Confusion about shooting regulations near lower mainland of BC
Hello, I am new to hunting and shooting and just recently got my PAL and planning on getting my core soon too. I am having problems with figuring out where I am allowed to shoot as I would like to practice in a forest before I go out and do the real hunting. I live in Poco and seeing as I live there I was looking for places close by to go out and found an area that seems as though it should be legal but im struggling to figure it out and figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. Looking at the hunting regs (which from what I've seen coincide with the shooting regs pretty much?) and crown land it seems like I've found a spot with easier access to get to but wanted more veteran advice rather than just be a stupid 19 year old walking around letting off guns all over the place and getting into trouble. I attached photos of the info i gathered online, the green area being the crown land and the general area with the no shooting zone. Any info or advice would be great.
Re: Confusion about shooting regulations near lower mainland of BC
You absolutely can’t shoot firearms in the spot you’ve noted.
It’s within municipal boundaries. As above, join a club if you want to shoot close to home. Otherwise, you’ll need to drive 1.5-2 hours out to the valley to find an area suitable for target shooting. And you’ll need to review the maps that are available online showing what roads have shooting restrictions on them.
The first map you shared is the Fraser Valley Special License Hunting area. There are many spots in the lower mainland where you can hunt and discharge a firearm for hunting, but not for target shooting.
Even finding an area where hunting is allowed isn’t a simple task - you need to consult local by-laws and the hunting regs.
Last edited by Livewire322; 04-22-2025 at 07:56 AM.
Re: Confusion about shooting regulations near lower mainland of BC
You could go to POCO fish and game. As far as I know, you don't need a membership, just pay for a daily pass.
Mission range is a bit more painful.
You should read the regs for the area you want to go. It will tell you where you can and cannot shoot.
This exercise is good for you and will teach you how to read the regs.
As far as what livewire says, I am not aware of any areas where you can hunt, but not target shoot.
You have to consider the fact that there are hikers, mushroom hunters and other users in the woods. Just because you can shoot somewhere, doesn't mean it's a good idea.
Mountains/woods are usually never a good place to shoot, unless it's a cut block and you have clear vision of what's in front of you and beyond your target.
Never shoot on roads, even if they are FSRs.
1. Human over population
2. Government burden and overreach
Re: Confusion about shooting regulations near lower mainland of BC
Originally Posted by adriaticum
You could go to POCO fish and game. As far as I know, you don't need a membership, just pay for a daily pass.
Mission range is a bit more painful.
You should read the regs for the area you want to go. It will tell you where you can and cannot shoot.
This exercise is good for you and will teach you how to read the regs. As far as what livewire says, I am not aware of any areas where you can hunt, but not target shoot.
You have to consider the fact that there are hikers, mushroom hunters and other users in the woods. Just because you can shoot somewhere, doesn't mean it's a good idea.
Mountains/woods are usually never a good place to shoot, unless it's a cut block and you have clear vision of what's in front of you and beyond your target.
Never shoot on roads, even if they are FSRs.
The original post included the FVSHA map and there are many areas within that map that fall into the category of ‘firearms for hunting, but no target shooting’ - examples include Pitt marsh, Boundary Bay, Brunswick point, etc…
Further, look to page 27 of the Hunting Synopsis, under the header of ‘Notice to Hunters’ for further areas that meet the definition in question. The ministry even provides this helpful map: https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Governmen...otingAreas.pdf
Re: Confusion about shooting regulations near lower mainland of BC
Hey you are off to a great start by not wanting to be a 19 year old shooting where you may not and where you should not. As indicated by others, the best thing is to join a gun club and shoot there. Other than that, you will need to check municipal regulations -- many if not most or all municipalities have restrictions on the discharge of firearms. The other good comment is that it's not great to be out target shooting if there are other users nearby. But other than that, I think you should be able to drive well up some forest service road and do some shooting. (Other readers, please correct me if I'm wrong.) Make sure your bullets will strike into land close to your target (and other safety considerations).
Re: Confusion about shooting regulations near lower mainland of BC
By drive up some forest road I'd have to head out farther east right? I've been looking more into it and it seems the closest possible place to do outdoor shooting not at a range is mission and even so mission has lots of complications with it.
Re: Confusion about shooting regulations near lower mainland of BC
Originally Posted by shakirashakira
By drive up some forest road I'd have to head out farther east right? I've been looking more into it and it seems the closest possible place to do outdoor shooting not at a range is mission and even so mission has lots of complications with it.
Mission (Sylvester rd) is a no-go.
It got a bad reputation and the powers that be shut it down for shooting. You have to go farther east still.
Re: Confusion about shooting regulations near lower mainland of BC
This is the map of the no soot areas in the lower mainland. The closest place will likely be up the east side of Harrison but unless theres been some logging going on up there the spots available to shoot will be limited.
Re: Confusion about shooting regulations near lower mainland of BC
Online seems to say that harrison east fsr is kind of crazy with people on bikes and atv's, is that true or just an exaggeration, I'm nervous about going out and feel like for the first time I go out by myself that added stress and danger to myself and others would probably not be great.
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Originally Posted by adriaticum
