Drinking on the ice?, ice fishing

Sandy Bay, that's the way the old school cops called it and it makes perfect sense. If you have a couple of beers in your hut who cares, I like the 20' radius that is creative thinking. It just seems to me the younger guys don't have the same sense of humor or tolerance as the old school officers. Anyway there will always be a few beers in the bucket on the way out to compensate for the weight of the fish coming back! As I see it Ice Fishing and a few beers go hand in hand ... always have .... always will!

Last year some of Ontario's finest were telling some operators that the law had changed and day huts where illegal to drink in. (to curb the drinking?) Further investigation revealed no such new law.

x2

That's probably why we were told then and warned by the operator. Thanx again!

I would ask your operator, they should know. In future you should maybe consider renting the ice bungalows, we switched over from cottages/day huts to bungalows a couple of years ago with no regrets. Lot's of great operators up there that offer the ice bungalows, check out the ones that sponsor on our board.

Been there done that and did not like the experience as much as the cottage s and day huts. And it was with one of the sponsors on this board!

Any hut that has the cooking(stove), washroom facilities(outhouse-bucket) and sleeping(bed/bench/floor) you can drink in. Day huts included. It's classified as your residence.You step outside and your on public land they charge you.

A retired OPP told me once that even you get a 20' radius around your hut as the law states for camping on crown land.

Hmmmm.

must meet requirements of a "residence" under LLAO

good thing that guy is retired ........definiton for camping and day use are separate.

c/p from LLAO

Definition
31. (1) In this section,
“residence” means a place that is actually occupied and used as a dwelling, whether or not in common with other persons, including all premises used in conjunction with the place to which the general public is not invited or permitted access, and, if the place occupied and used as a dwelling is a tent, includes the land immediately adjacent to and used in conjunction with the tent. R.S.O. 1990, c. L.19, s. 31 (1).

Unlawful possession or consumption
(2) No person shall have or consume liquor in any place other than,
(a) a residence;
( premises in respect of which a licence or permit is issued; or
© a private place as defined in the regulations. R.S.O. 1990, c. L.19, s. 31 (2).

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/...0l19_e.htm#BK36

Best advice I can give is be cool with your booze, and be polite to police if they stop by and ask a few questions. I've never been hasseled by the cops out there for more then a few minutes as long as nobody gets mouthy. The only thing they have said is"keep the booze in the hut and have a good day" Thats it and they were on there way. However I use to stay at Sunset Cove and every Saturday night they would set up the R.I.D.E and always grab a few coming off the ice.

Opens a whole new can of warms doesn't it.

so, by definition a popup with heat/cooking source and a blanket or sleeping bag on a piece of plastic and a bucket for a shitter is now a residence.

I can see it as you transport folks back and forth, but in my scenario, people would be driving sleds atvs etc possibly impaired no?

Anyhow, hopefuly common sense prevails and everyone have a Happy Holiday.

Canadude,,,,,,,very valid point there.

Yup, when the police/mnr come to visit best stop the usual sarcastic banter your sharing with your fishing buddies and be polite as well as concise and you should'nt have a problem. Keep your site tidy and if you decide to have a pop, at least pour it in a cup. No bottles/cans open to eyes and I can't see them coming down on you. Should be fine 90% of the time.

There is always a possibility to meeting a Buford T. Justice type out there!


Merry Ho Ho!