Q: A firearms licence is not necessary to borrow a gun if the borrower remains under the direct and immediate supervision of a licenced adult aged 18 or older. So, can a hunter who has passed the Ontario hunter ed course but who has not taken the firearms safety course hunt with a gun while supervised, in a blind, for example?
Gilbert Price, Toronto
A: No. While the person could lawfully possess the gun under the direct and immediate supervision of an adult with a valid firearms licence, to hunt with a gun, the person must have the credentials to do so themselves ― a valid possession and acquisition licence, a valid minor’s licence or proof of completion of the Canadian Firearms Safety Course.
What if they had passed both hunter ed course and firearms safety course but not yet received their PAL?
Yes. In this case, they would have to carry their stamped copy of the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) student report as the official documentation to hunt with a gun and would have to be under the direct and immediate supervision of an adult with a valid firearms licence who has the appropriate hunting licences for the species being hunted. Of course, the person without the firearm possession and acquisition licence (PAL) would have to have the appropriate hunting licences as well, unless they were an apprentice hunter.
Would a supervising PAL holder also need to have their hunting licence and tag?
Yes for the licence, but not necessarily for the tag. The supervising firearms licence holder would have to be able to lawfully use the gun for the same purpose, so would require a hunting licence for the species being hunted. However, the supervising hunter would not necessarily have to have a tag; no tag would be required if they are hunting in a party and another member of the party had a valid tag.
Answer by: David Critchlow, Provincial Enforcement Specialist, MNR
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Please check the most recent Ontario hunting and fishing regulations summaries, as rules and regulations can change
Originally published in Ontario OUT of DOORS’ 2024-2025 Hunting Annual
