I am scouting for new locations for duck hunting this fall. I found a beautiful small river that flows across private properties and includes a few beaver dams along the way. In Ontario, can someone legally hunt in a river surrounded by private land. The point here is I wouldn’t ask permission from the landowners as I would possibly cross multiple properties. I should point out that I would be hunting from a boat, a canoe, just stand in the middle of the river where the water level is low or stand on the beaver dam when possible. Thank you
Hunting from a river surrounded by private land in Ontario
- Thread starter Radiohead
- Start date
My undertanding is that it is legal. My friend called the mnr regarding an exact same situation but for fishing. He was told it is good to go. That being said, its probably wisest to call yourself and get it straight from the horses mouth.
It could be legal, but not sure I'd agree with going out to blast away at ducks without calling ahead to landowners. I know if it was my farm you were feet from, I'd be calling the cops and/or coming to "talk" with my own rifle/shotgun in hand. Depending on the farm you're going by, there could be livestock issues with gunfire, or concerned parents with young kids in the area. I'd just expect to see cops at some point in your hunt. You may not be trespassing, but chances are you're shooting onto someone's property or may have to trespass to retrieve a downed duck.
Interesting.
Would that mean that one could not pull the canoe to shore without tresspassing?.
One time, we took a run down the Black R., south from Vankounet.
A private consortium owns entire townships straddling that river in places. A sportsmans paradise. When intercepted by the patrolling guard (armed) on his atv, he ordered us to turn about and return from whence we came.
No way, said we ... invoking the 15 foot Right Of Access. ... he backed down, grudgingly.
Is it right to pilot my boat through land I don't own, with the intention of shooting birds without notice or permission of the owners, without scouting the area for safety first?
Is it right for me to shtup the 16 year old daughter of my buddy while my wife is out of town as long as he and his wife are in Vegas?
Ask the property owner, In certain cases they can still own rights to that land even under the water.I came into this problem one time fishing, I argued I looked into it and I was the ass.
In Ontario land patents will state the conditions from the queen. My says the queen has the right of use of any nav waterway on my property forever, I have none. But I have the right from the same patent to all water on said property. Battles are being fought in the courts over these things. As a side note where does the 15 ft rule come from?My patents state no such thing.
Hudsons Bay isn't tidal?
ummm yup 
High water mark is my understanding and it must be designated a navigable river what designates that not sure.The grand river is not private,but small rivers seem to be.You would be trespasser to get your ducks,and I would think you would be dropping lead on the private property around the river which would be a problem.I think you should do some real research before you try something like that.But there is so much conflicting info in this post I could be be as wrong as every one else.
No, but some streams and rivers have a highly-variable water line. The St. Lawrence river behind the Cornwall dam, for instance.
Others change dramatically on a natural but seasonal basis.
Also, the 15ft right of way only applies to 'navigable waters' as defined by Transport Canada. As a rule of thumb, this is a waterway that can support boat traffic... however, I am not sure of the minimum criteria. I would call Transport Canada just to ask.
