What are you looking for?

Ask a CO: Can an observer accompany a hunter in Ontario?

In this installment of Ask a CO, a reader wants to know if it’s legal for an observer to accompany a licensed hunter in Ontario.

Q: Can an observer accompany a hunter in Ontario?

Mahmoud Badran, Georgina

A: Yes, an observer may accompany a hunter, but unless licensed for the species being hunted, cannot do anything that constitutes hunting. This means no calling, pointing out an animal, or pushing the bush to chase animals to the hunter.

Tip: While hunter orange is not required for certain hunts, it's a good idea to wear some and bring an extra hat or vest for a non-hunter accompanying you.

Answer by: David Critchlow and Brenda Koenig, Provincial Enforcement Specialists, MNR

Please check the most recent Ontario hunting and fishing regulations summaries, as rules and regulations can change

Send your questions by clicking here


Originally published in the Nov.-Dec. 2024 issue of Ontario OUT of DOORS

For more hunting, click here

Click here for more outdoors news

Watch on-demand videos anytime on OFAH Stream

Related Stories

Waiting after the shot is one of the most important decisions you’ll make — for both the animal and your chances of recovering it.
For years, I’d been meaning to venture to Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area, yet somehow a day of hunting there always escaped me.
Over decades of deer seasons, I have seen surprising deer behaviour that has challenged my ideas on what spooks deer.
I’ve been recounting that hunt lately but also thinking about the complexities of almost any moose hunt. So many things are in play.
A reader asks whether or not it is legal to plant and flood cornfields for the purpose of waterfowl hunting.
Writers and readers share their ominous and spooky outdoors tales from in the woods and on the water over the years.