Shooting On Lake Ontario?

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bubbakaloosh

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I've looked at the crown land map but I don't really know what I'm looking at to be honest. I just wanna know...if I take my boat in the middle of lake ontario...about 20 miles out...can I shoot as long as I'm not aiming towards land..not that the bullet could reach it anyways.
 
I don't have an official answer for you, but in the unlikely event that anyone noticed, I expect it would be viewed as unsafe. The rise and fall of waves could potentially hide a kayak or other small boat from you. You'd be shooting without a backstop.

And watch your chart plotter... For most of Lake Ontario, 20 miles out will almost always put you into US waters. You do not want to do that, with a firearm on board.
 
just a reply to this old thread since I'm looking to shoot some clays off a friend's boat soon. From what I can gather.....perfectly legal. Somebody please please show me evidence to the contrary!

THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF BURLINGTON
BY-LAW 83-1991
A By-law to regulate or prohibit the discharge of firearms as provided herein.
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 210 of the Municipal Act, R.S.O. 1980, Chapter 302 as amended, a municipality may pass a by-law prohibiting or#regulating the discharge of firearms for the purpose of safety;
NOW THEREFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF BURLINGTON HEREBY ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
1.#"Firearms" for the purpose of this by-law means and includes any type of guns or other firearms, air-guns, pellet guns, spring-guns, cross-bows, long-bows, compound bows or any class or type thereof or anything that can be adapted for use as a firearm.
2.#No person shall discharge, cause to be discharged or allow to be discharged firearms within the City of Burlington.
THIS BY-LAW SHALL NOT APPLY TO:
3 (a)#Within the confines of a rod or gun club or skeet club which is in possession of a Charter issued by the Province of Ontario, the location and boundaries of which are specifically recognized by the City of Burlington.
(b)#Within the confines of target shooting ranges on a location heretofore or hereafter approved by the Council where Council is satisfied that public liability insurance to the limits specified by Council is carried and all necessary and proper safety precautions are taken to the satisfaction of the Halton Regional Police Force or the Ontario Provincial Police.
(c)#By Peace Officers and Animal Control Officers engaged in killing vicious or rabies infected animals or other obnoxious animals or birds, or the necessary killing of injured animals.
(d)#By farmers, members of his/her family, or nominee of same within the confines of property classified as farmland on the assessment roll, for the purpose of controlling animals or birds deemed to be pests.
(e)#By farmers, members of his/her family, or nominee of same within the confines of property located north of No. 5 Highway that is classified as farm land on the assessment roll, for the purpose of hunting in season pursuant to any current and valid licence under the#Game and Fish Act,#R.S.O. 1980, Chapter 182, as amended, or any successor legislation thereto.
(f)#The discharge of firearms, on Lake Ontario beyond 200 metres of the shoreline of the City of Burlington.
4.#Any person who contravenes this By-law is guilty of an offence and is liable to a penalty not exceeding $5,000.00 (exclusive of costs) recoverable under the provisions of the Provincial Offences Act.
5.#By-law 164-1990 be and is hereby repealed.
ENACTED AND PASSED this 8th day of July 1991
#
MAYOR:___________________________________
#
CITY CLERK:_______________________________
 
I hunt every year at the Courtice Beach for waterfowl. I have spoke to all the proper authorities and was informed it is legal. You do have to follow municipal bylaws regarding discharge of firearms.
 
We're simply talking shooting.....not hunting. Hunting regs do NOT come into play. Municipal bylaws however, do. Can't find anything for Hamilton's shoreline encroachment yet in writing, but, the discharge maps clearly show a boundary that follows the shoreline and NOT 200M from shore like Burlington has 'claimed'.
 
Friggin' post is nearly a year old.
"...Hunting regs do NOT come into play..." They do, actually. You have to comply with all laws at all times. A by-law infraction is just a fine. It's not a Criminal Code offence.
In any case, you cannot have a loaded firearm of any kind on any motorised vehicle, by Federal law.
 
sunray said:
Friggin' post is nearly a year old.
"...Hunting regs do NOT come into play..." They do, actually. You have to comply with all laws at all times. A by-law infraction is just a fine. It's not a Criminal Code offence.
In any case, you cannot have a loaded firearm of any kind on any motorised vehicle, by Federal law.
Click to expand...
I guess all those duck hunters in boats remove their motors when on the rivers and lakes?!
 
If I'm not hunting, and not the HOLDER of a hunting licence.....how am I to be considered hunting?

It is legal to discharge a firearm anywhere that is not deemed to be illegal. Simple question has yet to be answered with written proof to back it up. And yes the post is a year old and still unanswered with proof. I've even contacted the bloody Fisheries and Oceans people including the Coast Guard and the best they've given me so far is 'we don't know'. IS IT LEGAL TO DISHARGE FIREARMS (not hunt!!!!) ON LAKE ONTARIO? YES or NO?!
 
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"...how am I to be considered hunting..." If a CO stops you and you have a shotgun and ammo, but no targets or licence, it'd be up to you to prove you're not hunting.
"...remove their motors..." Hunt regs say boats must be stopped and anchored. Federal law says no loaded firearms. A lot of ya'll don't seem to have read all the laws pertaining to firearms and their use. It ain't just the CC of C.
Being out in the middle of Lake Ontario shooting would likely attract the U.S. Coast Guard too. The USHS types take their job very seriously as well.
 
If there's no carcass (because I'm not hunting) and every indication that I'm shooting clays (thrower, clays, lack of blood) a CO would be more than bold to attempt a charge of hunting. And once again, where is this quote that states 'no loaded firearms in a boat' because I still haven't found anything that pertains to the discharge of a gun from a boat without regard to hunting. And once again, there is NO HUNTING involved. As far as the US coast guard goes, I really don't give a crap as long as I remain in Canadian waters. I am Canadian. BTW, I assume when you say that it would be bad to not have a licence and targets if CO showed up, you mean hunting licence? Why would I need a hunting licence if I'M NOT HUNTING? Of course I'd have my PAL on me.
 
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handofzeus said:
If there's no carcass (because I'm not hunting) and every indication that I'm shooting clays (thrower, clays, lack of blood) a CO would be more than bold to attempt a charge of hunting. And once again, where is this quote that states 'no loaded firearms in a boat' because I still haven't found anything that pertains to the discharge of a gun from a boat without regard to hunting. And once again, there is NO HUNTING involved. As far as the US coast guard goes, I really don't give a crap as long as I remain in Canadian waters. I am Canadian. BTW, I assume when you say that it would be bad to not have a licence and targets if CO showed up, you mean hunting licence? Why would I need a hunting licence if I'M NOT HUNTING? Of course I'd have my PAL on me.
Click to expand...

Zeus, I just came upon this post (cross-referenced from another). I know this is an old post but I know you want your answer!

The "carcass" part is irrelevant. If I am in my boat with a shotgun, decoys, and a duck call then I'd be hard-pressed to prove i am not hunting when stopped by a CO. Bit of a reverse onus, I'd think. You actually don't even need a weapon/firearm/knife/bow to be "hunting" by definition. If you are harassing, pursuing, chasing blah, blah....you're a hunter. (dogging deer for your hunting friends, paddling after geese, etc) But, I digress.

As for being "anchored".... Hmmm, I shoot ducks and geese without being anchored. As long as the motor is off and I have no forward motion from the motor I'm within the law while shooting migratory fowl....not anchored.
As for the unloaded in a boat thing..... I seem to remember the Firearms Act section 10 saying...An individual may transport a non-restricted firearm (shotgun/rifle) only if it is unloaded. I'd assume they mean 'motorized vehicle/boat". In fact, if you look closely at the regulations to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act you'll see that it says "it is illegal to have a loaded firearm in a motorboat. The definition of a motorboat is a boat with a motor attached. The only exception is the geese/duck thing I mentioned above.
The Migratory Birds Act, Firearms Act and Criminal Code are federal laws. The Fish and Game Act is provincial. Both police and MNR-CO's are empowered to enforce all of them. EVERYONE, whether they are hunting or not is subject to these laws at all times.

As for the US Coast Guard.... They can't do a thing, like you said. They're American, and your GPS shows that you're still in Canada!

Hope this rambling answers any of your your Q's. I think the problem with the Internet is that guys just blurt out their version of the law, as told to them by an uncle thirty years ago, or a tale told at a hunt camp after a few beers.... Just a knee-jerk reaction to an awkward question. Always best to research the Act yourself, or ask the authority, as you know.
One of the best conversations I ever had was with a Conservation Officer, while he was checking my hunting licence! We talked for an hour plus. Great guy, and I've called him since.
 
Im going to go out on a limb here and say that if you are having this much difficulty getting a straight answer... even from the coast guard, that if anyone does catch you, they may not know for sure either and react in ways you hadnt predicted.
 
You can shoot off your boat. There are a lot of things that come into play, like one said, anything you put in the water can be considered dumping, if you do not have a hunting licence and waterfoul stamp and it is season, they can try to get you for poaching. Even out of season. They way law enforcement sees it is if your not hunting, there's no reason to be on the water shooting. By their discression they can shut your day down and bring you back to shore even if everything is legal. Here's my experience:
I went to the opp office and simply asked what would happenif I shot off my boat, just for target. They immediately got an attitude with me and told me, no way you can do that. I politely asked what laws or by laws are there against it. This angry officer was now confused and uneducated on the topic, so he went outside where my boat is on the trailer and searched my stuff to make sure I'm legal? Dead end right there. I just took off. So I contacted the sharif via email. A month later he got back to me. Short and sweet. (It is legal. But don't expect to be out long, coast guard sees you. He'll send you home. And do not break one small bylay or ALL your belongings will be ceased. My answer to you is. Go for it, but be discreet and don't let them catch you. I've been clay shooting for 2 years now, sent home 3 times, no fines. Just a lot of BS
 
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