r/canadaguns • u/Einyrki • May 29 '26

Misc There’s a search for gravel pitts and quarries

http://www.ontario.ca/page/find-pits-and-quarries

So I’m dumb, I never knew about this, I guess the best thing to do is to cross reference this with the crownland atlas and figure out which sites are no longer in use and situated on crownland 😃

36 Upvotes

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23

u/crzycanuk May 30 '26

Active gravel pits can be located on crown land. They are called aggregate permits. So the province technically owns the land but the permit holder can be a private company and they are expected to maintain their sites as if they own it with gates (maybe fencing), signage and keeping trespassers out. The crown puts a lot of responsibility on the permittee and there is significant liability to having non-employees in the pit. Just so you know, somebody might kick you out even though you are on “crown land.”

There are a lot of permits where the permittee is actually the MTO. Much more prevalent in the north. But I’d imagine you are less likely to be hassled in one of those. But the person coming to enforce the no trespassing is likely the game cops.

Source: worked in the aggregate industry in compliance and licensing. And kicked dozens if not hundreds of people out of pits and quarries for camping, riding atvs, setting up gun ranges. (I know captain buzz kill, the liability is crazy).

3

u/Einyrki May 30 '26

Hey thanks this is really helpful

1

u/jollygreengiant1655 May 31 '26

Yep, pay attention to what that guy says. Just because you find a gravel pit doesn't mean you can start shooting. You need to make sure it's not an active quarry operation first, for obvious safety and liability reasons.

13

u/BowFella May 29 '26

I was just looking for this. But keep in mind it may show it as crown land but a lot of them are still locked up and active so I'm not sure what the legality is in those cases. Most of the long range spots I find are secluded lakes with a high bank and no trails on the other side.

3

u/gugz92 May 29 '26

I thought we weren't allowed to shoot across lakes? I found some clearings up in north bay but is it a no go if there isn't a backstop and it's just woods? 

8

u/BowFella May 29 '26

Woods dont count as a backstop. Bullets can go far in the woods. As far as legality. I know you are not allowed to shoot from a moving boat or at a swimming animal (except waterfowl). But it may vary from province to province or even municipality

4

u/julienjj May 29 '26

You must know what is beyond your target at all times.

1

u/mwmwmwmwmmdw May 30 '26

in the physical sense or long term career sense?