r/canadaguns • u/anonyme450 • 29d ago
Shooting Crown Land Question
I have 2 crown land related questions:
Does anyone know a good spot not too far from Simcoe County Ontario where someone can legally shoot on crown land? I had a spot my buddy showed me near Coldwater and Port Severn, where we had these dirt mounds and dirt roads by some running water, but he's concerned that we're going to run into issues because we're semi-close to nearby electrical towers.
This brings me to my second question - Are there any limitations or prohibitions on shooting near electrical towers/power lines? We're a good few hundred feet from them, separated by an open field and some dirt mounts, but they are visible in the distance. Is this going to be a problem?
Thanks!
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u/The_guy_mp 28d ago
You are fine. I literally shoot standing under power lines to targets on the other side. Just don't shoot the tower or the line. Don't forget to check the local municipality bylaws.
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u/anonyme450 28d ago
My concern isn't so much being near the lines, but being on land owned by Hydro One who doesn't allow shooting at all.
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u/catchinNkeepinf1sh 28d ago
If it is owned by someone then its not crown land.
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u/anonyme450 28d ago
The Crown can give Hydro One sections of land on Crown Land to build on, which can include the land in between and leading up to hydro towers. It's still Crown Land according to the Crown Land Atlas, because the Crown is the actual owner.
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u/Previous_Search3122 27d ago
I think you should brush up on your rules and regulations. Google will help you with rules you need to follow on crown land. It will also help you find the rules when it comes to companies leasing crown land or that have a right of way.
The hydro company probably has a lease or a right of way there.
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u/anonyme450 27d ago
Google doesn't tell me a single thing about what ROW or easement is owned/leased by Hydro One, nor does it specify what rules apply on those specific ROW's or easements. I've googled plenty, used AI, contacted the town where this crown land is located, asked conservation Ontario...nothing.
I'm waiting for Hydro One to tell me more.
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u/fuckbitingflies 28d ago
#2 can depend on the terms of the easement and should be verified if you want to avoid trouble. I’ve seen some that allow hunting only, some that allow hunters to use the hydro cut to access other parcels but not hunt within a specified distance of the power lines, etc. Lots that do not allow target shooting. I’ve also seen lots of people violating whatever rules are in place, so as with anything else you shouldn’t rely on what everyone else is doing. There is no one-size-fits-all answer.
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u/anonyme450 28d ago
Yeah that's what I was worried about. I emailed Hydro One and a few other places to be sure, but haven't heard back yet.
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u/fuckbitingflies 28d ago
I’ve had pretty good luck getting definitive answers back (though mostly regarding hunting rather than target shooting), so I hope you have the same!
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28d ago
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u/anonyme450 28d ago
I used the Crown Land Atlas, and it doesn't help me with the power line question, or establishing whether or not Hydro One owns part of that land.
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u/Reelair 28d ago
I think I saw that the area you mentioned in #1 might have new rules, no more target shooting.
I used to shoot in another area near hydro lines. It was shut down a few years ago, a gate went up. Too many people abused it after someone made a Facebook group for the area. It got trashed and abused.
The issue with shooting near hydro lines is some idiots shoot the lines and insulators for a reactive target. A quick shot like that can get your shooting area shut down. I suspect that's what happened with your area in #1, if I'm correct about the area.
If you find a place keep it quiet. For that reason, I doubt you'll get any spots in this thread.
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u/Memorywipe 28d ago
Out of curiosity, if it's crown land how can someone just go and shut it like that? Doesn't that defeat the designation of "crown land"?
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u/anonyme450 28d ago
Was the spot near a road called Power Line Road?
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u/Thegears89 27d ago
Was it tower line road?
I've shot there before. In the sand dune like area.
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u/anonyme450 27d ago
Yeah, that's the spot. You can drive into a spot surrounded by sand dunes and rocks. The tower is a few hundred feet away and elevated, but it's been a while since I was there so idk if they have new signage, and who owns that exact area.
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u/Thegears89 27d ago
I've shot there before. And I know someone with a cottage in the area. He has told me that people shoot there all the time.
Just be respectful because on weekends people do camp there
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u/anonyme450 27d ago
Any chance your buddy would give permission in writing via email? Does he know what land is owned by hydro one?
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u/Thegears89 27d ago
Well it's crown land. And there is a sign saying it's crown land.
It's just lease by hydro one. They don't "own" it
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u/anonyme450 27d ago
Right, but on the land that they’re leasing they are able to have different rules saying they do not want people trespassing on that property, or they don’t want people hunting/shooting on that property; which the OPP can enforce.
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u/Reelair 28d ago
No.
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u/anonyme450 28d ago
Then no, not the same place. If there are new rules, they're unknown to me, and there's nothing online about it.
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u/Weak_Flamingo_3031 28d ago
I know lots of guys that have stands/blinds set up along the hydro towers in Eastern Ontario