FRS RADIOS
 

The Ontario regs used to clearly state that you cannot use electronic devices to hunt game. However, 2003’s version makes no reference whatsoever.

We have the Motorola FRS radios when we are in the bush and use them solely for communicating success or times to leave the area. We do not use them to indicate deer movement or tactical movements in any way.

What is everyone’s impression on the possession of these in while in the bush? I’m sure the law still exists, so is mere possession enough to cause concern? Of course, this is likely another example of loosely written regulations that can be enforced on the whim of the CO.

Your thoughts?

RE: FRS RADIOS
 

I recall seeing that in the old reg' s myself, but as of last year I started using them. I looked high & low through the reg' s and didn' t find anything saying you can or can' t use them. I got 3 pair from a motorola rep buddy and plan on using them this year, if I get in $hit[:o], I' ll just ask them to show me where it says, I can' t use them...I absolutely love them in the field, even helped a lost buddy last year. :DJDinAB

RE: FRS RADIOS
 

Just remember, the regulations that we see are a summary, usually - not the complete regulations as written - those usually take up volumes...

RE: FRS RADIOS
 

I have been told that (in Ontario) you can' t use radios or phones (cels) to aid in hunting. They can though be used for saftey purposes. They also told me that it would be up too the CO as to what is his/her opinion as to weither it is aiding in hunting or not.

I hunt with a partner that has a heart condition, if he needs to contact me we both have the radio and if that causes a problem with the CO' s then there will be a court battle. I believe that most CO' s are good and will use proper judgement with their use.

RE: FRS RADIOS
 

:D Well everyone in our hunting camp carries FRS' s with them while in the bush....:)....unless the CO is standing with you, chances of him monitering your channels are slim & none so you just stick to your story....as party hunters we wnat to keep each other informed as to what tags we have left....afterall, we wouldn' t want to shoot a buck or doe is we didn' t have any tags left!!!!!!! [:-] Brampton Mike [8D]

RE: FRS RADIOS
 

Don' t quote me on this
But I was informed last season that they were going to allow the radio' s tobe used as long as you could be reached within a specified time!
This was third party information that was suppose tobe coming from a MNR officer in Ignace!
AL

RE: FRS RADIOS
 

I found an article in Hunt Ontario which said the following:

" Be sure you know the game laws regarding party hunting before you use two-way radios, so you can stay within the law. Bill Fisher, enforcement supervisor for the Ministry of Natural Resources in Peterborough, said, " While there was some talk of introducing regulation on communication equipment in the past, nothing to date has become law, so the act of using a radio is not regulated with regard to game laws." However, when party hunting for big game, all hunters involved must be " actively hunting" in a particular area to be legal. Just having a two-way radio doesn' t mean you can sit in town while your buddies hunt.. "

I' ll ask my local CO. It' s better to know what the local authorities are doing as they' re the ones that I' ll have to deal with.

Dan O.

RE: FRS RADIOS
 

Dan O I would like to add to your post with something I was told by a CO as well as a few other people.

To party hunt, you have to be hunting together. That is, you have to be close by and easily able to contact others in your hunting party. This does not enclude the use or cel phones or portable radios in the use of contact. Basicly I was told that if they could not hear you (voice or siginalling device, eg. whistle) that they were deamed to not be hunting in your party.

Again I think this is Ontario' s laws going alittle to far away from what is intended. This was to stop people hunting while others stayed away then using their tags on animals.

RE: FRS RADIOS
 

Well Brampton Mike if the CO has a FRS radio and is within the range of your radio he can easily listen to your conversations. Actually anyone can with the scan option on the radio.

Last fall I heard the story of poachers hunting at night and using FRS radios. Someone listened to them on the radios when they picked them up on a scanner. The information was passed onto the MNR so I do imagine that some CO' s would have FRS radios because of this.

RE: FRS RADIOS
 

Grumpy to a certain extent you are right but with all the channels available on the FRS radios the chance of a CO locating which frequency we are transmitting on are slim & none unless we are carrying on extended conversations! ;) I do not disagree with what you are saying just stating that the chances are slim......regardless....our dogger uses the FRS to let us know when he is getting close to our watch or if he sees anything moving! Take care.....[:-]....Brampton Mike [8D]