Ok Crazy question or not?

H

Hairbag

New member
So if you own a boat and wish to target practice over the ocean from your boat Is it legal and how far out would you have to go? I was just wondering thx
 
IANAL, but I would guess either far enough to be in federal waters(3-5miles I think?) or far enough to be in international waters.
 
I know of no federal law that prohibits target shooting on the open seas.

When I was a Company Comander of a Eskimo NG unit I use to go out on the Bering sea with them hunting seals and such (being a white guy, I couldn't hunt marine animals).

We did target practice on ice chunks without a problem. Even had the Coast Guard stop buy, all they did was to check to see if we were alraight.

I could be wrong, living in Wyoming now, its not a big problem.
 
In Georgia you are required to be 50 yards from any public highway or structure. Folks hunt ducks on the open ocean all the time. I'd check with the laws in the state where you live, but would doubt if the requirements would be much different.
 
I have an acquaintance that is a NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Officer. The specific question that was asked was about using a shotgun to shoot flying fish from a moving boat. He said there was no federal rule or law that would make that illegal. If you are in state regulated waters YMMV.

For fisheries management in the Gulf of Mexico, all state waters except Alabama extend nine nautical miles from the nearest shoreline. For Alabama it's three nautical miles.
 
I'm guessing , if you live in a coastal state then the rules would be the same for the State / coastal waters (game and fish rules) ocupied structures etc.

As for US Territorial and International Waters Im not sure. Maybe you can contact the Coast Guard for answers.
 
Follow the 4 rules. Obviously, shoot away from land.

Stay outside state waters.

Call your local Coast Guard Sector and ask if there are any designated firearm discharge zones in your local area.

Comply with all SOLAS regulations for your vessel length and distance from shore capabilities.
 
I will warn you that the US Coast Guard may leave US territorial waters to arrest you if you are a US citizen and doing something against US Federal Law. This is not a common occurrence but it does happen.
 
What targets would you be wanting to shoot out of interest?

As unless the conditions were very calm wouldn't it be extremely difficult to shoot anything unless it was quite tall, and then you'd have the possibility of ricochets?
I'm sure you've already though of it all though.
 
If your targets are going to float away or submerge, you need to be far enough out to sea that dumping garbage isn't illegal.

You need to bear in mind that rounds fired at targets in the water may skip off the water and carry quite some distance, so choose your lines of fire very carefully.

Also, discharging weapons in bird sanctuary areas can get you in serious trouble.

There is not really one good answer to the OP's question.
 
This is an interesting question, I think you need to talk to a maritime lawyer or something. I would hate for you to get in trouble over some fun.
 
As unless the conditions were very calm wouldn't it be extremely difficult to shoot anything unless it was quite tall, and then you'd have the possibility of ricochets?
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You would have to assume that you would get ricochets.

Under decent visibility conditions, if you're on a big enough craft to get your eyes 12 feet above the water your horizon will be about 5 miles away. The maximum range of a .50BMG is less than that, so even with the big 50, the bullets will impact inside of your visual horizon--you can see as far as the bullets will travel. Might be wise to have someone keeping watch with binoculars if you're shooting something that can really reach out there.

I can't address the legal question. Don't know anything about maritime or international law.
 
jgcoastie said:
Follow the 4 rules. Obviously, shoot away from land.

Stay outside state waters.

Call your local Coast Guard Sector and ask if there are any designated firearm discharge zones in your local area.

Comply with all SOLAS regulations for your vessel length and distance from shore capabilities.
Click to expand...

This.

From my old days in FL, I seem to recall if you are one mile away from any land, you are good to shoot whatever you want. I did a short search online and can't find any regs to back that up.

Best bet, as in jgcoastie's post, is to call (phone, not radio) your local Coast Guard station and ask. They're a good bunch of guys and gals, and they have my upmost respect.
 
we used to do it in the military(army), but not often. We would shoot the 50cal at a barrel until it sank as an example from the LSV.

I always wondered about that while watching "deadliest catch" on the discovery channel tuesday nights....they fire revolvers and mainly their m16/a2 rifles in the water(plenty enough to create some collateral damage lol even thought that isn't the point). Maybe they get permission but I feel it is just something never said to them. 2)that one slides by but when they have a drink before setting off for the season Jon always says, we just have "1 drink" and that is it. He says that on purpose.3)the 3rd example crosses completely past the gray area.....you will Never hear them talking about throwing an extra crab in the boiling pot for some extra dinner or see that on camera. I wonder why:cool:
 
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