Sink Box Blinds illegal?

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Originally Posted by heronk

Years ago when I hunted out of a layout boat, I seem to recall that the Migratory Bird regulations in Ontario stated that you could only shoot out of a "boat" if there was more of the 'boat" above the waterline than below. That definition made layout boats legal and sink boxes illegal. Quebec is a different story because sink boxes are grandfathered, the only place in North America where they are legal I believe. Unfortunately I can't find that regulation at the moment.

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Originally Posted by ChrisM23

That is how I read it, but I have read that they are illegal as the majority is below the waterline, and not floating on top like the majority of a boat would be.

So just seeing if anyone has any info, and or uses one for hunting in Ontario?

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70 to 80% of my kayak hull is below water. Sometimes 100% if I am shipping green water from breakers..;)

I can hunt out of a inner tube if I want to. (Yes I have seen guys do, when they did not have a belly boat.):rolleyes:

Sink boxes are usually used in tidal areas. Made out of concrete and pumped out before each use. This I remember from some old outdoor magazine from the States. Sounds like a lot of work/cost to me ? Guys are giving up on pit blinds in corn fields and just have the farmer leave a patch of standing corn for them to hide in.

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Originally Posted by longpointer

Sink boxes are usually used in tidal areas. Made out of concrete and pumped out before each use. This I remember from some old outdoor magazine from the States. Sounds like a lot of work/cost to me ? Guys are giving up on pit blinds in corn fields and just have the farmer leave a patch of standing corn for them to hide in.

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That's not a standard sink box -- that's a pit blind in a tidal area.

A sink box is a towable platform built with a flotation deck on the top, and generally has two hand cranks that lower the "pit" down and into the water. Some of the decks fill with water for weight, some use additional weights that are added along the top (eg. cast iron decoys). Essentially you're creating a hole or "pit" in the water that's dry for the hunter to hide in. These are used in open water diver hunting scenarios.

Sink boxes are legal in Ontario, but can be tough to use because they require very calm water and are large and cumbersome. Being an avid layout boat hunter, I can say through personal experience that running layouts is a "boat load" easier than sink boxes and is arguably just as effective.

-Nick

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Originally Posted by Snowwalker

Fox there is no restriction or prohibition under the Federal Summary.

I also have never found one in the Provincial Acts.

This same question( and Statements ) about sink boxes come up every year now. One person asks if we can use them, and people all start going on it being illegal. But can never quote the Regulations or law against it.

In fact here is a link to a sink box hunt posted by one of the members..

https://www.oodmag.com/community/for...4-Hunt-Ontario

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That was exactly my feeling, like I said about the 243 being the minimum rifle for deer, not a law but something spread by people.

Pit blinds are awesome for field hunting geese. I had a friend who would make several each year when the corn came off. Dug them with his backhoe and lined them with old shipping skids. Chicken wire roof and corn stocks laying on top. He'd dig them on the crest of a rise in mid field. Absolutely lethal. You could boil your tea inside on the old Coleman stove. He had a dog ramp in them with outdoor carpet on it for traction. Only drawback was if one of your buddies had a rotten bum (often intentional) , as you were trapped in the pit with his stench (usually to the utmost delight of your buddy).
I've seen guys who bury a 55 gallon steel barrel and do the same.

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Originally Posted by ChrisM23

Are Sink Box blinds (floating off shore, but just at waterline) illegal in Ontario? I can't seem to find anywhere in the regulations that specifically say we can't use them for waterfowl hunting.

and also are Pit Blinds dug along shore legal for waterfowl, or a pit blind legal for deer?

If anyone knows the answer and can post a link to the law or regulation stating it is illegal, that would be awesome!

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I can pm you the email address of an enforcement officer from Transport Canada if you want. Or you can try and phone them.
They're more than happy to answer any question you have related to the Navigable Waters Act.
A floating blind being left unattended overnight in navigable water would be applicable to this Act. I'm not saying it's illegal, but reading the act under Prohibitions, it appears that you'd likely need approval if it is legal.

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Originally Posted by onelessarrow

I can pm you the email address of an enforcement officer from Transport Canada if you want. Or you can try and phone them.
They're more than happy to answer any question you have related to the Navigable Waters Act.
A floating blind being left unattended overnight in navigable water would be applicable to this Act. I'm not saying it's illegal, but reading the act under Prohibitions, it appears that you'd likely need approval if it is legal.

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I have never seen anyone leave a sink box unattended in open, but could happen. Some flashing red LED lights on poles would be all that's needed for a navigation warning...

I got the impression it could be left out, my bad. Seems like it would be a lot of work for each use.

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Originally Posted by onelessarrow

I got the impression it could be left out, my bad. Seems like it would be a lot of work for each use.

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I am sure they could be..

Just based on the couple times I have been in one on the bay of fundy we did a lot of baling. It would depend on how much water it took on at night..

We used to make them on the East Coast, in tidal waters. It was ton of work, but great to shoot out of, your at water level. Only drawback was, that once in, they were public property. You could not claim one until it broke the tide, and you had to have a decoy out. If not done well, the current and tides would pop it like a cork, and she would be gone.