Shooting your bow in residential neighborhood
 

I have a javelina hunt coming up but have no place to shoot 30-40 yards. So I was shooting from front sidewalk to backyard. This was 40 yards but is it legal. After shooting began to wonder about it. Any information would be appreciated.

I don't think it would be illegal. You are on your property and it isn't a firearm. That is the only way I shoot. ;)

Yes but does it fall under discharging a lethal weapon in a residential area?

I would be willing to bet that it isn't illegal. I have never heard of not shooting a lethal weapon law. Only firearms. I guess you could contact your local police and find out.

I see no problem with it as long as its not endangering anyone else or their property.

Check your city ordinances.

I did it in Kyle before we sold the house. I shot from the sidewalk to the back fence just like you are talking about. I had a cop stop 1 day & talk to me & watch for a few minutes. He told me I was doing nothing wrong.

Eric, check your city's ordinances like LH said. Every city is different and some will enforce it if a neighbor complains.

My next door nieghbor is a cop , I asked him one day about it. He said there was nothing wrong, just make sure you are not endagering anyone and make sure the path is clear and no one could walk between you and the target.

Thanks everybody I will try to get in touch with someone to check our city ordinance.

Eric, like everyone else has stated, check you local ordinance. Every city has different regs on what you can and cannot do. Several years ago, I remember my brother, Frontloader telling me that Lake Jackson was going to pass a ordinance on shooting bows in the city limits. Several of them went down and voiced their opinion and it never happened. But the reason they were going to try was because someone was walking down a sidewalk and found a arrow with a broadhead on it. Just call your local PD. Bob

I think a lot of folks wonder about this when they first start or move to a new town. And it serves as a good reminder for those who live within city limits to check local ordinances before assuming that something such as this is okay because it was in your last town.

Check your local ordinances:

Links to Ords

Thanks for the link LostHawg

No problem

Now if you don't mind i need some help with bubble Shooter keep clearing the board but still 700,000 from your score. Need some help. Very addicting game. LOL

Banned in Plano. Maybe I could come over to Tinman's house and shoot.

In Deer Park, where I live it is illegal to shoot your bow in the city limits....check with your local police....

You can...the kids & I do...but I think it's against the rules here too. ;)

For Dallas county

DIVISION 1. GENERALLY<A id=TOC.1.1 name=TOC.1.1>

Sec. 50-201. Special use activity regulations for county preserves.
When the county parks or preserves are located within an incorporated area and managed by a city, that city's rules and ordinances shall govern the use of such preserves. However, in no instance shall unauthorized motor vehicles, other than powered wheelchairs, be allowed onto county park/preserve property except within designated parking areas. For county parks and preserves that are managed by the county or other nonmunicipal entities and/or are located within the unincorporated portion of the county, the following additional regulations shall govern the use of these preserves and parks:

(1) No signs, posters, handbills or notices shall be posted in or about county preserves without the prior written approval of the commissioners court administrator. Individuals responsible for posting signs, posters, handbills or notices shall be responsible for the removal of same by a date determined by the administrator. The administrator shall cause any unauthorized sign, poster, handbill or notice to be removed at the posting party's expense.

(2) County preserves are intended to be used by the general public for ordinary passive recreational purposes such as, but not limited to: hiking, biking, fishing, jogging, birdwatching and nature study. Any person or entity wishing to use buildings and/or grounds of a county preserve for any purpose other than its intended use or for exclusive/public restricted use or for use with paid admission, must file a written request describing the proposed special use to the administrator at least three days in advance of the proposed activity.

(3) All special use requests for activities lasting no more than three days will be reviewed by the administrator. Requests for activities lasting longer than three days will be reviewed by the commissioners court. Only those special use requests which receive the written approval of the county will be permitted to occur.

(4) Users whose special requests are approved by the county will be required to sign a use agreement prior to such use. This use agreement will specify, among other things:

a. That the user will compensate the county for any damages to the preserve arising out of such use and that unless the user is an accredited school or scouting troop that will be using the preserve for educational purposes, the user will provide a $100.00 potentially refundable deposit with the county to cover possible damages and trash collection;

b. That when the use is for commercial purposes, the user will obtain a $1,000,000.00 liability/personal injury policy payable to the county; and

c. The amount of any rental or lease fee which shall be determined by commissioners court and which shall be based on the following criteria:

1. Individuals, corporations or organizations desiring to rent a preserve for a function shall pay $250.00 per day or any part of a day;

2. No rental fee shall be charged when the user is an accredited school or scouting troop using the preserve for educational purposes; and

3. If a rental or lease fee is to be charged and the use of the preserve involves filming, additional fees of $500.00 per day shall be charged if the use is for a "for profit" production or $100.00 per day if the use is for a nonprofit production.

(5) Depending upon the proposed use, the county may also require on-site security for appropriate crowd control and for the enforcement of the provisions of this article.

(6) The county reserves the right to deny any request for use of a county preserve which, in its opinion, may disrupt or hamper normal activity, offend public visitors, or endanger the preserve's natural integrity.

(7) No alcoholic beverages or other intoxicants are allowed within a county preserve.

(8) No hunting is allowed within a county preserve. No firearms, sports bows, blow-guns, or weapons are allowed within a county preserve.

(9) No electric bicycles shall be allowed within a county preserve or on an unincorporated county trail.

(10) No horses are allowed within a county preserve beyond designated equestrian areas/trails.

(11) No swimming or wading and no boats, canoes or tubes are permitted in or on any lake, pond or creek within a county preserve, except for emergency vehicles.

(Ord. No. 99-2136, app. C, 11-9-1999)

Thanks for info.

This…I can't shoot or discharge any of the list the city ordnance states which includes bow and arrow, even with a FP. Sucks! Wish I lived outside city limit and larger tract of land so I can shoot my bow.

3/4" plywood as backstop. Several sheets and no sky pulling, be safe first and have fun,

Thanks for The Link :)