MI regulation question
 

I have looked threw the book 100 times and cant seem to find anything on this. Is it leagle to shootan animalif you are in the water, say waiding a creek. I know you cant shoot an animal when it is in the water, I would be in the water the animal would be on shore. What aboutfrom ariver boat, now motor. I fish alot and always seem to see lots of deer when I am in the water.

RE: MI regulation question
 

I am pretty sure it is unlawful to shoot one out of a boat but if your body is in th water, I believe it is legal if all regulations are followed.

RE: MI regulation question
 

Looks like a fellow UP is on the board

RE: MI regulation question
 

I know you can shoot one out of a canoe. Not sure about if you can out of a boat with a motor attatched.

RE: MI regulation question
 

Although it may not be in the book, im almost positive if DNR sees you do it, he/she is gonna can you. Thats just what I think, it just seems unlawful to go about doing so. Wading in a river you can, but in a boat of something im not to sure.

RE: MI regulation question
 

It would be sweet to shoot a deer from a canoe, I think it would be harder then taking one from a stand.

RE: MI regulation question
 

I went to the Michigan DNR website and looked up the regulations pertaining to hunting and trapping. It is illegal to, "Hunt or pursue wild animals or birds from a car, snowmobile, aircraft, motorboat, PWC, ORV or other motorized vehicle, or by a sailboat". This would seem to pretty clearly state that if the watercraft has a motor (regardless of whether it is running or not) that you could be busted if your hunting from the boat. However, I do know that you can case your weapon and transport it in a boat to a campsite or hunting area. Conversely, I think you can presume that if your boat is non motorized, you would be legal to hunt deer from it.

Similarly, as has been stated, you can hunt from a (non motorized)canoe. However, keep in mind the following regulations from the DNR website, "Hunting and trapping are exclusive rights of landowners bordering the waterway and their invited guests. Float hunters need permission to enter lands protected by the recreational trespass law. You may float hunt public lands open to hunting".

In case you're wondering (like I was) how it is the state can prohibit the use of a motorboat for hunting and yet we have duck hunting that often requires a motorboat, I checked on that too. Under the DNR regulations for waterfowl it states the above slightly differently. The state has joint regulation with the feds and for waterfowl it states, "No person shall take or attempt to take migratorygame birdsfrom or by means of any motorboat, power boat, or other craft having a motor attached, or any sailboat, or any floating craft or device of any kind propelled or towed by power or sail, unless the motor has been completely shut off and/or sails furled and its progress there from has ceased".

With regards to hunting from the water itself while standing or wading in it, I find no regulations prohibiting this action. In fact, duck hunting often requires waders and hunting from water bodies while standing in them. Keep in mind however, that there may be riparian laws which would prevent you from standing on the bottomof a lake or stream that is bordered by private property. Riparians have certain ownership rights to the lake bottom to a center point of the water body. So, while using the surface water may be a protected right for the hunter (assuming no local, or other state regulation prohibit it), the lake or stream bottom may be a gray area for hunting use rights.
Thanks for the question Guss. Was educational for me. Happy Hunting!

RE: MI regulation question
 

Thank Jackson, all the land I hunt would be state or CFR. There isnt much private land were I will be. The only thing that trew me when I read your quot from the book was the "pwc" pesonal Water craft, wouldnt that be a canoe, or is that only if it has a motor on it??????

RE: MI regulation question
 

it's all watercraft, motor power or paddled. Forward motion must be ceased.

RE: MI regulation question
 

You can hunt from a boat but the motor must be off with the boat anchored.