Understand your legal responsibilities before hunting

By LegalMatters Staff • Many Canadians enjoy hunting game or fowl, especially in Alberta’s wilderness areas.

But anyone taking up this sport needs to read the provincial regulations before setting out or they could face serious penalties.

“The laws governing this activity can be confusing, especially to those new to the sport,” warns Calgary criminal lawyer Greg Dunn. “The uninitiated may take down a prohibited animal or be found hunting in a non-designated area. Both actions could result in charges.”

He explains that hunting charges are generally known as “strict liability” offences, meaning they are easily prosecuted and the Crown is not always required to prove the requisite mens rea (the guilty mind) as they would in a criminal case.

“Hunting infractions can result in significant fines, a suspension of your hunting privileges and the seizure of personal property, such as your vehicle and rifle,” says Dunn. “In some cases, an individual can face imprisonment.”.

He says that Alberta’s General Regulations set out an exhaustive list of regulations that hunters must follow, including that people cannot step foot on private land without the consent of the owner or occupant.

“You are also not allowed to fire a weapon within 183 metres (200 yards) of any occupied building or use drones to spot animals,” Dunn says.

While hunting is banned in most provincial parks and provincial recreation areas, there are exceptions, he says.

“Hunting is permitted in Castle Provincial Park, there are elk seasons in Cypress Hills Provincial Park and game birds can be shot over water in Winagami Lake Provincial Park,” says Dunn