Rules re discharge of a shotgun along a roadway
Yesterday I was told by a F&W officer that it was illegal to discharge a shotgun
along a roadway. Regs (page 28 #9b) says I can. This was along the Powderface Trail that runs between HWY 68 and HWY 66 west of Calgary. Now, I searched both the Wildlife Act and the HWY Safety Act (and probably missed) for the actual legal wording of this rule. I know that I can do it but I would love to have a copy of the legal text. Can anyone provide me with the legal source? Thanks Roger |
The Wildlife Act is the provincial legislation that regulates this, but you also need to check the county bylaws, as the county can impose restrictions within the county.
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Road shooting
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is it a labeled road corridor?
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Actual rule? Or more confusion courtesy of F&W employees?
You have already identified the appropriate section of the 2019 Alberta Hunting Regulations that allows for a shotgun to be discharged from a roadway while hunting game birds.
The F&W officer may have been referencing the No Firearm Discharge within 1km of a trail that has been in force in the McLean Creek area for a few years. I had not heard that this restriction has been extended to other areas of Kananaskis Country. A quick scan of the Alberta Parks website does not support the officers claim, unless specific signage is in place as per the April 16, 2016 Public Advisory: Quote:
https://www.alberta.ca/assets/docume...Oct23-2017.pdf The .pdf page includes a link to the .pdf map that shows the firearms discharge restriction on the McLean Creek Trail area. Good Luck. Let us know what you find out. |
Can the OP give some more context? Did your conversation with the officer explicitly concern firing the shotgun WHILE hunting game birds? Did he write you a ticket? As for the 1 km 'no shooting' zones out there, the signs they have up specifically state 'except for legally authorized hunting purposes.' And no, there's no wildlife corridor along that road.
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A bit more context.
Actually, he was very friendly and sociable. No ticket or charges. Really just information. I was just starting up the Powderface from HWY 68 and he came behind me and pulled alongside. And we started talking. That was when he informed me about the hunting restriction i.e. no shooting within a mile of the road. And yes, he knew I was looking for grouse and that I had a 20 ga. Right now I am trying to touch base with someone from Public Lands to clarify the status of the Powderface. I know that it not a restricted road, I just want a legal confirmation of that fact. I also appreciate the responses. Thanks Roger |
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North end of Powderface (near 68) is posted "No Firearms"
Signs were put up a few years ago just before the Homestead public range closed. They were put up to manage the displaced shooters from the public range, to keep them off the open meadows, and away from other land users. There are other areas further south to shoot that are less likely to bother other users, no signs there.
I know there is no camping within 1 km of the road, but never heard of a 1 km no shooting rule. But bear in mind the CO can evict you from Crown land for 72 hours for almost any reason, disturbing other users might be one. |
Additional clarification or confusion (take your pick)
This morning I received this message from a Public Lands Officer, South Sask region:
"With respect to Powderface Road - General Regulations 9(a) apply as this is a road held by Alberta transportation under RDS 780104 who maintain it." My reading? I need to walk 20 feet in before taking a shot. Well, at least it's not a mile! Appreciated the comments. Thanks Roger |
Well done Roger.
Thanks for making the effort to get legal clarification. Now to ensure that the officers are educated on the law so no one else has their legal hunt disrupted due to official ignorance. I sure hope you have his name. :) |
kananaskis
Many of the officers are park rangers and are not up to speed on all the regs for hunting and shooting and even the boundaries. there are many in K-country. Just know you stuff when in the area Most are very friendly and encounters like yours are informative.
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Additional clarification or confusion (take your pick)
Thank you for following up on this and posting the official response from the Public Lands Officer.
In keeping with "clarification or confusion" theme we have going here, I would question their designation of the Powderface Road as RDS 780104. I found this in the "Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park Management Plan, September 1998" document: Quote:
Since Powderface Road was clearly in use for motorized travel prior to 1998, and does not match the location described in the 1998 government document, I would question the validity of the response you received. Because I'm like that when evaluating conflicting information. :sign0161: In case anyone is curious about the RDS (Provisonal Roadway Reservation) designation, here is a link to the 2013 document: https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/4ac8...2013-05-13.pdf Until further information is made available, I agree with your assessment of the 20' rule. |
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https://www.google.com/maps/place/Po...4d-114.8906712 |
Redneck,
They don't match because that is a different "road". The "old" one goes from Little Elbow Campground south bound and comes out at Sheep River PP. Firearm discharge is allowed on this trail except for where it crosses private land on the Sheep. |
I have to ask the question; isn't an RDS an "active disposition" as it is issued under the Public Lands Act...which then would allow the use of shotguns while hunting upland game.....
....now I am completely confused. D Quote:
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Same road, further down on the south where it connects with HWY 66. Here's the point where it's roughly 500m from the park: https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Pow...4d-114.9104521 |
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I personally feel their response is incorrect. Unless powderface trail had a previous designation of a secondary hwy (I’m sure it wasn’t) then it should fall under 9 (b). Things like hwy 68 are obviously off limits obviously.
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So now we have two different sources, each saying something different. Go figure, isn't that always the case....... As for me, I'm going to continue to hunt Powderface with a shotgun, although I rarely do.... YMMV. D |
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