Look into getting an AA12, right Luc?!

Ruben,

Just checking to make sure you also got your PAL while doing the hunting course. You will need a POL at a minimum. DO NOT try and hunt without one. The last thing you need is a weapons charge to deal with. Game wardens are ALWAYS around.

If you already have a POL/PAL, here is a link to some used non-restricted firearms in Canada (shotguns/rifles which you can hunt with):
http://www.firearmscanada.com/ad-category/non_restricted_firearms/

I started hunting when I was 15. I haven't gone in about 15 years, but I may go for deer this year. I've moved to more handgun/rifle target sports, used to do tons of trap/skeet. Guns are a lot like DSMs, you want to start modding almost immediately. But, just like with cars, it's very easy to cross the legal boundaries. Make sure you are well-informed before doing anything.

Michael i am going this weekend for the corse they said it includes your hunting license and non restricted firearm license is there anything else i should be taking?

Also where do you usually go deer hunting?

Ruben there is no way you can get your firearms license same day. You can do the course and exam. They then send your personal details to the RCMP in Orillia you will get a stamped sheet back from them (same form you fill out when on the course). Then you have to get your picture and fingerprints done (maybe not the prints I can't remember) send that in with $65 and wait for the government to send you your PAL. It takes along time to get that back. There is a form for this. http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/form-formulaire/index-eng.htm#f1 see form CAFC921.

Once done your course you can walk into any MNR office and get your outdoors card and purchase a small games license. I believe you can also purchase a buck tag but must apply for a doe tag. But no hunting with firearms until you get that PAL in hand.

No word from my friend on the reserve stuff yet.

Also, while its nice to have a rifle, you won't be able to hunt much in southern ontario with it. Regulations call for shotgun only for most wildlife managements zones. Go north (not sure how far) and you can use rifle. Get a nice mossberg or remington with a couple of barrels (slug and rifled). I would not recommend a semi auto for a beginner. Often on a hunt you may not even fire a single shot. The idea is not to miss with the first one. Plus a semi auto is a little more "unsafe" for the beginner (easier to fire accidentally). Great for skeet/bird though.

Buying a used gun is fine, it's not like a car where you can't really see what's going on. Detailed stripping works to inspect, make sure the action cycles correctly and try and cycle some dummy rounds through it.

Knowing what your buying comes with experience. Shotguns don't have much "under the hood" anyway they really are a simple weapon to master the basics on.

What i am going for is ontario hunter education course and canadian fire arms safety course exam. How hard are these exams for someone that has little to no knowledge?

there are practice tests out there, alot of the content really is common sense stuff.

the course is designed to teach someone who knows absolutely nothing about hunting or guns/safety. you dont need to study for it, i believe its around 13 hours of class time over the weekend, they should have several types of guns there to demonstrate and let you practice loading( blanks) and get familiar with the actions before the firearms safety course aspect. heres a tip to pass the course, while handling the gun in class, control the muzzle direction at ALL times, straight up in the air is your safest bet, the instructor will designate a safe direction in the room aswell.

straight up or straight down.... haha

they really don't expect you to know anything, hence the class

If I understand you right, you are challenging the tests without the courses? If yes, read on. If you're taking the courses, you'll do fine.

Don't take this the wrong way, but you will likely fail the first round of tests. There is a ton of information in the courses that they expect you to repeat verbatim in the exam. Not only that, but you're expected to know how to handle a firearm safely, know how to work the various actions, safeties, choose the right ammo for your firearm, how to conduct yourself at a firing range, etc. I would highly recommend you transfer the money you have invested in the tests to the courses. Don't waste your time or money, and invest in a little knowledge that might save yours or someone elses life (or at least keep you out of danger). Also, the courses will allow you to ask the same questions you're asking here to people who leave and breathe this stuff everyday. They can tell you where to hunt, what firearms to buy, what to wear, and maybe recommend camps that are happy to take new hunters.

To answer your question, I hunted in Haliburton for deer. The owner of the camp is not taking new hunters, as the spots are all booked up (lodging). Being honest, you will not being hunting this year. By the time you get the paperwork done (the shuffle between the OFA and the RCMP), you will not see your PAL/POL until May/June of next year.

Michael i will be doing the courses its this weekend sun from 8-6pm and sat from 8-1pm what they told me is during that time ill learn enough to pass both tests.

Oh, okay, I misunderstood. You'll do just fine, the courses cover tons of info.

Thats great i just didnt imagen it would take that long for everything to come in. I guess this will be a next year thing.

the government likes to take their sweet time handling paperwork, trust me

So today i did my firearms test and my hunting license test and passed both ! Fire arms test is harder then the actual hunting license.

atta boy, now do us all a favour and go kill something

So just picked up my first gun and went with a remington 870 express mag !

you buy it new. it's a nice looking piece!

Yea i payed 550 for the gun and some shells ! now need to find a nice place to hunt Rabbit.

Lol a rabbit ? Go up North and shoot a Moose or something, b/w the eyes

Moose season is not open right now Reza cant just shoot anything at any time of year.

Lots of moose out here on the Rock.

I'm gonna get into hunting this year myself.

I heard there more moose than people out there!

NFLD... where people are people, and Moose are nervous.

I shot bambi about 4 years ago, gutted and cleaned him, got 66lbs of meat off him...NEVER AGAIN!!!

I can't ever see myself killing for sport. Not even when I go fishing in the summer, like every second or third week, always catch and release.

Don't think I would like shooting something but I have absolutely no issues fishing for food Trout/Pike/although I also love catching smaller tastier fish like black bass/smallmouth bass and perch. I miss camping, hopefully this summer I get a chance.

do i sense a dsm hunt/fish camp soon???? lol imagine

in my region, you can only hunt (shoot) in November, more specifically, 1st and 3rd week. And holy cow is it ever cold out.

Post pictures of your guns.

Here is some of my 300 mag I picked up this weekend. Has less kick then my 7mm mag suprizingly.

ya a gun pic thread would be cool, I picked up a couple recently aswell.

Marlin 17 HMR
Simonov SKS
winchester model 94 Klondike edition
stoeger x10 pellet gun, its great, a pellet gun that you need a PAL to buy, squirrels dont have a chance within 100 yards

Mike, im not up on my hunting dates, but .... you can target shoot whenever you feel like it here, anytime of the year.

Deer season is open for a while too, only 2 weeks you are allowed to use a rifle, and another week i think for muzzle loader, and is open to bow hunting the whole season duration.

duck and goose is a long season aswell.

Coyote is fair game all year.

so basicly you CAN shoot a rifle at targets all year.

trust me, I was held a gunpoint by 10 cops last weekend. I went skeet shooting and someone called the cops on me, and since we are considered Ottawa now they showed up to the boonies with 10 cars, shut roads down for 5 hours trying to find me, I didnt even know they were chasing me, I just go offroading and bring a couple rifles quite often. I didnt even get a warning or anything, ran my guns, and ID, and i was on my way.

Just picked up new Rifle for deer season we booked up a resort by lake nipissing, should be fun but we only have buck tags

you want to hunt rabbit come by my place. Those little bastards are in my yard everyday! My dog has killed 2 already this season

Will do Tim

Heres some pics

Remington 870 super mag



Browning x bolt 30-06

So got my First buck on christmas eve with a bow check out the pictures !

Sweeeeeeeeeet, i wanna get into some bow action!