E-Callers and predator hunting?

[Pikebreath]

My hunting buddy and I purchased an e-caller for hunting snow geese. The e-caller came with a half dozen or so snow goose calls and another couple dozen sounds to attract crows, magpies, coyotes and other predators. My question is that it appears that from page 18 of the current regs that the e-caller can only be used legally when targetting snow geese. Yet, I hear from other sources that the e-caller can also be used legally for predator control of coyotes, magpies crows etc. So is there an exception or loophole that does indeed allow the use of e-callers for predator control?

I should add I am the landowner / occupant of 2300 acres of private (farmland) property.

Thanks for any and all replies.

[Dick284]

The regulations are very specific and concise on this matter.
Electronic calls are only legal for snow geese.

Since crows and magpies fall outside of the Wildlife Act regulations that is the grey area. But for coyotes and other similar animals you can not use an electronic call.

I once saw a fellow at a gun show expounding that electronic coyote calls are legal. A short conversation with him that explained that his information was incorrect, pretty much stymied his sales from that point on.

Dealers often have no clue as to the legal premis of the goods they are selling. They are also not a legal expert.
Buyer beware.

[Rackmastr]

Yep...what Dick said is correct....no E-Callers for coyotes.....sure would be nice though!!!

Unfortunatly owning 2300 acres doesnt really matter...but at least you can get out there with the hand calls and hammer a bunch down....

[Tredeb]

So how does everyone interpret this?

From the wildlife act:

40(1) A person shall not set out, use or have in the person’s possession for the purpose of hunting big game anything described in Item 2 of the Schedule.

(2) A person shall not have in the person’s possession while hunting big game anything described in the Schedule that is prescribed.

(3) A person shall not set out, use or have in the person’s possession while or for the purpose of hunting game birds anything described in Item 3 of the Schedule.

(4) A person shall not use or have in the person’s possession for the purpose of hunting migratory game birds anything described in Item 4 of the Schedule.

(5) A person shall not, while hunting migratory game birds, have in the person’s personal possession for the person’s own use more than one shotgun at any one time unless each shotgun in excess of one is unloaded and either disassembled or cased.

(6) A person shall not set out, use or have in the person’s possession for the purpose of hunting fur‑bearing animals anything described in Item 5 of the Schedule.

(7) A person shall not have in the person’s possession while hunting fur‑bearing animals anything described in the Schedule that is prescribed.

(8) This section does not apply to a setting out, use or possession of something that is specifically authorized by or under

(a) a licence authorizing the control of wildlife depredation or the collection of wildlife, or

(b) the Agricultural Pests Act.

The schedule it mentions has the wording that says electronic calls are not permitted. But if you, as a landowner, are acting under the agricultural pests act, where does that leave you? How does everyone interpret this? Has anyone actually talked to the authorities regarding the Agricultural pests act?

From the agricultural pests act"

Methods to control nuisance

8 An owner or occupant of land may control a nuisance on that land by means that are generally considered to be sound husbandry practices and that comply with all applicable laws.

Where a coyote is designated as a nuisance in that act.

Reading through the wildlife act, It specifically calls out the Ag pest act when it takes precedence over the wildlife act. things like shooting at night and from a vehicle are not called out, but the section pertaining to electronic calls is called out.

For the record, I would rather call myself than have an e-call, but I could see how someone with cattle may not have time to perfect their call, but they need the coyotes gone.

How does everyone interpret this?

[Rackmastr]

I dont see where you pointed out in the Agricultural Pests Act that you could use electronic calls though......Said they can control a nuisance by means considered to be sound husbandry practices and that comply with all applicable laws.....

So ya.....I dont see where the electronic calls thing comes into play with that legistlation...or at least the portion you posted....

[Tredeb]

They don't mention them in the agricultural pest act, but the section I posted from the wildlife act is the section where they say you can't use them and at the end of the section, it says this section does not apply if you are under the Agricultural pests act. My first thoughts are that this section is excluded as it pertains to the posession of poisons and such. However, it also pertains to the possession of electronic calls.

I was hoping someone had specific knowledge or interpretation of this.

[Rackmastr]

The second part states that

"This section does not apply to a setting out, use or possession of something that is specifically authorized by or under the Agricultural Pests Act"

Meaning that if the Agricultural Pests Act authorized the use of electronic calls then the section of the Wildlife Act would not apply. Unless the APA authorized the use of the electronic calls, they are still covered under legislation.

My interpretation, though I think its pretty accurate.

[Tredeb]

The second part states that

"This section does not apply to a setting out, use or possession of something that is specifically authorized by or under the Agricultural Pests Act"

Meaning that if the Agricultural Pests Act authorized the use of electronic calls then the section of the Wildlife Act would not apply. Unless the APA authorized the use of the electronic calls, they are still covered under legislation.

My interpretation, though I think its pretty accurate.


I agree, I should have read that closer. Poisons and such are covered under ag pest so the clause works as I thought it was meant to.

I had all these acts fresh in my memory as I was in a conversation last week with someone who basically stated (wrongly) that there were no rules for shooting coyotes when protecting livestock. It was not specifically for calls, but I remembered the section.

Its funny how when you read something quickly, your initial impression of what it says stays with you when you read it more closely later.

Thanks for clarifying.