CFSC Firearms Use in Hunting & Sporting Activities 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What document, in addition to a PAL, is required to hunt game in most Canadian provinces?
- A valid provincial hunting licence appropriate for the species and season being hunted (Correct answer)
- A federal hunting permit issued by the RCMP
- An Authorization to Transport for the hunting firearm
- A letter of permission from the landowner is the only document needed
Correct answer: A valid provincial hunting licence appropriate for the species and season being hunted
A provincial hunting licence and often a species-specific game tag is required in addition to the PAL. Hunting regulations are administered by each province and territory.
In Canada, firearms regulation is federal under the Firearms Act, while hunting regulation is provincial or territorial. A hunter must hold a valid PAL to possess the firearm and a valid provincial hunting licence and the appropriate game tag for the specific species.
Question 2: Why is identifying your target and what is beyond it essential before firing?
- A bullet can travel far beyond the target, injuring unintended people or animals, so the entire flight path must be confirmed safe before shooting (Correct answer)
- It is only required when shooting at ranges beyond 100 metres
- Target identification is required only for restricted firearms, not hunting rifles
- You only need to confirm the target and what lies beyond is the responsibility of others
Correct answer: A bullet can travel far beyond the target, injuring unintended people or animals, so the entire flight path must be confirmed safe before shooting
Bullets can travel significant distances past the target. The shooter is responsible for the entire path of every bullet fired, making it essential to identify what lies beyond the target before pulling the trigger.
This is one of the four fundamental rules of Canadian firearms safety. Rifle bullets can travel more than 3 km depending on calibre and elevation. A hunter who fires without verifying what lies beyond the target could injure or kill a person, animal, or damage property far downrange.
Question 3: How should a non-restricted firearm be carried while hunting in Canada to minimize risk?
- Unloaded or with the safety engaged, muzzle pointed in a safe direction, with finger outside the trigger guard (Correct answer)
- Loaded with the safety off for fastest response to game
- Cocked and ready with the finger on the trigger at all times
- Slung over the shoulder with the muzzle pointed rearward toward other hunters
Correct answer: Unloaded or with the safety engaged, muzzle pointed in a safe direction, with finger outside the trigger guard
Firearms should be carried with the safety on or unloaded, the muzzle in a safe direction, and the finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.
While hunting, a firearm may be legally carried loaded where legal to do so, but must have the safety engaged and the finger outside the trigger guard until the hunter is ready to fire. Many experienced hunters choose to keep the chamber empty and chamber a round only when about to shoot.
Question 4: What should a hunter do when crossing a fence or other obstacle while carrying a firearm?
- Unload the firearm, carefully pass it under or through the fence with the action open, then cross (Correct answer)
- Jump over the fence quickly while keeping the firearm ready to fire
- Lay the firearm on the fence post and cross then retrieve it
- Carry the firearm in one hand and climb the fence with the other hand
Correct answer: Unload the firearm, carefully pass it under or through the fence with the action open, then cross
The CFSC teaches that hunters should unload the firearm before crossing any obstacle, pass it safely through or under the fence with the action open, and only reload after crossing.
Fence crossings are a leading cause of hunting accidents in Canada. The recommended procedure is to unload the firearm completely, ensure the action is open, pass the firearm under the lowest fence wire muzzle-first, cross the obstacle, and retrieve the firearm before reloading.
Question 5: Why is blaze orange clothing recommended or required for hunters in many Canadian provinces?
- It makes the hunter highly visible to other hunters, preventing them from being mistaken for game animals (Correct answer)
- It is required by federal firearms law for all outdoor activities
- It helps game animals identify hunters and avoid the area for conservation purposes
- It prevents ticks and insects from landing on the hunter
Correct answer: It makes the hunter highly visible to other hunters, preventing them from being mistaken for game animals
Blaze orange is worn to make hunters visible to one another. Deer and other game cannot detect this colour easily, but other hunters can clearly see it, dramatically reducing the risk of accidental shootings.
Hunter orange clothing requirements exist in many Canadian provinces during firearms deer seasons. Deer lack the ability to distinguish orange from green due to their limited colour vision. However, it is highly visible to other hunters, preventing tragic cases of mistaken identity.
Question 6: What is the Canadian approach to safe storage of firearms while at a remote hunting camp?
- Firearms must still be unloaded and secured with trigger locks or in a locked container when not in active use, even at a remote camp (Correct answer)
- At remote camps, firearms may be left loaded and unsecured since there is no public access
- Only restricted firearms need to be locked at a remote camp
- Canadian law does not apply to remote hunting camps
Correct answer: Firearms must still be unloaded and secured with trigger locks or in a locked container when not in active use, even at a remote camp
The Canadian Firearms Act storage requirements apply everywhere in Canada, including remote hunting camps. Firearms must be unloaded and secured when not in active use.
The Firearms Act's safe storage requirements are national and apply regardless of location. At a remote hunting camp, a non-restricted firearm must be unloaded and either secured with a trigger lock or stored in a locked container when not in active use.
CFSC Firearms Use in Hunting & Sporting Activities 2
What document, in addition to a PAL, is required to hunt game in most Canadian provinces?