Hunting House » Legal Hunting » Float shooting
Float shooting
Question:
writes: > Anybody know anything about float-shooting for ducks? I used
to>> do this in the Midwest, but people in Virginia say landowners on both>> sides of the river have to give their permission. Here in KY, you are allowed to legally float any navigable stream or river without fear of being charged with trespass. I spoke with an attorney for Fish and Wildlife, and he said that depending on the deed, you may not be (legally) permanently anchored without the landowner’s permission. He said some of the deeds have property lines designated as the middle of the river (where they would own the bottom of the river and you need permission), and some deeds say the waterline is the boundary (which can lead to heated discussion during flooding, but you don’t need permission to be anchored there). Permanent anchor means anything more than poling your boat along (incidental contact with the bottom). It also means that you cannot legally be tied to an overhanging limb or have decoys with their anchors on the bottom. I have not seen many people that get upset with you for anchoring adjacent to their property, though. Especially if they are asked first. The attorney said that the states vary considerably on the regulations of this issue, some states only require that your feet be wet and it counts as public waterway, so check with your state fish and wildlife agency. Dr. Dave
Response:
> Anybody know anything about float-shooting for ducks? I used to > do this in the Midwest, but people in Virginia say landowners on both > sides of the river have to give their permission. I can see this for > extremely small streams, but where exactly do they draw the line?
It depends on your particular state. In Texas, you are allowed to hunt any NAGIVATABLE waterway provided you can launch (boat or tube) from a public place. Note that the land owner’s property rights extend UNDER the water, so you must be floating, not standing or sitting. If you’re in a boat, you can be anchored under the water, but you cannot tie off to a tree, nor beach your boat on the shoreline. Islands in the middle of a stream or river are still private property. Any shooting must be done with the motor off (floating or paddling are ok). Chris Barnes (409) 846-3273 (home) http://helper.tamu.edu/STAFF/cbarnes/
Response:
Float shooting is not legal in some states. Laws in several state that the use of a boat or watercraft is only legal if it is moored to the bank or to anchored securely from both ends. Ace
Response:
>> > Anybody know anything about float-shooting for ducks? I used to > > do this in the Midwest, but people in Virginia say landowners on both > > sides of the river have to give their permission.
[snip] > in > flight or on > the water, you needn’t worry about getting permission. Only if it’s on the > shore. Floating > for ducks is legal virtually anywhere in the state. > The Elitist >This just became legal in Texas this year. It has been one of those >laws I’ve been bugging TP&W about that finally got changed. >– > _ > , _} Lone Star Ducker
That’s great Ken– Up here in Michigan the law got changed the other way. At least in our area. You have to have permission from the landowner of the river bank or it must be state property open to public hunting. The laws are different in every state with regards to the use of rivers and streams and who owns what. Some states say that the water itself is public but the bed belongs to the adjacent landowner, or that the landowner owns to the thread of the river (some imagined center point), etc., etc. There was an article about this is one of the sporting mags a couple of years ago.
Response:
> Anybody know anything about float-shooting for ducks? I used to > do this in the Midwest, but people in Virginia say landowners on both > sides of the river have to give their permission.
Only if the game is actually located on their land. With only one or two very limited exceptions, all streams and rivers in Virginia are public; you can float through them legally regardless of how the landowner feels about it. Firthermore, if the game is in flight or on the water, you needn’t worry about getting permission. Only if it’s on the shore. Floating for ducks is legal virtually anywhere in the state. The Elitist
Response:
Anybody know anything about float-shooting for ducks? I used to do this in the Midwest, but people in Virginia say landowners on both sides of the river have to give their permission. I can see this for extremely small streams, but where exactly do they draw the line? Dan
Response:
> Anybody know anything about float-shooting for ducks? I used to >do this in the Midwest, but people in Virginia say landowners on both >sides of the river have to give their permission. I can see this for >extremely small streams, but where exactly do they draw the line? >Dan
No problem Dan, you’re in Virginia! Just contact "The Elitist", permission for hunting is never a problem in Virginia. joe
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Anybody know anything about float-shooting for ducks? I used to > do this in the Midwest, but people in Virginia say landowners on both > sides of the river have to give their permission. > Only if the game is actually located on their land. With only one or two very > limited > exceptions, all streams and rivers in Virginia are public; you can float through > them legally > regardless of how the landowner feels about it. Firthermore, if the game is in > flight or on > the water, you needn’t worry about getting permission. Only if it’s on the > shore. Floating > for ducks is legal virtually anywhere in the state. > The Elitist
This just became legal in Texas this year. It has been one of those laws I’ve been bugging TP&W about that finally got changed. The other new regulation this year is that we can keep as many ducks in our freezers as we want. Posession laws in the field and while traveling remain the same but you can now store up 30 or 40 (or whatever) ducks to make it through the spring/summer. I must say that these were my two biggest complaints with the laws in Texas regarding duck hunting. They were both taken care of this year and that makes me a happy ducker. — _ , _} Lone Star Ducker ( ticka ticka ticka – bang!