In Canada Territorial Waters, Is it legal to shoot clay targets from a Boat

Brassman66

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Hi there,
I own a Sailboat and Sail it mostly in the inside Waters (Canadian jurisdiction). Would be nice being able entertaining the Guests shooting Clay Targets from the Boat while underway in the Strait of Georgia ect.

What are the legalities besides having a PAL.

No, not interested in hunting and yes the Boat is big enough and can be put on Autopilot while shooting from the afterdeck.

Thanks in advance for all constructive answers.
 
Hi there,
I own a Sailboat and Sail it mostly in the inside Waters (Canadian jurisdiction). Would be nice being able entertaining the Guests shooting Clay Targets from the Boat while underway in the Strait of Georgia ect.

What are the legalities besides having a PAL.

No, not interested in hunting and yes the Boat is big enough and can be put on Autopilot while shooting from the afterdeck.

Thanks in advance for all constructive answers.

Who will be monitoring the auto pilot while navigating the Straight of Georgia?
Not to mention the many Federal Marine Parks around the waters you mention.
Those areas are no use of lead for anything like fishing...so lead shot is NFG too.
 
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Quite possibly no, as it is a vehicle and no loaded firearms are permitted in vehicles nor is shooting from them permitted (to my comprehension of Canadian law). I wouldn't quite know who to ask, perhaps someone who handles that sort of thing for cruse ships, there may be a minimum size requirement for the boat. And if allowed, for safety sake use shot or friable non-ricochet bullets as water is an extreme ricochet hazard.
 
I tried what you suggested but nothing comes up.

Thanks----K.

That's weird, this is what I get.

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Not sure how that works. There are so many issues to contend with. I know while duck hunting you cannot shoot from a moving boat and you have to use steel shot. Yet on our island, which is on the same lake, we can shoot trap off our shore and use lead. I think you need to look into the firearms act side of things, not hunting.

On a side note, not really related to this, my uncle was once charged by the MNR for shooting from a moving vehicle. What happened was that he shot a duck, left his blind to retrieve it, but it was still alive. He shot it again while his hunting partner was driving the boat and the MNR saw this and charged him. He took it to court and won. His argument was that he was "making every reasonable effort to retrieve downed game." Which he was and the court accepted that since a lot of duck hunters know that a wounded duck will dive under water to try and stay alive.
 
No loaded firearms in any motorized vehicle by Federal law. I think it's a Transport Canada jurisdiction. Nothing to do with hunting.
 
I think so too. Hunting (or fishing) is a provincial matter. However, waterways (and firearms) are a federal responsibility. Federal laws should apply.

The Federal regulations on handling firearms specifically state that Provincial laws also apply.

From the Federal Regulations

15. An individual may load a firearm or handle a loaded firearm only in a place where the firearm may be discharged in accordance with all applicable Acts of Parliament and of the legislature of a province, regulations made under such Acts, and municipal by-laws.

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-98-209/FullText.html

The fact that you may not being hunting or fishing doesn't matter.
 
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