Hunting Question

[crokett]

Last night I took the dogs ou and there were 3 deer in my front yard. A buck and two does. 'Twere I so inclined (and it were hunting season) would it be legal for me to sit on my front porch every night and wait for the deer, given that it is my own property? Or do laws vary by state? I know there are restrictions on shooting towards a road or residence or within a certain distance of either.

[Stan]

I think it is more an issue of checking with city/county ordinances. They have incorporated more area into the city here to include some of the more rural areas -- and there is no shooting firearms within the city limits. They county does not have firearms restrictions.

Beyond that, common sense prevails.

[scmhogg]

David,

Try this http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=36997

Steve

[Black wallnut]

Laws vary by state, city, and county. In rural areas of my state it is legal to do just that, although some areas outside of cities have firearm restrictions.

[dbhost]

The laws on discharging firearms, and wildlife vary by state, county, and city (if applicable). For example, in the Houston suburb where I live, doing what you advocate would land me in jail.

But in rural Grimes county, between Huntsville and College Station Texas, a friend of mine does exactly that completely legally. (Out of his back door though). He has some limits he had to comply with. Since he is on less than 10 acres, he had to construct a berm at the rear of his property to stop any stray bullets from entering his neighbors property.

[Mr__Bill]

Now, if you had a crossbow would it really matter?


Bill, On the Sunny Oregon Coast, where it's dear season

[Stytooner]

It's bow season here as well. My son keeps our freezer's stocked. He got n trouble with the law only once. He was riding with some guys that were night hunting/poaching. He was not the shooter and finally was cleared of all wrong doing. I have never cleared him for picking his friends though.
As an afterthought, I should have. It was his buddies that owned up to what they were up to and that he had no knowledge of it. Not such bad buddies after all. I am certain this was a one time thing for all involved.

It would be legal where I live to kill something or discharge a firearm. I am not in any city limits. However, common sense must prevail or else i could be charged with other crimes. I don't discharge weapons in the yard yet, but they do across the street in the pasture. They were bird hunting a couple days ago out there. Bird shot from a distance can still put an eye out.

As for deer, we get a few that pass through. Only evidence is tracks. I would not shoot them. I feel they are on neutral ground. Especially anywhere at night. That just ain't huntin.

[Daryl]

In West Virginia shooting hours are a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after. Also it is illegal to discharge a fire arm within 600 feet of a dwelling, within city limits, along or across a highway.

[Ed62]

It's been quite a while since I've hunted, but I think Indiana is along the lines of what Daryl posted.

Ed

[Alex Franke]

Counties and cities can regulate this over and above what the state law says... but I'd of course be certain there isn't any property (or obviously people) behind what you're shooting at that might get damaged. I think there are also time of day restrictions at the state level.

...oh, and don't do it on Sunday. That's a no-no in NC.

[crokett]

There's only woods behind what I'd be shooting at. I have no plans to actually shoot them, I was just wondering. Heck if I shot one I'd have to clean it, skin it, etc. Way too much work, I can just go the store and buy meat if I want it. As a kid I cleaned my share of rabbits. It is not something I ever really enjoyed.

[LCHIEN]

in texas the law says you can't discharge a firearm so that the projectile travels across property lines unless you have the other property owners' express permission.
also Dud's story about roping a deer was in jest, I'm sure, but that would also be illegal in Texas. you can't posses a deer unless it was legally taken with a firearm or bow and arrow according to hunting regulations. Roping protected wildlife to kill and eat later is strictly verboten.

[Alex Franke]

you can't posses a deer unless it was legally taken with a firearm or bow and arrow according to hunting regulations.

I killed a deer when I was fifteen in northern Virginia not knowing a cop was very close by. He walked up to me and said, "Son, you know it ain't deer season, don't you? You got a license?" Then he asked me if I was planning to keep it or if he could have it... I was totally shaking in my boots, and so he laid off the jokes a bit and let me calm down... The car was totaled... not worth it at all.

It is not something I ever really enjoyed.

yeah, me either...

[jackellis]

Some places, including California I believe, do not allow game to be taken while shooting from a road. In Alaska, you can scout game from the air, but then you have to land and wait 24 hours before you shoot at anything.

I've been hunting twice. Once for caribou in Alaska ("Rudolph" is now hanging in the living room, LOML's idea) and once for antelope in Montana (hanging in my office). The time outdoors was more than worth it.

Cleaning them is a PITA, but the bigger pain was packing half of Rudolph a couple miles across tundra.

My wife swears by meatloaf made with caribou. I'll probably go up again sometime and get us another one.

[Bruce Cohen]

After 2 tours in SE Asia, I don't hunt anymore. Prefer to purchase my meat at the supermarket.

Also, I now believe in killing things that have or will do something bad to me.

Bruce