Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

A friend of mine was shooting his bow in HIS back yard (wooden fence surrounding the property) with a very well-constructed backstop. One of the people in the neighborhood called the police - and he was told that shooting a bow is illegal since it is considered a weapon[:-]. He stood his ground and asked for proof. The police officer returned with a written statement that it is in fact illegal in the city limits, and issued him a citation for DISCHARGE OF A WEAPON in the city limits[:'(][:@]!!!! I have news for these people - a horseshoe can be a weapon if it is not used properly - so is a hammer, screwdriver, etc. Archery programs are instituted in schools, where weapons are banned!! What is this world coming to:(.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

It is also illegal where I live but I still shoot 10 & 20 yards inside my privacy fenced backyard. When someone reports me I will have to stop but until then lots of practice on my form.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

Speaking of and ex-leo stand point.
there are some citys and towns that have ordenaces about using any weapon in the limets of the town.
they include guns,bows,xbows,air guns,and blowguns.
depending on how the statued is writen the use of slingshots and paint ball guns may all so be banned.

Know for your frind you said a" hand written statment"
whos hand? did the wrighting?
if i recived a citation i would want to see the law not a hand written pice of papper.

i would call the local shierffs dep. town councle and county commisniors to see what they say.

if infact there is a law agenst it there is no recource but if there is no law on the books i would fight it in court myself.

you also have to rember there are differince in each town here one town you can not leagle use a bow in town the naboring town allows you to deer hunt in town with a bow.

its realy up to the town

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

Here is Bessemer, MI. it is Illegal to Hunt in city limits... Michigan law is stated.. You cannot DISCHARGE A WEAPON within 450 ft of any occupied dwelling unless you have permission from the owner.. Our city has an Ordinance against hunting in city limits, I am ASSUMING that is because it is the cities ordinace to not allow discharging of a weapon in city limits...

Everyone I know shoots there bows in there back yards...
And I know LOTS of people who bowhunt in city limits...

The Bessemer Board is now thinking about allowing bow hunts in city limits because of the size of the deer heard and the people complaining about the deer.. What really TURNS MY CRANK is the same people that complain about all the deer and want something done about it, are the same frickin people that WONT let you hunt there property.. wether they fall in city limits or not...

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

MOVE, For the life of me I dont understand why anyone would want to live in a area like that. GEE cant shoot a bow,Quess a gun or sticking a deer in the back yard is also illegal. Can you all take a leak in the back yard without being a criminal???????

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

YUP... I do believe it's illegal to shoot any firearm/weapon in my neighborhood too. I do it, but not when the neighbors are out. Oh they know I do and all that... but if they're in the yards I give them peace of mind they won't play backstop. I just had a family move in next door with 2 small children. My targets will be facing the other direction this year.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

Just reinforces the fact that this is no longer a FREE country, and contrary to popular belief, your home is not your castle. You are simply and tenant and a subject of the government. As long as you allow yourself to be led, you deserve such treatment.

I used to live in a city where you were not supposed to shoot a bow. I shot into my concrete garage everyday. Hell, you could have shot my .300 magnum through those walls.

I now live in a township, and I can shoot in my backyard. When that changes, I will move.

Dan

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

According to him, a copy of the law was brought and read to him by a sheriff's deputy, so it was a legal citation[:o].

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

In kind of a related issue, I got into some major ka-ka at work, for bringing a bow in. The employee handbook says "no firearms or other lethal weapons". I made sure that I didn't have any broadheads in my bowcase (which to me would have been lethal weapons) - just my bow, some arrows, and field tips. Anyway, the President (my Supervisor) came in and saw it.. and freaked out! First he told me to take it to my truck, and never bring it back. Then he changed his mind and said it was bothering him so much that he wanted me to take it home.. right then. Well, I'm salaried, so it didn't bother me any - it's a 45 minute trip one way. Obviously, my boss is not a hunter, and knows nothing about it. It should be noted that I'm a senior Manager that has been with the Company for over 7 years, and have a private office. I didn't have it in the lunch room, or out in the main employee areas, showing it off.. I thought it was a TOTAL over-reaction....

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

Here it`s not illegal to shoot your bow in the yard but if an arrow leaves your property it`s criminal negligence which is really serious.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

Fellas...I think that you have to look at it this way. That law is in place for the stupid people in this world. It's too bad that the laws can't be changed or tweeked for those who are responsible and know what they are doing.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

A law prohibiting the shooting of arrows, a lethal missile, in any populated area makes very good sense to me.

Such law exists in my community and I fully support it.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

When I had close neighbors, I used my own house as a back-up backstop in case everything failed and the arrow still made it past the target that far. If you are worried that you might possibly damage your own house by a failure of some kind, then definitely do not put a target where it could deopardize someone else.

I think that these laws are in place to protect homeowners from those who don't take proper precautions with their target placement. I would like to see common sense prevail and targets be placed wisely and the law done away with.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

This is a thread going on right now in the offseason forum. This is exactly why these laws are in place. Far down on the thread is the answer where it came from.

http://forum.hunting.net/asppg/tm.asp?m=673172

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

I had a buddy shooting over my house one day, years ago, and he couldnt draw his bow very well... on his draw back, he accidentaly let go and the arrow went flying over the wood lot and stuck in the neighbors ROOF... Think how i FELT when i had to go to my neighbors and tell them there was an arrow stuck in their roof....

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

I'm on the edge of the town limit's and I shoot my bow in my back yard and in my mother in laws back yard as well. As of yet I've heard no complaint's, and I've yet to hear of a law that say's that I can't .I even had a police officer stop and walk up to watch me shoot my bow in my mother in laws yard .I guess if there was a law in my little town he would have told me about it .

nubo

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

No laws here yet. Our property is getting tighter to shoot due to the new house going up out back. Time to move.

A law would be good for some people. I've seen ranges where the aim of fire was pointed directly at a State road. I sure hope a picket fence stops a stry arrow, for his sake and a potential driver.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

There are a lot of towns with such ordinances. I live in the country and I shoot out to 45 yards in my yard and also the neighbor owns a lot along the creek beside my house where I can shoot out to 100 yards if I want to. I teach a 4 class on archery weekly in that lot. I have good backstops and also have ribbons blocking off entrances which people could come in behind the targets.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

To be honest with you I can understand the concern in certain neighborhoods where houses are tightly packed and not everyone as is safety conscious as it sounds you are. I do the same as David...shoot when nobody is out and within the confines of the fenced-in yard. It is legal to shoot here though. In fact, Fred (MrFritz44)'s buddy, has a nice multi-target course set up behind his townhome. :)

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

It is illegal to discharge a FIREarm in my city, Although the ordinance states "firearm" the ordinance clearly lists what is considered a firearm, bow and arrow, pellet gun, slingshot as well as other forms of weaponry even throwing a rock! Archers/bow hunters around here have bag targets and 3Ds set up in their backyards. I suppose if you were to miss EVERYTHING! and land one in Mr. Jones' backyard fence or roof you would be liable. That is if Mr. Jones cared a hoot. Albeit it is wrong to discharge a firearm in the city I think a person should weigh the consequences of an errant shot and find other suitable means to practice the art. I am fortunate enough to live in a state/county/city where a greater percentage of the citizens obey the laws. All it takes is one bad apple to shut down the unspoken practice of "discharging a firearm" in the city limits. You know, where you have to constanly look over your shoulder to check for the extreme legalist who may be looking to shut down your activity and cause you grief. nuff said

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

Please read the fine print. That is w/o permission from neighbors within 450'. That's only 1.5 football fields. Has your friend pissed off all of his close neighbors? The rest don't matter.:D

A friend of mine's setup is ladder to a plat form 20' in the air and a 20 yrd range to his fence(seperating the neighbors property w/house 5' beyond). Not breaking the law because his close neighbors don't care.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

I went to College at western Michigan U. in Kalamazoo MI. We used to shoot our bows in the backyard that was fenced in as well. The second time we did a cop showed up saying we couldn't for the exact same reason.

However, the neighbor said they have cats and were afraid we would shoot the cats. We never cared if the cats came in the yard...why would we....until the cops came. We went to the ladies house and told her we weren't going to shoot the cats, but because she called the cops we were putting leg traps in the yard to keep the cats out. She freaked out. However.....she said she wouldn't call the cops. I think we just freaked her out. We weren't trying to harm anything. It all ended well.

J

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

They come on my property and it will be open season on that a$$!![:@] My property ill do what the he!! i wanna do! Boy that makes me angry.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

Turkey Fan:

If everyone did whatever he or she wanted to do whenever and wherever they wanted to do it, it would be total anarchy.

If by the term "they," you mean law enforcement personnel, I can only say; Only an imbecile would bring a bow and arrow to a gunfight.

Regardless what you meant, the comment and threat was illogical and stupid, and a poor representation of all hunters, regardless of weapon used. [:'(]

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

FIELDMOUSE...

THE STATE OF MICHIGAN says, its ok as long as you have permision ... OUR CITY has an ORDINACE against it, so we can't even though it would be ok by state law

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

As crazy as it sounds it is true. I actually pulled money off a deposit on a house that my wife and I wanted to buy because I found out that the borough did not allow the dischagre of any weapons and a bow was on that list. So I bought a house 2 miles away as the crow flies and it is perfectly fine..........go figure. JM2C.[8D]:)

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

I can only go by the small print and if shooting a bow within city limits is illegal, I will always op for the jury trial and take them shooting.;)

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

A few years ago I bought an acreage and built a house out in the country. When I lived in town it was illegal. Been saving up for this acreage for 30 years. Now I can hunt, hike, shoot bows or guns, even burn. Although I do need a burn permit which cost a dollar, and I get three deer permits for a dollar (Land owner). Life is good.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

It is illegal here as well, but I have been shooting in a vacant lot next to my buddies business right on main street for 20 years. I have even shot while the HP was doing inspections on school buses before the school year started. That ground is currently being developed so I have started shooting in my garage. I can get back 40 yards and still be in my driveway. I think it is a matter of no one THINKING it is a hazard and complaining to the police. No complaints means no enforcement. By the way don't tell my wife about the hole in the back of the garage where I missed the target on a oops, or there maybe a very loud complaint at home.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

This is why I'm glad that I live where I do. I have 2 acres of my own setting in the middle of approximately 150 acres with nothing on it. I can shoot my bow and anything else that I feel like and am still within 11 miles from our state capital. A Country Boy Can Survive.:D

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

During the 1996 Olympics, They did a feature on Justin Hewish, The popular archery shooter. Well, much to my dismay, they showed him shooting from the street at his parents home, Through the garage (which had a pass thru to the backyard) and to a target far in the backyard!
90 meters I think!
They lived in an upscale housing development, from what I could tell.
I was shocked that they would show this on national television.
Nobody said a word. Guess it depends on who is doing the shooting.
Anyone else see this?

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

Depending on the city you really have to watch this!

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

Yes, it's a free country, but when shooting a bow in your backyard could be hazardous to your neighbors, you've got NO RIGHT to shoot a bow in it. I grew up in the country where you could run around naked in your yard with no concerns about anyone seeing you. Now, I live in a neighborhood where most houses back to other houses and nobody has a right to shoot a bow here. My neighbor does it occasionally and even though I'm a hunter and I fully support the sport of hunting, I'll be the first one to call the cops on him the next time I see it. Why you ask? Because I don't want my wife, my daughter, or my dog to be the first ACCIDENT to happen as a result of it.
On the other hand, if my neighbor's house backed to woods, that would be fine. I wouldn't have an issue with it. But who's to say that there wouldn't be a stray arrow due to a bee sting, a muscle twinge, or a faulty release?
There are appropriate places to shoot a bow and there are places that aren't. Do like the rest of us and shoot your bow at the local sportsman's club if you don't like it! [:@]

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

that is one reason i dont live in town

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

In my town, Bond fires are allowed for festival ocasions. I always have a beer in hand when putting a match to the burn pile. I'm always celebrating the Norse God of Fire. What was his name?:eek:

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

i shoot my bow in my backyard almost everyday and the cops havent found me yet but my neighbors hunt too so the probably dont care and i live in central arkansas

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

It is also Illegal to shoot a bow or paint ball gun in my neighborhood.

However, it is ok to have a pool in the backyard.

And last time I checked, more people died in POOL related ACCIDENTS, than people who died in ACCIDENTAL gun shootings, so I would guess that the number of ACCIDENTAL bow deaths are even much lower.

I'd bet that more people are injured with their lawnmowers than are injured by arrows.

So, if safety is the major concern, let's ban everything and stay indoors....whoops...can't do that, most accidents with injuries happen in your bathroom...and I believe that most heartattacks happen in bed.


Kidding aside, if someone has a "proper" backstop and/or fenced-in enclosure and practices safety (not shooting while kids or other people were around) - notifying neighbors when shooting, etc., then I think we should all be able to find some common ground and allow this.

But those days ARE over in most of the U.S.A.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

Illegal in my town as well, but I checked with my nieghbors the first year I moved into town (actually the town I grew up in as a kid). Anyways, I checked with my three neighbors and they were all cool with the idea once I told them I will only shoot when no one is outside, etc. In fact, the one guy behind my house even asked me to assist his young son with shooting his own bow to earn his cub scout/boy scout badge. I was more than happy to assist.

Here's what I do:
Each summer I begin my training by shooting maybe 10 arrows a day from 10-20 yards. As the season nears, I shoot only 1-2 arrows per day in order to make certain each arrow COUNTS!! Key is that I shoot from my second flood bedroom window as this provides a realistic view and scenario as that is about the height of my stand. Downward trajectory guarantees there will be no richochets should I miss. It's been working out great for years for both safety in my yard and for my hunting success.

Key is just to be careful and as safe as possible. I won't generally shoot when my neighbors are home regardless if they are outside or inside.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

I just went through the huge website on my county's ordinances. There's stuff all about not discharging FIREARMS, but nothing mentioning shooting a compound bow in your backyard. The only time it mentions a compound bow, recurve bow, or crossbow, is that it is illegal to shoot one within school property (unless you are taking a school class on archery).

Stupid question of the day: Do some people really think a compound bow is considered a firearm? :eek:

Butch A.

RE: Shooting a Bow in your back yard Illegal?!
 

I was told it was a firearm in hunters ed but I'll worry about that after I get a ticket.