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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!
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?Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisM23
I agree. These are still used in the province of Quebec.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by heronk
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
So just seeing if anyone has any info, and or uses one for hunting in Ontario?
Quebec is specialQuote:
Originally Posted by ChrisM23
Here is a link to the actual regulations, not the summary.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisM23
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisM23
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
Quote:
Originally Posted by heronk
70 to 80% of my kayak hull is below water. Sometimes 100% if I am shipping green water from breakers..;)Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisM23
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.
That's not a standard sink box -- that's a pit blind in a tidal area.Quote:
Originally Posted by longpointer
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
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowwalker
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.
I can pm you the email address of an enforcement officer from Transport Canada if you want. Or you can try and phone them.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisM23
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.
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...Quote:
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.
I am sure they could be..Quote:
Originally Posted by onelessarrow
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.
Like Sprite said, layouts are much easier, safer, and are deadly. That would be my choice.
I don't think we're all talking about the same thing here.Quote:
Originally Posted by waterrat
A true sink box is towed out on each outing, and is not left in place.
-Nick
These are known as curtain blinds on the US Atlantic coast because on the top rim of the concrete box there is a waterproof curtain that can be raised and lowered with the changing tides. They are still legal in the USA but sink boxes are not.Quote:
Originally Posted by longpointer
Here is a curtain blind hunt video
https://youtu.be/Z_NZkoBvXkk
OK, thanks for the info.
The area we would be building it in is a shallow bay off a river going into a lake, so very calm, etc.
But it sounds like a layout blind in a boat is the way to go, I will have to do some more research as I am new to waterfowl hunting.
A layout boat does not mean a layout blind in a boat. A layout boat is a boat that is specifically designed for hunting in open water situations. A quick google search will show you what I mean.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisM23
I myself run Waterfowl-Works UFOs.
-Nick
I have hunted from a UFO layout boat on Chesapeake Bay and thought it was a well built and designed boat. Light enough that the guide could carry and handle two of them in his tender. I felt safe and comfortable in it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sprite
When I returned I found a used Bankes Pumpkinseed, there were no UFOs available up here. Now Bankes has shut down production, hunters here are fortunate that UFO's are now being exported to Ontario.
Hello Guys,
I will not dispute with what Sprite has said about Ontario but I know that guides in Quebec and Nova Scotia use sink boxes for divers. I personally prefer a layout boat since they are cheaper, dryer, easier to use, safer and probably just as effective hunting divers.
Jerome
This is a pretty good link to show one in use. Click on the video. One of our customers has one and I get invited every year to come to QC and try it.
https://www.sablesafari.com/uk-quebe...l-hunting.html
Legal in Canada. I do believe there is something about leaving something out in channels of navigable waters but not 100% sure on that, but the use of sinkboxes in Canada is legal.
IIRC,It's been a long time since I did any marine enforcement,but,I sure remember that leaving anything out in the water after dusk and before sunrise,unmarked,can be deemed an "obstruction to navigation" with severe penalties should there be a collision much the same as cottagers leaving floating rafts out overnight. Everything left out overnight must have it's own navigation light system visible at all times. Smart people tow them in when they're done using them.Quote:
Originally Posted by brent
I bought my boat from Tony 8 or 9 years ago. Been a great layout! Still dry as a bone and handles more chop than I'm comfortable with.Quote:
Originally Posted by pinepointer
-Nick