Boat and lake laws

Hello all,

Firstly, I have a cuddy cabin [30'] boat which I dock downtown Toronto. theoretically, I can hunt for ducks from this boat in the season right ?

secondly, what are the laws for hunting large lakes, like Simcoe or Lake ontario ?
I see a couple section of north east of simcoe[Mcrae] and presquil area on lake O, which hunting seems to be allowed.

but what about off shore laws close to Newcatle ontario for example ? or middle of the lake simcoe ? are there any laws that allow, or disallow hunting ?

thank you all and happy hunting.

yes you can hunt out of it as long as you are no using the motor at the time. Stopped, motor off and anchor or drifting with the wind is fine.
Municipalities have discharge laws you need to verify. Not positive but I believe toronto's law covers no discharge a long way out into the lake so you need to verify for each area.

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Originally Posted by FishHog

yes you can hunt out of it as long as you are no using the motor at the time. Stopped, motor off and anchor or drifting with the wind is fine.
Municipalities have discharge laws you need to verify. Not positive but I believe toronto's law covers no discharge a long way out into the lake so you need to verify for each area.

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I have seen maps showing ttoronto no dicharge zone extends to the US border in Lake O

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Originally Posted by M_P

I have seen maps showing ttoronto no dicharge zone extends to the US border in Lake O

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IIRC,those maps are in error. Toronto doesn't have the authority to regulate out to the border. They're under the same regs as every other municipality in the province.

I believe there are limits to how far off shore you can hunt too though. I recall being surprised by this years ago. It may have changed, I have not checked as I mainly field or puddle hunt. So make sure there is not an off-shore distance limit as well.

I have seen two maps of Toronto City limits regarding Lake Ontario . One showed it all the way out to the border the other was still quite a ways offshore.
I know from hunting Long Point Bay that you must be within a certain distance ( I think it's 30m) of the shoreline aka emergent growth. Different regions will have different rules so I would start by asking questions at the Town Hall and/or police and/or MNR office.

Know the municipality you're hunting in and clarify their discharge bylaws and borders on their map.

Educate yourself on the Migratory Bird Act and the Navigable Waters Act.

Both Acts are there to help protect you and the rights to your activities.

Here is info on rules and boundaries for Toronto harbour.

https://torontoboatingguy.ca/do-you-...-restrictions/

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Originally Posted by longpointer

I have seen two maps of Toronto City limits regarding Lake Ontario . One showed it all the way out to the border the other was still quite a ways offshore.
I know from hunting Long Point Bay that you must be within a certain distance ( I think it's 30m) of the shoreline aka emergent growth. Different regions will have different rules so I would start by asking questions at the Town Hall and/or police and/or MNR office.

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Originally Posted by pinepointer

Here is info on rules and boundaries for Toronto harbour.

https://torontoboatingguy.ca/do-you-...-restrictions/

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Thanks for the website info. As can be noted,Toronto authority doesn't go to the end of the Leslie Street Spit,let alone to the Canada-US border,but,it covers all of the Toronto inner harbor area from west to east. Toronto harbor can be a very dangerous place for boating. It's wise for smaller fishing/pleasure craft to simply stay out.

thank you everyone for the replies.
Ive been boating at the Toronto Harbour for past 15 years, very familiar with it.

The main confusion is, once out of Toronto jurisdictions ... what jurisdiction am i entering ? and how do I check the hunting laws for that region?

I have the same Issues with Lake simcoe as part of it apears to be under no jurisdiction.

On lake simcoe, the waters edge is the boundary. As long as you are in the water it is considered crown land. People hunt everywhere around the lake.

I suggest using common sense when hunting near public areas, I posted an article for reference of a past incident where a complaint was filed.(please note the first name of the complainant... lol)

https://www.simcoe.com/news-story/70...resident-says/

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Originally Posted by longpointer

I have seen two maps of Toronto City limits regarding Lake Ontario . One showed it all the way out to the border the other was still quite a ways offshore.
I know from hunting Long Point Bay that you must be within a certain distance ( I think it's 30m) of the shoreline aka emergent growth. Different regions will have different rules so I would start by asking questions at the Town Hall and/or police and/or MNR office.

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it is 300 meter on the inner bay from vegetation and once in the outter bay you can be as far away as your would like

Why not contact the MNRF and speak to a CO? Probably get your answer?

If you can legally hunt any body of water from a boat it would open up huge new opportunities but also a huge can of worms.......

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Originally Posted by deadeye

If you can legally hunt any body of water from a boat it would open up huge new opportunities but also a huge can of worms.......

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If the waterway can be accessed without trespassing,we already can.