Hunting from a boat.

[ligthouse7669]

Hello everyone. Im new to the area and will be duck hunting next season with my step son. I have been reading all the rules for ducking in Washington state. I live near Silverdale and will be hunting in the areas of Puget sound.

Here my question, what are the rules as far as where i can hunt on open water from a boat or floating blind. I grew up duck hunting on the shore of New Jersey and the law stated as along as you were 400 yards from shore or any man made structure. ( dock etc). What is the rules or law here?

[Special T]

depends on the county but, if your are 300 yards from a house you should be good to go. where do you plan on hunting?

[Bob33]

There is no state law regarding a distance from shore or structures.

[h2ofowlr]

Just make sure your not in any park or sanctuary boundaries.  I would give it a 100 yards from shore and make sure your firing towards open water.  If you have a high bank, you can get up close to it.  Watch out for tides, so you don't get beached.

[MADMAX]

Head over to the hood canal bridge area you will see an Island on the right or North side heading towards sequim, take the next right after the bridge (Paradise rd) and drive down a road called seven sisters, you can launch there and hunt around that area, stay a couple hundred yards offshore in the boat and you should be fine
Or go further towards sequim and head for quilcene, lots of guys hunt the tidal areas of the river mouths there
have fun good luck
double check the waterfowl regs first

[ligthouse7669]

Thank all of you for the information. I'll be scouting out areas over the summer. Thanks so much MADMAX Ill certainly check out those areas.

[EWUeagles]

Thank all of you for the information. I'll be scouting out areas over the summer. Thanks so much MADMAX Ill certainly check out those areas.

Start scouting right now. You'll be able to see where people are set up and how they do.

[ligthouse7669]

Ahh very good idea.

[lokidog]

Also, in some areas you must be anchored or beached in order to legally fire from the boat, not sure if it is just Skagit.

[Stein]

You can't fire from a boat under power from a motor.  It's a judgement call, but if you are at anchor you are good and I wouldn't expect much judgement other than that.

[Special T]

Also, in some areas you must be anchored or beached in order to legally fire from the boat, not sure if it is just Skagit.

Pretty sure this is just a skagit bay thing to keep folks from drifting or sculling into the snow goose flocks. I talked to someone who has used a scull boat in other locations of the state.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[birddogdad]

Hello everyone. Im new to the area and will be duck hunting next season with my step son. I have been reading all the rules for ducking in Washington state. I live near Silverdale and will be hunting in the areas of Puget sound.

Here my question, what are the rules as far as where i can hunt on open water from a boat or floating blind. I grew up duck hunting on the shore of New Jersey and the law stated as along as you were 400 yards from shore or any man made structure. ( dock etc). What is the rules or law here?

make sure and check county codes for this as well. if you are going to shoot in the bay or backwaters around silverdale, expect a visit from LEO. i have chased my tail around this years ago.. county rules will leave them to interpret that you should not be there....

hood canal is fun and boat is way to go...

[HikerHunter]

You can't fire from a boat under power from a motor.  It's a judgement call, but if you are at anchor you are good and I wouldn't expect much judgement other than that.

This is important. The exact wording in the regs is:
"Hunting from boats with motors is permitted if the motor is off and it is not contributing to the boat's propulsion."