Using Illuminated Sights

[bc sportsman]

The Regs say that we cannot use a light or illuminating device to hunt. Page 15, Sec 32. I'm guessing that means external light or illuminating device and that it is legal to use battery operated illuminated recticle inside scope (makes the cross hairs light up) or battery operated illuminated archery pins on a bow or crossbow. Does anyone know for certain?

Thanks

[Gateholio]

What is the wording in the Wildlife Act?

[bc sportsman]

Exacy the same wording.

[bc sportsman]

Also checked definitions of light and illuminating device. Nothing there.

[caddisguy]

Interesting post. It never really crossed my mind, but I have a fiber optic front site on my 12ga, fiber optic and LED light on the bow (never had a need to use the LED while hunting) ... I own a red dot sight too... haven't hunted with it yet but it has crossed my mind.

I guess the only way to find out for certain is to email the ministry and get their interpretation.

I would imagine "spirit of the law" is to prevent people from using lights to spot/stun animals, but letter of the law always for some mission creep.

What about using a light to help detect the blood trail of wounded game?

Thinking back to the CORE book, I am trying to remember if things like red dot sites or using a light on a blood trail are discussed? Though not legally binding in itself it might clarify scope of "spirit of the law".

As a person who takes everything literally, the way some laws are written drives me a little bonkers :)

[Slinky Pickle]

What about thermal imaging scopes? They don't illuminate the animal but they create an illuminated image for the hunter to view. Is that any different?

The video below is obviously NOT Canada law friendly but it would sure be nice to be able to handle ranching issues this way.


https://youtu.be/6YPS00lU7rQ

[Gateholio]

Posting the relevant text might get a decent response.

[bc sportsman]

Hi...the text in both reg synopsis and Act is same as my post. Illegal to hunt with "light or illimunating device".

[caddisguy]

Here is the exact excerpt from the Wildlife Act:

Hunting, trapping and firearm prohibitions26 (1) A person commits an offence if the person hunts, takes, traps, wounds or kills wildlife
(a) that is an endangered species or threatened species,
(b) in a wildlife sanctuary,
(c) at a time not within the open season,
(d) with a firearm or a bow during the prohibited hours,
(e) by the use or with the aid of a light or illuminating device,
(f) with poison,
(g) with a set gun, or
(h) with a pump, repeating or auto loading shotgun unless the magazine contains a plug that is incapable of removal except by disassembling the gun, and that makes the magazine incapable of holding more than 2 cartridges.
(2) Subsection (1) (c), (d), (e) and (h) does not apply to a person who hunts or traps wildlife that is on the person's property and is a menace to a domestic animal or bird.

[Drillbit]

What about thermal imaging scopes? They don't illuminate the animal but they create an illuminated image for the hunter to view. Is that any different?

The video below is obviously NOT Canada law friendly but it would sure be nice to be able to handle ranching issues this way.


https://youtu.be/6YPS00lU7rQ

"(2) Subsection (1) (c), (d), (e) and (h) does not apply to a person who hunts or traps wildlife that is on the person's property and is a menace to a domestic animal or bird.Z"

They let you handle ranching issues.

To the OP. Pretty sure the law is for pit-lamping. There are exemptions for that too.

[northof49]

Why even go here.....non issue. The intent with reg is aimed at preventing pit lamping, nothing to do with optics during legal hunting hours.

[twoSevenO]

What about thermal imaging scopes? They don't illuminate the animal but they create an illuminated image for the hunter to view. Is that any different?

The video below is obviously NOT Canada law friendly but it would sure be nice to be able to handle ranching issues this way.


https://youtu.be/6YPS00lU7rQ

Thermal imaging would only really be useful after legal shooting light anyways, wouldnt it? So the shooting hours reg kind of rules out the night vision scopes.

But sitting out on a hillside and scouting with night vision binoculars would probably be pretty cool

[Gateholio]

Here is the exact excerpt from the Wildlife Act:

Hunting, trapping and firearm prohibitions

26 (1) A person commits an offence if the person hunts, takes, traps, wounds or kills wildlife
(a) that is an endangered species or threatened species,
(b) in a wildlife sanctuary,
(c) at a time not within the open season,
(d) with a firearm or a bow during the prohibited hours,
(e) by the use or with the aid of a light or illuminating device,
(f) with poison,
(g) with a set gun, or
(h) with a pump, repeating or auto loading shotgun unless the magazine contains a plug that is incapable of removal except by disassembling the gun, and that makes the magazine incapable of holding more than 2 cartridges.
(2) Subsection (1) (c), (d), (e) and (h) does not apply to a person who hunts or traps wildlife that is on the person's property and is a menace to a domestic animal or bird.


Thanks, that's what we needed. Getting the actual text of the regulation posted always makes things easier to understand.

The regulation says "Illuminating" and not "Illuminated" so I would say illuminated scopes, pins and red dots are good to go. Unless your reticle projects it's illumination :) :)

The regulations are clearly about pit lamping and not optics. But it's always good to check.

[butthead]

just like having a loaded gun resting on the truck tire

[Slinky Pickle]

Thermal imaging would only really be useful after legal shooting light anyways, wouldnt it? So the shooting hours reg kind of rules out the night vision scopes.

But sitting out on a hillside and scouting with night vision binoculars would probably be pretty cool

I've got a spot where I'm often limited by the amount of available light in the evening. I can often make out deer when there is easily 30 minutes of legal shooting left but even big optics won't let me count the tines at 300 yards in this spot or even define bucks from does. The cost of the thermal scope is a little out of my budget though. :)

[twoSevenO]

I've got a spot where I'm often limited by the amount of available light in the evening. I can often make out deer when there is easily 30 minutes of legal shooting left but even big optics won't let me count the tines at 300 yards in this spot or even define bucks from does. The cost of the thermal scope is a little out of my budget though. :)

Bring one in from the states, they're cheaper down there











Lol. Jk. Dont try to do that!

[stevo911_]

Thermal imaging would only really be useful after legal shooting light anyways, wouldnt it?

Or in the mountains, dense woods, on overcast/rainy days when getting towards last light. I'd say most of the areas I hunt at some point in the day they'd be handy.

[fishhunt]

I spoke with a CO a few years ago to clarify the using a "light" as I wanted to use a laser scope on a .22 for grouse. He consulted with other CO's and they concurred that lasers were ok. The laws were written a long time ago - before lasers or other technology like illuminated scopes. Not sure if the laws were updated since then.