Shooting from a boat?

[Packman]

My Dad and I were discussing some of my shooting options for an upcoming move that I'll be making next year. Right now, I'm about 20 miles from a full service trap, skeet and sporting clays range. After I move, the closest one will be closer to 70 miles away. I'll be in Daytona Beach, FL, and my Dad made a joke about finding a girl whose daddy has a nice big boat, get a launcher and shoot off the back of the boat.

My question, then, is how far offshore do you have to be before it's legal to discharge a firearm? I can't find a thing about it in either the US Code or the Florida state statutes.

Obviously, this is a purely inquisitive question. At this time, I have neither the ability nor resources to actually go try it, and If I were to, the due diligence would be given to the safety of all persons and craft nearby.

Thanks in advance,
Packman.

 

[brighamr]

My only experience comes from the wetlands of CA. In that state, on wildlife preserves and such, you could ONLY shoot from a boat. I hunted ducks and such, and if you had to go on land to retrieve the kill, that was against the law.

In FL, I'm sure you just have to be a certain distance from roads or cities, but don't quote me.

Worst case scenario, cruise to international waters. Anything is legal there

 

[Packman]

Ha. Yeah, I was just thinking that if you head out to international waters, doesn't really matter what you do. I'm speaking of specifically going out into the Atlantic, and I'm curious as to whether or not it's legal inside state and/or US waters.

 

[mikec]

You might have issues with using lead shot, even outside US waters.

Another question, how stable is the boat and how much fuel does it burn to take you where you need to do this. The costs with a "nice big boat" can sometimes be worse then driving 140 miles round trip in a car.

 

[kurtmax]

The costs with a "nice big boat" can sometimes be worse then driving 140 miles round trip in a car.

Probably not an issue if he finds a female with a rich daddy like he plans

When I lived in Pennsylvania our neighbor had a skeet (or trap.. I always forget the difference) range on his property. Well, sort of. Long story short: The shot would rain down on our house/lawn every shot. Good times....

 

[Mall Ninja]

If you're accustomed to skeet, trap and/or Sporting Clays, how much fun is it going to be to shoot hand-launched birds from the stern of a boat?

Not much, I'm guessing.

I suppose you could use a .410 ... or wear a blindfold or something...

 

[Packman]

I was wondering about the lead, I'm sure someone'd get mad about the pollution of it. As far as the costs go, I sure know one thing about boats...It's a whole lot better to have a friend with a boat than to have your own boat. been there, done that.

As far as how fun it'd be compared to the actual games...well, more fun than not shooting at all.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Well, if you're going shooting in international waters, why not just use a new machinegun and steel core ammo? You'll still hit your target, only it'll be way more fun than scatter shot out of your Winchester...

 

[mekender]

there are several places closer to daytona than 70 miles... at the extreme edge of that distance is the central fla gun club.... i know there are also clubs down in brevard... im sure that there are several in volushia county... most likely one in daytona itself or at worst, you might have to take a drive into the deltona area.... ima look real quick...

 

[mekender]

here ya go, 37 miles from downtown daytona

http://www.flaglergunclub.com/

Our club offers:

* Trap Fields
* Skeet Fields
* Sporting Clays
* 200/100 Yard Rifle Range
* Pistol Range
* Silhouette Range
* Archery Range
* Black Powder
* Action Pistol Range
* Cowboy Action
* A variety of Firearms courses taught by fully certified NRA instructors

 

[Sistema1927]

Mount a couple of 32 pounders and make splinters out of old beef casks set afloat.

 

[Delta608]

12 miles offshore on the Atlantic side..
09 miles offshore on the Gulf Side...
200 miles if yer shooten fish.....

I could not hit a floating one gallon milk jug at 20 yards with an MP5 in three foot seas !!!!

 

[sailortoo]

If you do use a boat, make darn sure it is someone else's - and they pay the fuel cost. My very modest 30' commercial boat got a rousing one mile per gallon, and marina fuel is noticably more costly than your local gas station. Plus, as some one else intimated, even mild, uneven rocking of a boat less than 70' feet or more, makes the game wildly in favor of the clay! Besides, if you are into the sporting clays (great fun!), you can't get "bouncing bunnies" if you are on a boat.
sailortoo
Semper Paratus (also)

 

[boatbod]

A "small" (30') sportfishing boat will burn somewhere in the region of 20-30 gallons per hour at cruising speed. A larger vessel obviously burns exponentially more. Powerboating isn't cheap by any means!

 

[macFarlaine]

They have clay set up's on some cruise liners,I believe one or two are American owned,and sail from American ports.

 

[Packman]

mekender, you're my new hero. Going shooting offshore isn't something I'm too likely to ever do, but I thought it sounded pretty neat. I have no desire to pay the gas cost and such. We used to have a boat, I'm painfully aware of how much they cost, in work, time and money.

macFarlaine, I've heard of that too. My mom tells me that she once did it from the back of a Royal Carribbean ship, but I know for a fact they no longer offer that, because my sister works for them.

Thanks everyone!