are very positive

If you need any more info, gimme a shout via PM and I'll try to answer as best as I can. As for hunting.. get your licenses, and maybe we'll be good to go for the spring turkey hunt :D

P.S - Join the OFAH - the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. They do great work. I believe you get automatically subscribed to Ontario Out of Doors, a great magazine. Hunting insurance also comes with the membership fees.. I believe it's 3 million liability.
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The hunter safety course is 2 days. You do NOT need a PAL to do the course. I did it when I was 14.

A shotgun is not the only centrefire you can use in Southern Ontario. Shotguns and Black powder are the only ones allowed for deer however.
I know someone that uses a 7mm for Coyote. I'm pretty sure he is at the limit, as I recall .270 being the max for the area, but I'm not positive about that, I took the course 14 years ago and haven't needed to look at the regs since.

+1 on the Rem 700 models. I seriously am considering it as one of my choices of brands for my .243. Great proven gun for the price.
 
+1on the Remington 700 model I have a .300 win mag that I use for deer, bear and moose in northern Ontario. Not sure of the rules in Southern Ontario but my nephew took the hunter safety course and the PAL course together last year
 
rmemedic said:
The hunter safety course is 2 days. You do NOT need a PAL to do the course. I did it when I was 14.

A shotgun is not the only centrefire you can use in Southern Ontario. Shotguns and Black powder are the only ones allowed for deer however.
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Where I did my hunter safety course, it was one day, 9 or 10 hours.. so I guess it's dependent on where you go. They also required proof that you completed a firearms safety course, dunno why. Good call in suggesting he make sure he gets the H1 license.. they almost gave me an H2, lucky I checked before I left.

I believe black bear is the only game you can hunt with a larger caliber centre fire in Southern Ontario. Small game (including coyotes) you can use up to a .270. Shotgun, black powder and bows for the rest
 
Lots of good info in the preceding posts, but I don't believe anyone mentioned that you can do your hunter safety and non-restricted gun course in one all-encompassing course. You need to find the right instructor that offers it. Also, you do not need to do the course, you just need to pass the test(s). If it's all new to you, then by all means, take the course. If you're merely getting back into somethning from your past, just take the tests. If you had a hunting licence in the past, you might not even need to take the test, depending on how long ago it was. You can use rifles in Southern Ontario; it depends on the WMU. I hunt in WMU 67, north of Kingston, with a 30-30. If you just want one rifle; I agree with whoever said a 308. A nice all-round cartridge; a bit heavy for deer, and a bit light for moose, but will do both. Alternatively, a 30-30 for deer and a 30-06 for heavier animals is a good match. I'm not a big shotgunner, but if you want turkey, i think you're going to need a 12 ga. Lots of used ones around.
 
I'm generally against buying used firearms for the same reason I'm against buying used bikes that are less than 10 years old. The sellers are typically asking for retail and think that they're doing you a favor by saving you the taxes. Your typical firearm exam will involve handling different types of action on rifles and pistols and unless you have plenty of experience with a nice arsenal, it's good to go over that stuff before the exam.
 
FiReSTaRT said:
I'm generally against buying used firearms for the same reason I'm against buying used bikes that are less than 10 years old. The sellers are typically asking for retail and think that they're doing you a favor by saving you the taxes. Your typical firearm exam will involve handling different types of action on rifles and pistols and unless you have plenty of experience with a nice arsenal, it's good to go over that stuff before the exam.
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I disagree on the used part for one important reason:

Most guns are safe queens, and when you're buying "used" you're practically buying a new firearm. The price generally reflects this. I've bought probably 20+ used guns over the years (all from CGN) and never had the slightest disappointment.

Out of all the guns I've purchased, the only ones that felt loosey-goosey were IDPA/IPSC/TDSA guns that were used for actual competitions. They were cheap AND buttery smooth!
 
I agree with mmmnaked. I don't even own a gun that I purchased new. I don't know if I'd buy from a kijiji or craigslist ad, but I have no problem buying from a friend or a reputable gun shop. If there are problems, they fix it.
 
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Lyndsay said:
I agree with mmmnaked. I don't even own a gun that I purchased new. I don't know if I'd buy form a kijiji or craigslist ad, but I have no problem buying from a friend or a reputable gun shop. If there are problems, they fix it.
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What if they had use it to kill people?
 
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