What are you looking for?

Ask a CO: Storing firearms overnight

A reader asks if firearms can be stored overnight in a vehicle while the owner is away, such as at deer camp.

Q: Can a gun be stored overnight in a vehicle while away, like at deer camp?

Eugene Chambers, Welland

A: Under federal regulations, if you are leaving your firearms in an unattended vehicle, you must lock your firearms in the trunk or in a similar lockable compartment. If the vehicle does not have a trunk or lockable compartment, the firearms must be put out of sight inside the vehicle and the vehicle must be locked.

Provincially, firearms must be encased (and unloaded), whether in your vehicle or not, from one half hour after sunset to one half hour before sunrise the next day.

Answers by: David Critchlow and William Johnson, Provincial Enforcement Specialists, MNR


Originally published in the Nov.-Dec. 2025 issue of Ontario Out of Doors

For more guns and gear, click here

Click here for more outdoors news

Watch on-demand videos anytime on OFAH Stream

Related Stories

All hunting breeds have the nose and the instinct to trail game. Here's some practical training to help your dog track downed birds.
If you’re a fan of catching panfish through the ice, you’ll want to get a noodle rod. Here’s what can be gained by these wispy ice wands.
Winter whitefish provide a thrilling fight and great table fare. If you haven’t tried heavy metal jigging, make sure you do this winter.
We can ensure Ontario’s outdoor heritage remains vibrant, abundant, and accessible to all through the Community Conservation Fund (CCF).
Want to make a difference? The OFAH is looking for passionate outdoors directors from all over the province.
The OFAH fully supports banning toxic substances, especially the elimination of PFAS in firefighting foams, which are highly contaminative.