Shooting Clays off the Boat

[rick_iles]

This only pertains to hunting during an open season. Target shooting is not hunting or all target shooting would be illegal,no matter where it was conducted. Of course,we all know that's not the case. The only stipulation is that we must be,demonstrably,target shooting which is easy enough to do,simply by not wearing or being typically dressed for hunting and having targets (skeets or targets) on hand. Miles off shore shooting skeets,there simply is no charge which could be laid,under these circumstances.

Agree.....to a point. The issue isn't the target shooting, the issue will be a loaded firearm in a boat, out in the lake (crown land). I certainly wouldn't say there is no way a charge could be laid ! I've seen too many bogus charges laid by MNRF.....as far as the section only applying during hunting season, try driving the back roads with a loaded shotgun or rifle, get stopped by CO or police for that matter.....let me know how that works out for you !!!If it was me, I'd get a written response from the MNRF, not this forum !

[seabast]

So, the question is "Can we have a loaded gun in a moving vehicle?"

A boat is a vehicle, and you can't troll for salmon without moving.

[topher]

What if u anchored..

[seabast]

What if u anchored..

In this case you are probably good, but Jeff wants to fish too so trolling for salmon and do some shooting......

[trimmer21]

Agree.....to a point. The issue isn't the target shooting, the issue will be a loaded firearm in a boat, out in the lake (crown land). I certainly wouldn't say there is no way a charge could be laid ! I've seen too many bogus charges laid by MNRF.....as far as the section only applying during hunting season, try driving the back roads with a loaded shotgun or rifle, get stopped by CO or police for that matter.....let me know how that works out for you !!!If it was me, I'd get a written response from the MNRF, not this forum !

Folks cruising the back roads popping groundhogs and coyotes in the summer and grouse when in season is a time-honored tradition. As long as there's a PAL/hunting license and guns are unloaded while inside a vehicle,good to go....providing there's been permission granted from landowners. As far as having loaded firearms in a vessel,I'll certainly agree that there's a strong possibility it could be problematic because the Act reads "....vehicle or any other conveyance".

[onelessarrow]

As long as you're not running the motor, you're good to go.
All guns are to be unloaded while in a motorized vehicle, except for chasing down cripples (Migratory bird act).
I don't see any other exceptions other than occupational allowances.

[jaycee]

jaycee,

Isn't the lead shot rule only for hunting migratory birds?

Dyth

Yes that is what the law states, however it was the lead contamination in the water that started all the controversy on the use of lead, hence even lead sinkers were banned.
The lead shot ingested by waterfowl that we hunt, also cormorants [deep divers] were found dead after ingesting fishing sinkers all these reasons led to the banning of lead shot for waterfowl.
A long time ago when all the controversy on lead shot was coming to a head, the Guelph Office of the MNR told me that the lead contamination in the water was also a large part of the issue as many cities get their drinking water from large bodies of water ie. the great lakes and also large rivers such as the Grand River.
Just to be on the safe side , I would not want to be discharging any lead shot into the Great Lakes .

[rick_iles]

As long as you're not running the motor, you're good to go.
All guns are to be unloaded while in a motorized vehicle, except for chasing down cripples (Migratory bird act).
I don't see any other exceptions other than occupational allowances.

You can't have a loaded firearm on any conveyance, motor running or not, motorized or not. The Act specifically exempts a motorboat when hunting migratory birds. The sticking point with the OP is the " where wildlife is present" part. If a LEO interprets being out on the lake as being a place where wildlife is present, a charge would likely be laid. I know 10 miles out in Erie, there are lots of gulls and cormorants. I'd imagine L. Ontario isn't any different.

[Dythbringer]

Yes that is what the law states, however it was the lead contamination in the water that started all the controversy on the use of lead, hence even lead sinkers were banned.
The lead shot ingested by waterfowl that we hunt, also cormorants [deep divers] were found dead after ingesting fishing sinkers all these reasons led to the banning of lead shot for waterfowl.
A long time ago when all the controversy on lead shot was coming to a head, the Guelph Office of the MNR told me that the lead contamination in the water was also a large part of the issue as many cities get their drinking water from large bodies of water ie. the great lakes and also large rivers such as the Grand River.
Just to be on the safe side , I would not want to be discharging any lead shot into the Great Lakes .

But those laws pertain to hunting and fishing. I don't think there is any law (maybe environmental) about skeet shooting. Jeff has asked the forum about the legality of this particular act. Morally would it be ok? Well, I don't think we want to start arguing that part until we figure out the original question.

As for the reasoning behind banning lead for migratory bird hunting and fishing, it seems as if they went after the small potatoes. If lead levels in the water from the large lakes and large rivers were so bad, I surmise there are bigger contributors of lead than a few guys using lead for recreation purposes. I can see the stagnant ponds and marshes being more sensitive to lead levels as they don't have the water flow compared to rivers and lakes though. I do not doubt what the MNR said but I think if they really were serious about this lead issue then they would ban lead outright for hunting as lead shot from upland game can get into the water table from rain, spring run off, etc.

On a lighter note, at least we found something that will kill off the cormorants.....

Dyth

[Fishy Wishy]

On a lighter note, at least we found something that will kill off the cormorants.....

Dyth

If only one could use a quicker delivery method