You’re out hunting and you spot an animal near the road. Are you allowed to shoot it? That depends on where you’re hunting, the type of game and, in some cases, the weapon you’re using.
In some parts of Quebec, you’re not allowed to shoot from — or near — a public road. Here’s what you need to know before hunting near a road.
What is a public road?
A road is generally considered public if it’s maintained by a municipality, a government, or another public body, and if motor vehicles (for example, cars and trucks) can use it. This means that even an unpaved country road can be a public road.
If you’re unsure whether a road is public, you can contact the municipality to check. You can also consult Quebec’s hunting zone maps to find out which rules apply where you’re hunting.
You can drive on a public road to look for animals.
Generally, you’re allowed to drive along a public road to look for wildlife. This is sometimes called “patrolling.”
But be careful: You can’t use your vehicle to chase, injure, or kill an animal. For example, you can’t drive toward an animal to scare it or force it toward another hunter.
Shooting from a vehicle is not allowed.
You can’t shoot a firearm, bow or crossbow from within a motor vehicle. You’re also not allowed to be in a motor vehicle with a loaded firearm.
A firearm is considered loaded if there’s a cartridge in the chamber or in a magazine attached to the firearm.
Getting out of your vehicle to shoot: What are the rules?
You must be outside your vehicle to shoot an animal. You must also follow the rules that apply in the hunting zone you’re in.
In many hunting zones, you can’t shoot an animal:
- from a public road,
- within 10 metres of the outer edge of the road’s shoulder,
- toward or across a public road.
These rules apply in hunting zones 3 to 11, the eastern parts of zones 15 and 26, and certain parts of zones 1, 2, 27 and 28.
How to calculate the 10-metre distance?
You must measure 10 metres from the outer edge of the road’s shoulder. The shoulder is the strip of land beside the part of the road used by vehicles. Even if there’s a ditch or the ground slopes, you still measure from the outer edge of the shoulder.
There are exceptions.
In some hunting zones, you’re allowed to hunt small game near public roads.
You can also hunt from public roads in certain areas, such as controlled harvesting zones (ZECs), wildlife reserves, and exclusive-rights outfitters.
Éducaloi in the media!Listen to our Radio-Canada interview about hunting near public roads and other good hunting practices (In French only). |