Sink Box Blinds illegal?

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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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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Why would any of these be illegal? I can see if you are altering public land, a pit blind is probably not legal on Crown or other types of public land as you are digging a bit hole and changing the landscape but if you are on private land the owner is ok with it then why would it be illegal? A sink box blind is just a boat that sits under the water level right? That is just a boat is it not? As long as you follow the regs with regards to a boat why would it be considered any other boat?

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Originally Posted by Fox

Why would any of these be illegal? I can see if you are altering public land, a pit blind is probably not legal on Crown or other types of public land as you are digging a bit hole and changing the landscape but if you are on private land the owner is ok with it then why would it be illegal? A sink box blind is just a boat that sits under the water level right? That is just a boat is it not? As long as you follow the regs with regards to a boat why would it be considered any other boat?

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I agree. These are still used in the province of Quebec.

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 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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I heard the same thing that they were only legal in Quebec and New Brunswick, but can't find any specific regulation or law to back it up.

Even heard of people in Ontario saying it is B/S that ppl in Quebec can use them but we can't.

So was hoping someone would know the exact regulation, etc. or if it has changed since back when it was worded that way.

Maybe the wording has been changed since then, and that is why there is confusion.

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Originally Posted by Fox

Why would any of these be illegal? I can see if you are altering public land, a pit blind is probably not legal on Crown or other types of public land as you are digging a bit hole and changing the landscape but if you are on private land the owner is ok with it then why would it be illegal? A sink box blind is just a boat that sits under the water level right? That is just a boat is it not? As long as you follow the regs with regards to a boat why would it be considered any other boat?

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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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Originally Posted by ChrisM23

I heard the same thing that they were only legal in Quebec and New Brunswick, but can't find any specific regulation or law to back it up.

Even heard of people in Ontario saying it is B/S that ppl in Quebec can use them but we can't.

So was hoping someone would know the exact regulation, etc. or if it has changed since back when it was worded that way.

Maybe the wording has been changed since then, and that is why there is confusion.

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Quebec is special

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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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Here is a link to the actual regulations, not the summary.

https://laws.justice.gc.ca/PDF/C.R.C.,_c._1035.pdf

I remember when I took the hunting course 20+ years ago that they talked about using layout blinds and pit blinds, but I may be mixing that up with books.

I searched boat in the document and could not find anything about boat more below the surface than above, but have at it.

Maybe this is an old law, maybe it is something other people came up with that told others (like the min caliber rifle for deer is a 243), I don't know.

Quote:

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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 don't think it would be wise to dig a pit of any kind. In doing so,you'll be creating a hazard for someone to fall into. That can be real bad news for you,legally,should someone fall into it and get hurt. I can't find,after a rather extensive search of laws and regulations,anything that says sink blinds can't be used,either by federal or provincial legislation. There use is specifically prohibited in the US,not here. I'm not stating unequivocally that there isn't one,but,search engines I used didn't find any. If laws and regs don't specifically declare them illegal,they may be used. Just a personal observation,but,in most of our navigable waters,a sink boat would be just that in short order...........sunk.

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