Waterway help

[92xj]

I've been on the phone since noon today and have got a hold of every single person besides the one guy I need to talk to, to get a straight answer, the game warden.  So, I will ask here.

On the Columbia River, lets say an area that is not in a city limit, just one of the areas out in the desert somewhere and not in a refuge area like the pennisula unit, two rivers, patterson unit and so on.  Who owns the land that touches the water and can you boat into the shore anywhere?  Like the snake river above the Ice harbor dam you can boat into shore 99% of the area and duck hunt because its own by the ACofE.  Is this also the case on the Columbia?  I am at a loss here and need some answers and no one on the phones seems to know.  Is there such a thing as a high water mark that you can boat into even if its private land as long as you stay off the dry land?  There is a spot I have found that I really want to hunt but its not on one of the refuges like the ones mentioned above and I have yet to find a single map that shows who owns the shoreline but its a boat in only spot and a spot I could hunt out of the boat if I was not allowed to touch the shore, or a place I could get in the marsh grass and stand and hunt and hide the boat down shore.  Someone explain to me what the regs are.  This state is not like South Carolina where I am from.

[JimmyHoffa]

For some areas I think that even the river bottom may be owned.  Not sure about the columbia.  There is some law for the state that if property was owned privately before statehood it can apply to the original boundaries which can go underwater and aren't subject to high water mark, mean low tide, etc.  Someone here probably knows the link for the actual law.  Not sure if this helps...or confuses more.

[92xj]

If thats the case, can my anchor touch the bottom but not me or my boat?  I have no problems pulling up to the grass that is in 12+" of water and hunting out of my boat and not stepping on anyone land. 

[BigGoonTuna]

the columbia is a navigable federal water, so you're good up to the ordinary high water mark.

[Hunting7mm]

We have an area we like to hunt as well but the land owner decided they did not like hunting off their property.  We checked and found they own the land to the low water line so a boat cannot anchor.  The game warden is called often and you can not get out of your boat or anchor on there land.No dogs either so if your bird lands on there property to bad.  I do not hunt this area anymore after I learned no more anchoring.  I did consult our local gamey and he confirmed the information we learned.  I still have friends that hunt the area but it's not worth it to me. 

[92xj]

Well hell, I wish the dang game warden would call me back tonight.  Sounds like he is going to be the only one that is going to know for sure if I will get a ticket or not for hunting this spot.  It's in the middle of no where with no houses around and would most likely never be an issue with anyone, but I hate my dang guilty conscience.  Guess I wont hunt it till I talk with him, whever that will be.

[92xj]

SWEET! 
Just got off the phone with the warden, he says we are a good to go, gave his name and number and said to call him if we get anyone telling us otherwise.  Will report back tomorrow.  Im seriously all bouncing around like a fat 5 year old in front of a 28.6lbs cake top with brownie and ice cream.   

[bigcans]

yeah well, make sure  you tell me where that spot is if you kill ducks

[Hunting7mm]

yeah well, make sure  you tell me where that spot is if you kill ducks

   What he said!!!!!

[h2ofowlr]

In NW Washington many of the tide flats in the pays are owned in popular hunting areas.  The ones that pay taxes on the flats typically own to the mean tide or 0.0.

[400out]

your area is very non-specific but you pm me with where it is your talking about and I  will give you a better answer  PS I don't need any hunting spot's got my own and I know who owns it 

[BigGoonTuna]

In NW Washington many of the tide flats in the pays are owned in popular hunting areas.  The ones that pay taxes on the flats typically own to the mean tide or 0.0.

tidelands are a whole other ball of wax, compared to navigable rivers, a big majority of tidelands are privately owned(especially in puget sound).

[Odell]

We have an area we like to hunt as well but the land owner decided they did not like hunting off their property.  We checked and found they own the land to the low water line so a boat cannot anchor.  The game warden is called often and you can not get out of your boat or anchor on there land.No dogs either so if your bird lands on there property to bad.  I do not hunt this area anymore after I learned no more anchoring.  I did consult our local gamey and he confirmed the information we learned.  I still have friends that hunt the area but it's not worth it to me.

On the columbia? I would be highly suspicious of that info even if the GW confirmed it. Even on the puget sound, many people are misinformed about what they actually own and what the rights are.

I am a nitpicker on following the rules, but on a river like the columbia I wouldn't hesitate to hunt any spot that was described as the OP did. From boat below the high water mark you are good to go.

[JLS]

We have an area we like to hunt as well but the land owner decided they did not like hunting off their property.  We checked and found they own the land to the low water line so a boat cannot anchor.  The game warden is called often and you can not get out of your boat or anchor on there land.No dogs either so if your bird lands on there property to bad.  I do not hunt this area anymore after I learned no more anchoring.  I did consult our local gamey and he confirmed the information we learned.  I still have friends that hunt the area but it's not worth it to me.

On the columbia? I would be highly suspicious of that info even if the GW confirmed it. Even on the puget sound, many people are misinformed about what they actually own and what the rights are.

I am a nitpicker on following the rules, but on a river like the columbia I wouldn't hesitate to hunt any spot that was described as the OP did. From boat below the high water mark you are good to go.

Not always true, check w/ assessor records

[jordano]

on the Columbia River below the high water mark, you are good to go! the only places you may have to be cautious about are if the land directly by you is tribal. Then you would need a tribal license to hunt there.

[JLS]

99.9% of the time you are safe below the high water mark.  However, there are a few places that private land ownership extends to the low water mark from before the dams.

Trust me on this.  Check with the county assessor to cover your bases if there is any doubt.

[92xj]

Thanks for the replies and help.