Helmet when hunting?

[lakelander]

Is it illegal to be hunting on a quad without a helmet. Thx.

[albravo2]

I'm pretty sure it is but that isn't enough incentive for me to wear one. Speeding is illegal too but I accept the consequences and do it anyway.

[Ron.C]

Really depends on where you are and has nothing to do with hunting.

RCMP can and will ticket you in some roads, but you can pretty much ride how you want on private property.

I think in most cases, they are not concerned about it or looking for it and Id bet its viewed very different in more remote areas than those adacent to urban areas

[VI Blacktails]

x2 with me.Some guys wear a scull cap.I am always going slow because I am hunting.If I was joy riding that would be different.

[bighornbob]

If it’s a forest service road you need to have insurance to operate a ATV on. For your insurance to be vaid you need to be wearing a helmut. So yes you could get a ticket for no helmut on a FSR as you would technically not have insurance at the time.

On a spur road or private property you don’t need insurance so you don’t need a helmut.

[r106]

Fsr where you need liability insurance yes you need a helmet. On trails you dont. Iusuall dont wear one while hunting but usually have one with me. If bookin it down the road to get somewhere i wear it or a sketchy spot on a trail.

[DMAN009]

Open face DOT approved should solve the problem. There is always a little fun to be had on the way to and from a hunt....and often travelling in the dark.....not worth squishing the melon. OR bring you lid and take it off near the hunting spot and strap it to your machine.

[warnniklz]

Just wear an open face.

Kind of makes me think back to younger years. I've been riding quads for the last 27 years.

About 10/11 years ago my father and step mom bought a new quad. We all headed westbound for a family camping trip.

My step mother insisted that us kids wear helmets. It's just a natural instinct for me to put one on(most of the time), but I asked her why she wasn't wearing one. She read me the riot act and told me "If I say you're wearing ****ing helmets, you're going to wear a ****ing helmet"

Luckily her older brother chimed in and asked her why she wasn't wearing a helmet. My step mom's reasoning was "I feel safer without a helmet because it doesn't obstruct my vision and I can see better"

So she was going to force us to wear helmets, even though she thought she felt safer without a helmet?

I have 17 years of quading experience on her and I know, just wear a helmet... even if you look gay.

[ACE]

Spoke to one of the local RCMP officers here in Ladysmith . . . he said that you do have to wear a DOT or equivalent helmet on public land/roads.
He also said that the RCMP have better things to do than check helmets. Roll the dice, take your chances . . . . the RCMP officer also hunts.

[VLD43]

Is it illegal to be hunting on a quad without a helmet. Thx.

Whether it is legal or not is not the question. It is common sense and good practice to wear a helmet. I young guy I worked with 10 years ago was coming out of the bush just after dark to get a bunch of gear to assist his hunting partners who had just shot a moose. With a bit of adrenaline up and no helmet, he was in a hurry to get back to the truck, get the gear and return. He left his buddies and when he didn't return an hour later, his buddies started looking for him. They found him just off the trail with a massive head injury and his quad overturned. They got him medi-vact to the Kamloops trauma centre. He did survive for about a year and was very close to a vegetative state. He had a young wife and a couple of very young children. At work we stepped up and supported his family as best we could. The stress the whole event put his entire family and his friends and co workers through was not even close to worth it. It was never his intention or desire to have an accident, but sadly it happened. So when you think about whether or not to wear an uncomfortable helmet when hunting, think first of all people who's life will be affected if you injure yourself or die.

[Iron Glove]

If it’s a forest service road you need to have insurance to operate a ATV on. For your insurance to be vaid you need to be wearing a helmut. So yes you could get a ticket for no helmut on a FSR as you would technically not have insurance at the time.

On a spur road or private property you don’t need insurance so you don’t need a helmut.

I don't think that is quite correct.
The only insurance that is mandatory to ride where it is required is Third Party Liability, i.e. if you, as the operator / owner of the ATV injure someone or damage property.
It does not cover an injury to yourself.
I believe your liability insurance would still be liable unless it could be proven that the proximate cause of the injury to others or damage to property was your not wearing a helmet. Even then that might be a tough one for the Insurers to do.
It's kinda like you have to wear your seatbelt while driving your car. If you smack somebody or another vehicle while not having your seatbelt done up it should not invalidate your policy. You can be ticketed of course.
If you insure your ATV and you have accident insurance covering you, then yes, you might not have any coverage for your own injury.

[Slinky Pickle]

Illegal to ride ATV without helmet, legal to ride UTV without one... just to muddy the waters a bit.

[Wentrot]

I wear an open face style helmet, still wouldn’t be to comfortable to shoot with so I’d take it off if I saw a critter on my way to an area. If it makes me miss an opportunity so be it-I only own one brain and it’s already been knocked around a bit so prefer to keep it protected no matter my speed.

[chinooker]

There’s tons of stories of if he was wearing a helmet the injury wouldn’t be as bad blah blah blah. If you never left the house and encased yourself in foam you would be much safer. I don’t want to wear a helmet and won’t. Life is risky!! That being said I don’t ride an atv like I’m in a super cross race.

[Island Idiots]

Opening day I got back to my truck driving my RZR. I took off my helmet and put my stuff in the truck. I put my hat on and drove my RZR from beside my truck to the trailer behind just as the CO pulled up.
After some discussion about me not wearing my helmet while loading my RZR, he eventually believed me when I said I always where my helmet. ( I do ) but I removed it before loading.
He gave me a warning.
He also told me if your ORV is equipped with seatbelts you can wear your helmet OR your seatbelt. I understood that you had to use both if your ORV has seatbelts.
I looked it up online- www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/193_2015

Sections 2, 21, 23 apply.

You must wear a helmet on public OR private land
You must wear the seatbelt if equipped on public OR private land.

As was said earlier it depends on the CO. This one says he won't ticket if I wear my seatbelt and no helmet, or a helmet and no seatbelt.

I printed the stuff off and when I see him again we will have a further chat. My interaction was fine, and I look forward to chatting with him again.

[srupp]

Hmmm friend of mine didnt wear his helmet. ..dumped his quad. .now is his 10th year existing in a care home lost his mind..literally..lost his familly,..lost his buisness..
he is all alone...lost everything.
Wear your helmet ! its your life !
steven

[Camp Cook]

I wear a half helmet when I ride my motorcycle when I'm hunting I do not have to take it off to shoot.

I have the helmet sitting on the top of the Kolpin case in this picture.

https://i.postimg.cc/JnNn5Mn8/KLX250-S-Sept-8-2019-hunting-trip.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Redthies]

I wear a half helmet when I ride my motorcycle when I'm hunting I do not have to take it off to shoot.

I have the helmet sitting on the top of the Kolpin case in this picture.

https://i.postimg.cc/JnNn5Mn8/KLX250-S-Sept-8-2019-hunting-trip.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

This is a good way to go. I have an open face helmet for work, and a full face for buffooning. You guys that are to cool to wear a helmet, well, enjoy life with no cognitive function. Shit happens, and usually way quicker than you think, and when you least expect it to. I break lots of laws/rules, but I at least play relatively safe when I play hard.

And to answer the OPs question, in BC you are legally required to wear a helmet in/on anything wheeled that isn’t an automobile or tractor/heavy equipment. But as I said, I occasionally break some laws. It’s up to you...

[lakelander]

Opening day I got back to my truck driving my RZR. I took off my helmet and put my stuff in the truck. I put my hat on and drove my RZR from beside my truck to the trailer behind just as the CO pulled up.
After some discussion about me not wearing my helmet while loading my RZR, he eventually believed me when I said I always where my helmet. ( I do ) but I removed it before loading.
He gave me a warning.
He also told me if your ORV is equipped with seatbelts you can wear your helmet OR your seatbelt. I understood that you had to use both if your ORV has seatbelts.
I looked it up online- www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/193_2015

Sections 2, 21, 23 apply.

You must wear a helmet on public OR private land
You must wear the seatbelt if equipped on public OR private land.

As was said earlier it depends on the CO. This one says he won't ticket if I wear my seatbelt and no helmet, or a helmet and no seatbelt.

I printed the stuff off and when I see him again we will have a further chat. My interaction was fine, and I look forward to chatting with him again.


I didn't see in the regulations that you can opt not to wear a helmet if you wear your seat belt in a side by side. Interesting, I thought that COs can only ticket you for firearm/hunting related infractions. I ride a side by side with a roll cage and seat belts but maybe I will wear an open face just in case. Thanks all.

[Walksalot]

I had permission to use my atv to ride between orchards when my Dad was sick and it required a slow moving vehicle sign on my atv. I was in the woods traveling down a skid trail going not fast at all. A lug of the front tire hooked on a rock which flipped the atv up and threw me off into a ravine. I looked up to see the atv about to roll over me. The atv rolled over me and the metal slow moving sign cut a groove across my helmet. Could have been a mess.

[Island Idiots]

I didn't see in the regulations that you can opt not to wear a helmet if you wear your seat belt in a side by side. Interesting, I thought that COs can only ticket you for firearm/hunting related infractions. I ride a side by side with a roll cage and seat belts but maybe I will wear an open face just in case. Thanks all.

Yes the regulations are clear, you have to wear both but in this case the CO is making a decision to allow one or the other. That doesn't mean another CO won't enforce the regulations as written. Keep in mind that CO's are Peace Officers and as such can enforce any law in BC. For example, the speed limit on FSR's is 80 KM/H unless otherwise posted. A CO could issue speeding ticket of you exceed that speed.

I think most will provide some leeway, because they hunt too, and understand the issues. This CO spoke about neck fatigue from wearing a full face helmet, hence his slowing a seatbelt instead. Doesn't apply to ATV, but at least he knows what it means to have a helmet on while hunting, I don't think he likes it either, lol.

[Citori54]

I wear a helmet when riding ATV or motor bike. Going slow doesn't necessarily guarantee no accident and subsequent head injury. My brother was riding his trials bike in his driveway to see how it ran following some carb/throttle cable work at a local shop. He cracked the throttle and for some reason it stuck wide open. He hit a tree and was thrown head first into it caving in his skull resulting in bone fragments in the brain. An added bonus of the helmet is it keeps the noodle warm on those frosty late fall days.

[REMINGTON JIM]

I ALWAYS wear a HALF Helmet with zip in -out ear flaps for when its colder out ! RJ

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/7142xGFaE9L._AC_UL320_ML3_.jpg
(https://www.amazon.ca/Motorcycle-Protective-Personality-Half-Helmet-Cruiser/dp/B07G22SN4N/ref=sr_1_31?gclid=CjwKCAjw2qHsBRAGEiwAMbPoDGB9h1m_ 2lyk8f7eSUcH0NXKtabjUtfJS1cwO_ZF6IBmE72yud79RhoCpn cQAvD_BwE&hvadid=269167531647&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9001475&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=5769379631196704021&hvtargid=aud-748919244907%3Akwd-294593172667&hydadcr=23344_9563107&keywords=helmet+half&qid=1569301136&sr=8-31)




PU Harley Motorcycle Helmet Protective Gear Retro Personality Helmet Half-Helmet Summer Pedal Motorcycle Cruiser Leather (https://www.amazon.ca/Motorcycle-Protective-Personality-Half-Helmet-Cruiser/dp/B07G22SN4N/ref=sr_1_31?gclid=CjwKCAjw2qHsBRAGEiwAMbPoDGB9h1m_ 2lyk8f7eSUcH0NXKtabjUtfJS1cwO_ZF6IBmE72yud79RhoCpn cQAvD_BwE&hvadid=269167531647&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9001475&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=5769379631196704021&hvtargid=aud-748919244907%3Akwd-294593172667&hydadcr=23344_9563107&keywords=helmet+half&qid=1569301136&sr=8-31)

[Quiet Hunter]

Where a helmut its your life. Cool isn't cool when your dead.

[Camp Cook]

I wear a merino Buff when I ride with my 1/2 helmet covers my face - neck - ears - back of head/neck.

[XPEIer]

and you must wear a helmet when on a Recreation Site or Trail, The Co's can enforce these regulations anywhere, does not need to be an RCMP member.
Safety helmet
7 (1)A person must properly wear

(a)a bicycle safety helmet, or

(b)a motorcycle safety helmet
while operating, or riding as a passenger on, a bicycle or motorcycle in a recreation site or interpretive forest site or on a recreation trail.

(2)The provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act (http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_00) and the regulations made under that Act, with respect to bicycle safety helmets and motorcycle safety helmets, apply for the purposes of subsection (1).
Also, the regulation is quite clear:
Helmets required for all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and snowmobiles
21 (1)Subject to subsection (3), a person must not use, operate or be a passenger on an all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle or snowmobile on Crown land or prescribed private land, unless the person wears an off-road vehicle safety helmet.

(2)A person must not use or operate an all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle or snowmobile on Crown land or prescribed private land with a child as a passenger, unless the child wears an off-road vehicle safety helmet.

(3)This section does not apply to a person who

(a)practises the Sikh religion, and

(b)has unshorn hair and habitually wears a turban composed of 5 or more square metres of cloth.

[huntcoop]

...This section does not apply to a person who practices the Sikh religion, and has unshorn hair and habitually wears a turban composed of 5 or more square metres of cloth.

I wonder if it says somewhere that BC medical WON'T pay for for his hospital bills should he become a vegetable after crashing his bike... :roll:

[RyoTHC]

and you must wear a helmet when on a Recreation Site or Trail, The Co's can enforce these regulations anywhere, does not need to be an RCMP member.
Safety helmet


7 (1)
A person must properly wear

(a)
a bicycle safety helmet, or

(b)
a motorcycle safety helmet
while operating, or riding as a passenger on, a bicycle or motorcycle in a recreation site or interpretive forest site or on a recreation trail.

(2)
The provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act (http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_00) and the regulations made under that Act, with respect to bicycle safety helmets and motorcycle safety helmets, apply for the purposes of subsection (1).
Also, the regulation is quite clear:
Helmets required for all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and snowmobiles


21 (1)
Subject to subsection (3), a person must not use, operate or be a passenger on an all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle or snowmobile on Crown land or prescribed private land, unless the person wears an off-road vehicle safety helmet.

(2)
A person must not use or operate an all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle or snowmobile on Crown land or prescribed private land with a child as a passenger, unless the child wears an off-road vehicle safety helmet.

(3)
This section does not apply to a person who

(a)
practises the Sikh religion, and

(b)
has unshorn hair and habitually wears a turban composed of 5 or more square metres of cloth.



You REALLY know your country has went absolutely bonkers when laws don’t pertain to one class of citizen but do to another, this helmet law exclusion for the Sikh is no different than the hunting license exclusion for the natives.

But be careful not to say anything regarding that, if you’re white. You’ll then be classified as a racist nationalist bigot.

I find it it even funnier you don’t choose your race your gender, but you absolutely choose which fairy tail book you believe, how the hell does making a poor decision exclude you from certain laws ?
Its really time for Canadians to wake up and realize that we are being turned into second class citizens daily by the socialists in power.

[hawk-i]

I have a SXS with seatbelts and rollover protection....do you wear a helmet when driving a truck or jeep?

Legally the answer is yes, but ain't going to happen ...my tune may change if and when I get a few tickets though...lol

[VLD43]

The section that refers to Sikh's not having to wear a helmet makes sense. My reasoning is that during the first and second world wars, Sikh and Indian troops went into battle wearing their traditional head dress and not a helmet. So if no one minded then, why is it an issue now.

[steel_ram]

The first thing your insurance company will ask you is "were you wearing a helmet". The same if you are a witness.

[Squamch]

I wear a BMX lid when on my dirtbike for hunting. I'm not going fast, I can shoot with it on, and I've had plenty of bad spills off of bicycles with similar helmets and come away (relatively) unscathed.
It's also vented so I can either wear a thin fleece toque/merino buff under it, or if it's warmer, my head stays cool.

[mike31154]

LEH moose hunt last fall with 2 good buddies. They both on ATVs me on my Honda dirt bike. I've been motorcycling since 1976 & wearing helmet is 2nd nature. Neither of my buds wore helmets on their ATVs during the 2 weeks of our hunt. No spills or injuries thankfully, but we took 1 day to ride a lengthy loop around the area reaching some pretty hefty speeds on the FSRs. Their noggins, their choice, but wearing helmet is automatic for me.

https://o5dupg.dm.files.1drv.com/y4mnSTrP6qCqm0b_BESMiVgvcfAbpWTAKRjQctyyaAOUUjj9o_ L3WKrEKT-KI9iudKro6Te0k2h_mlkU6tFIA7va2-zwZEAIbLWhoQ5LP59iH_1a59WsQ9UQSneP5WFCXUVzmPE8yZmN P1-c9_Q_ANw96fusWARSSrIbsddlFou6UsLdr71K_eeFs0XVpvNXF LvKjM3nyQkCBmJHpV6QfRp4w?width=1024&height=1024&cropmode=none

[Gun Dog]

The off-road vehicle regulation does state:

21 (1) Subject to subsection (3), a person must not use, operate or be a passenger on an all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle or snowmobile on Crown land or prescribed private land, unless the person wears an off-road vehicle safety helmet.

but it also defines an all-terrain vehicle:

"all-terrain vehicle" means a vehicle that

(a) runs on 4 or more wheels or is self-propelled by means of 2 or more endless belts driven in contact with the ground,

(b) has a seat designed for the driver to sit astride, and

(c) at the time the vehicle was manufactured, was not designed to conform to the standards prescribed under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) for motor vehicles designed for use on a highway,

but does not include an agricultural or industrial vehicle;


A side by side is not an "all-terrain vehicle". There's a separate definition for "off-road side-by-side vehicle" and you get to wear seat belts.

off-road vehicle regulation (http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/193_2015)

[Slinky Pickle]

I have a SXS with seatbelts and rollover protection....do you wear a helmet when driving a truck or jeep?

Legally the answer is yes, but ain't going to happen ...my tune may change if and when I get a few tickets though...lol

Legally, the answer is no. Helmets are not required while in a UTV (SxS) because you are not "astride" the vehicle and therefor it is not an "all terrain vehicle' by the definition.

[XPEIer]

The off-road vehicle regulation does state:

21 (1) Subject to subsection (3), a person must not use, operate or be a passenger on an all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle or snowmobile on Crown land or prescribed private land, unless the person wears an off-road vehicle safety helmet.

but it also defines an all-terrain vehicle:

"all-terrain vehicle" means a vehicle that

(a) runs on 4 or more wheels or is self-propelled by means of 2 or more endless belts driven in contact with the ground,

(b) has a seat designed for the driver to sit astride, and

(c) at the time the vehicle was manufactured, was not designed to conform to the standards prescribed under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) for motor vehicles designed for use on a highway,

but does not include an agricultural or industrial vehicle;


A side by side is not an "all-terrain vehicle". There's a separate definition for "off-road side-by-side vehicle" and you get to wear seat belts.

off-road vehicle regulation (http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/193_2015)


Does this not outline what an ORV is;
Prescribed classes of off-road vehicles
2 For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of "off-road vehicle" in section 1 of the Act, the following vehicles, other than vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4 536 kg or more, are prescribed:

(a)all-terrain vehicles;

(b)motorcycles;

(c)off-road side-by-side vehicles;

(d)snowmobiles;

(e)on-highway motor vehicles.

[redneckdale]

I crashed 2 yrs ago broke 7 ribs tore my sternum burst fractured my t9 and traumatic brain injury I'm lucky to be alive let alone still hinting and fishing
Last year in nanaimo a family friend passed away after a crash
Neither of us were wearing helmets the choice is yours but not worth the risk of not wearing one

[REMINGTON JIM]

(3)
" This section does not apply to a person who

(a)
practises the Sikh religion, and


(b)
has unshorn hair and habitually wears a turban composed of 5 or more square metres of cloth. "

WTF ???

Are you phucking KIDDING me ! This is the tyope of LAWs etc that CAUSE problems ! SHIT like this has to go ! :mad: RJ

[Squamch]

I'd like to see a comparison of the effectiveness of a turban and a mass of hair, vs a DOT approved beanie helmet in protecting grey matter in a crash before I get too twisted about it.
You can also wear a colander as per the church of the flying spaghetti monster, I'm pretty sure.

[REMINGTON JIM]

I crashed 2 yrs ago broke 7 ribs tore my sternum burst fractured my t9 and traumatic brain injury I'm lucky to be alive let alone still hinting and fishing
Last year in nanaimo a family friend passed away after a crash
Neither of us were wearing helmets the choice is yours but not worth the risk of not wearing one

Sorry to Hear about your Friend passing on and your Terrible injuries BUT thats why people need to wear a Helmet for Sure ! RJ

[barongan]

Helmet when hunting?
This very interesting discussion,out of the boxhttp://juragan.club/assets/13/o.png

[Salty]

I wear a half helmet when I ride my motorcycle when I'm hunting I do not have to take it off to shoot.

I have the helmet sitting on the top of the Kolpin case in this picture.

https://i.postimg.cc/JnNn5Mn8/KLX250-S-Sept-8-2019-hunting-trip.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

This. Got my first quad a few years back wasn't big on the helmet idea for putting and hunting but went to Canadian tire and bought a biker bro beany flat black helmut 50 bucks, done. Doesn't impede hearing or vision and its nice and light. Put a thin wool toque under it when its cold and you're nice and warm. Having said that I did forget it yesterday and went on about a 30 km run :roll: De-ac road no traffic I took it real easy.

[Buckmeister]

I carry a half helmet with me always, but hardly ever wear it. Came across a police officer once one spring while out riding around on an FSR. They were looking into a call about gunshots fired. Never said anything about no helmet. Was pulled over by a game warden 2 years ago while moose hunting. He checked my papers and rifles and wished me good luck and a nice day, no talk of no helmet.

[Mauser98]

Does this not outline what an ORV is;
Prescribed classes of off-road vehicles


2
For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of "off-road vehicle" in section 1 of the Act, the following vehicles, other than vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4 536 kg or more, are prescribed:

(a)
all-terrain vehicles;

(b)
motorcycles;

(c)
off-road side-by-side vehicles;

(d)
snowmobiles;

(e)
on-highway motor vehicles.

section 21(1) of the Regs goes on to state which of the prescribed classes of off-road vehicle require helmet use.

1)
Subject to subsection (3), a person must not use, operate or be a passenger on an all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle or snowmobile on Crown land or prescribed private land, unless the person wears an off-road vehicle safety helmet.