Privet Dwelling question?
 

If you have a private Dwelling, And you have deer trall that goes right by you're porch or back yard? How illegal would that be to take one from your back yard or your back porch? I know a lot of people take one from there back windows but still tag them properly and according to the laws of our state.

You didn't say if you are within the city limits or not. If you have a license and the deer is properly tagged, I don't see any problems other than if you are within the city limits. Local ordinances may not allow hunting or discharging a firearm.

Yes there are variables and they depend upon where this dwelling is located.

What state?

What municipality?

But even in the most ideal circumstance there would almost certainly be a restriction on hunting within a certain distance of other dwellings or roadways.

We have a city ordinance that a firearm cannot be discharged within 500 feet of a residence. So if a neighbor was within 500 feet of you when your fired your rifle and they wanted to cause a problem, you are S.O.L. If no neighbor within 500 feet, you would be fine. But that's our area, yours may vary.

Thanks guys, Let me give you some info, Its in the country on 3 acres of land. That's pretty much it.

By country I assume you are confirming county, and as others asked or pointed to are there houses around this property within 500ft?

County yes I meant county, And to answer the question. No there is no houses that close.

Depends a lot on local law. As I recall, when I grew up in Wisconsin, you couldn't discharge a firearm within a certain distance from a dwelling -- not sure if there was an exception if it was your own dwelling.

In Michigan, you can't discharge a firearm within a certain distance of a dwelling. I think its 100 yards. So if you shot from your porch, you would be violating the law and would have to turn yourself in.

But then you could exercise your 5th amendment right to refuse to testify against yourself and the case would be dismissed.


:sheep:
May The Sheep Be With You

It's kind of hard to answer your question without knowing how close your neighbors are, if you live inside city limits, next to a highway, school, etc. Plus, Michigan laws might be very different from other states' laws.

You should ask HNI member cr422--he's a lawyer in Michigan, hunts and is likely very familiar with the applicable laws in your state. He's usually in the Political forum but has a few other forums he frequents too.

You would likely have to research 4 sets of paws for your question for sure. State laws, county ordinances, city ordinances (if you live inside city limits) and your state's fish and game laws.

Your state, county and city laws/ordinances may or may not restrict you from shooting by a neighbor's residence, near a road, in a city, etc. Hunting restrictions should be covered by Michigan's fish and game laws.

In general, fish and game laws prohibit a hunter from shooting an animal within a set distance from somebody else's residence (150 yards in CA for instance). This F&G law doesn't apply to a homeowner hunting on his own property (residence) in CA. Michigan may or may not be different.

This is just generalized info for you to follow up on. Like I said, ask cr422 and he can probably quote you the applicable laws to the letter.

p.s. cr422 is Sachiko's hubby. She could let him know about your question. :biggrin:

We don't know what the limit is for sure because we don't hunt anywhere near any residences.

Assuming it's legal to shoot where you are, (we live in the city-not allowed at all here.) you can find the distance limit by checking the DNR website. Look for the hunting guide and check the firearms section where they list what kinds of gun you can use, shotgun zone, etc.

Remember, in Michigan, if you have a CPL, you can carry while hunting, even during archery season, but it must be CONCEALED.

Okay, I looked it up for you.

The safety zone around an occupied building is 150 yards.

This applies only to hunting, not target practice, etc.

GH, I'm guessing most folks here don't hunt in Michigan. So why would they know the hunting laws in that state? Seems you could get the Michigan Hunting Guide (free online.. just google it) and read it.

Why does it matter? Shooting a deer in your underware off your back porch really isn't "hunting" to me. But to each their own.

Thank you. Well said sir.

Sorry I don't hunt in my underwear, Its so cold for that lol

Going back to the OP, I believe he asked the question if it was legal if you had a deer trail that goes right past your back porch (lucky guy). I know this is opening a can of worms but there are a few similarities to a deer trail that goes right past a treestand. Not criticizing either approach or method, just pointing out some similarities. The OP also didn't state that this would be his primary method of deer hunting, just wanted to know if it was legal. I'm guessing/assuming just like everybody else but the impression I got was that he was asking if the opportunity presented itself instead of setting up some kind of ground blind and making his back porch a regular hunting spot. JMHO. :D

I think to even suggest hunting from a porch or a window in a residence shows complete ignorance. In my state (PA) you cannot discharge a firearm within 100 yds of an occupied structure.

...Deleted by CalHunter...

Think of the pressure from discharging a firearm inside a house. The noise, the powder burns. Go out in the woods and hunt or sell your firearms and find a new hobby.

I'm with Smokin D.

Do as you will but don't call it hunting.

Sitting and waiting for an animal is luring then shooting may it be a bow or a gun.

That's not hunting by your standards.

I think we were talking about shooting game off your back porch.
You're right, that's not hunting by my standards.

Sitting in a tree isn't either, and luring the animal with a call isn't hunting either.

Anyways I will be sitting underneath the porch it will act as a ground blind.

Here is my 2 cents, The only real hunting would be walking in the woods stealth mode and go to the deer.

But that's just me. And before we get mad at each other let's stop here and now and caring on man?

in wv, if someone complains you can be ticketed for shooting within 500 ft of any dwelling, even if you own it, yep stupid but its the law.
RR

???

Sitting in a tree is not hunting? Let's see. One goes out several weeks ahead of opener, starts checking the trails, looking for bedding areas, feeding areas, funnels, ridge lines, amount of cover available and so on then sets a tree stand up in the ideal location in the hopes of harvesting a deer based upon several factors. Yeah, I think every one here would pretty much agree that that is hunting. Is NOT always about stalking your prey, sometimes ambushing it works pretty well too.

Sitting under your porch? Are you kidding me? That negates the very spirit of hunting. Might as well place a big ole bait pile out in the yard, stay inside where it's warm sipping coffee. Hell, you don't even have to take your pajamas off...:confused0024:

I know you are a "New Hunter" or new to the hunting world, but simply killing an animal does not make you a hunter. Hunting is not solely about killing. A hunter is someone who has a profound respect for the animal they are after. Hunting is something that is as deep and complex as ones soul. A connection to the outdoors that can't be had or understood by a handful of trips to the woods, but rather developed over a lifetime and with each passing season, learning more than you knew the previous year. It's not a fad or a hobby, but a way of life.

Personally, I'd much rather spends countless days scouting my area, looking for sign, watching the landscape change along with the seasons, sitting in my tree stand while squirrels chatter, songbirds chirp, crows caw and NOT see a deer than shoot one from the comfort of my house. My 2 cents, that's like fishing in an aquarium.....

By that logic is going to the grocery store farming?? your lunacy astounds me.

You've posted that you are a new hunter learning. You ask for the opinions of others then you tell them are wrong and you are going to do what you are going to do anyway. I think you were hoping for someone to say "it's ok to hunt from your porch or your bedroom window - hell I've shot groundhogs while I was in the shower" but the fact noone went along with you - you are getting upset. Getting warm?

Anyhoo, I'll just hunt in the ground blind, Thank you alot for the insite guys, And yes i am still VERY MUCH A GREEN HORN...

My nearest neighbor in any direction is a mile away. This pic was taken from my backdoor.



I've also watched 3 bucks feed together (Early October) from the same door... I would never consider shooting any of them from the house, porch, or even standing in my yard.

If you think that shooting from your porch is no different than shooting from a tree stand, ground blind, or using calls, you really are a green horn... But ya ain't no hunter!!!

Lighten up everyone, someone says something that isn't "politically correct" and the feeding frenzy is on. I wouldn't shoot out my window or off my porch, but I would have had no problem setting a stand on the rather small chunk of land I grew up on (2 acres) next to an agricultural field in what I would have considered my backyard.

Okay, fair enough Murdy, and Fair enough Green Horn as well.

Mind you that I've been hunting whitetails since 1972, and shot my first deer in 1976.

When I see an admitted new hunter trying to justify hunting from a porch, and trying to relate it to hunting from a tree stand, a ground blind, or using calls it does offend me a bit.

I've been watching deer out of windows for decades... When I was 10 years old I wanted to shoot them from there... My Grandfather quickly cured me of that.

Mind you that this thread was on it's 3rd page before I decided to weigh in, but it got to the point that I felt that it was time to give an opinion... Yeah I know... Opinions are like *******'s

Again thanks Guys, LunkerDog, That's about one year before my bday, And nice. If I have some questions may I please pm you and Murdy?

Ease up guys. I have to admit, I hunt my own beef too. Its a lot easier than deer hunting. I find the cow standing right there on an establish cattle trail. I stalk it into a trailer, and it goes off to the butcher. I let him do all the dirty work, and he sends me back everything packaged up and ready to go. I live for the thrill of the hunt!


I kid I kid....

I'm worse than that. I stalk into the chicken house, wait for the moment when the hen isn't looking, and snatch her unborn children out from under her to make an omelet with.

Utterly barbaric. But tasty.

I love the"if you don't do it like I do it it's wrong""hunters".
Me I hunt in my buckskin cloths with my stone tipped spear,I'm the only real hunter here!!!
Now me,if I had deer walking behind my porch and I wanted meat,my trusty crossbow would come out and I would have meat for the table.
Now,my grand daughter likes to sit it my ladder stand in the back yard and tries to shoot squirrels with my old recurve(she hasn't hit one yet but has a blast doing it) is she hunting?

By the law in Michigan you can hunt from your (key word Your) living room or of another's as long as you have permission.

I hunt from my windows every day of the year, I can't even begin to know how many does fawns and bucks I have shot in a year from my windows. Of course the weapon of choice is the camera.

From the little window by the front door.



They really go for the burning bushes and Blackeyed Susans.



Time of year doesn't make a difference either.







:D Al

One pizzed me off so bad last fall I built this in my front yard 300 feet from the house.



Bought and planted this tree.



Four days latter the SOB did this.




We also have turkeys, the white object is my wireless rain gage transmitter.



Mostly the deer trim our shrubs.



I mow the grass at 4 inches. The deer seem to like it that tall or just a bit bigger.



:D Al

Problem in Michigan is you have to either have permission to go on others property to recover game It is NOT A GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO TRESSPASS. So hunting a small area get permission ahead of time or drop the game on your side of the fence.

:D Al

sorry but just because you can shoot something in your state from your living room couch doesn't mean you should. Sometimes common sense should take over and tell you that it's just stupid, lazy, dangerous.. insert your own adjective here.

I'm not saying if you aren't using this type of arrow or sight or clothing you are doing it wrong, I'm saying if you are so lazy that you have everything in place to do something safe and actually get into the woods, get into the animal's habitat, give the animal respect and not just shoot anything that moves or has fur, you may find you take more enjoyment from it.

...Deleted by CalHunter...

Ok so what do we say about the combine drivers?

Absolutely... No doubt I'll not always have the answer for you, but will always do my best to at least get you headed in the right direction for the info you're seeking.