BB gun

[The_Outdoorsman 33]

With a valid outdoors card, is it legal to hunt small game with a BB gun while being under 18

[Guest MNR]

Yes, under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, it is legal to hunt small game (other than racoon) with a pellet/BB/air gun.

There are several laws in Canada that relate to the use of pellet guns.

Under Canadian law "firearm" means a barrelled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury (i.e., permanent damage to an eye) or death to a person, and includes any frame or receiver of such a barrelled weapon and anything that can be adapted for use as a firearm. Using just this definition virtually every airgun firing a lead pellet is a firearm.

Under the Criminal Code, airguns are deemed not to be firearms, where it is proved that the weapon is not designed or adapted to discharge

(i) a shot, bullet or other projectile at a muzzle velocity exceeding 152.4 m per second or at a muzzle energy exceeding 5.7 Joules, or

(ii) a shot, bullet or other projectile that is designed or adapted to attain a velocity exceeding 152.4 m per second or an energy exceeding 5.7 Joules.

Because of this definition, a Possession Acquisition Licence is not required to use a low powered pellet gun.

In the province of Ontario low power airguns are classed as "imitation firearms" and can only be sold to persons over the age of 18. As well there is legislation in Ontario that classifies airgun pellets as ammunition and requires that retailers record the identification of all ammunition purchasers.