Outdoor target practice laws

[amtilton17]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone knew the laws regarding firing a handgun on your own land and knew where I could look up the laws. I have a friend who has neighbors on either side, relatively close, but a great deal of woods, which are unowned, directly the rear of his property. I was wondering if it is legal to do some target practice into those woods? Thanks.

 

[peter nap]

Check the zoning laws for that area. It varies.

 

[coondog22554]

Hey guys,

... but a great deal of woods, which are unowned, ....

Free land???

 

[67GT390FB]

Free land???

I NOTICED THAT TOO. Believe me somebody owns that land possibly even a local state or fed gov. It is I repeat it is not your new private park. Every year we have this problem with our huntclub properties.

Now as to shooting if you stay on your property and build a back stop and your local ordinaces do not prohibit disharge of a firearm in your type of zoning then you should be ok.

 

[TFred]

Free land???

Ha ha, yeah, that's what I noticed... has to belong to either somebody or the government!

Check to see if the jurisdiction has an on-line GIS system, that may provide the answer to who owns it.

TFred

 

[skidmark]

Check Muni-Code here: http://www.municode.com/resources/online Library.asp

You should be able to find the city/county rules fairly easily.

stay safe.

 

[Grapeshot]

----snip---- directly the rear of his property. I was wondering if it is legal to do some target practice into those woods? Thanks.

All other considerations aside, this would seriously violate one of the basic rules of gun safety - Know your backstop - what is beyond your target?
http://www.nrahq.org/education/guide.asp!

"Shooting into the woods" would disregard the potential unintended consequences of such action. Is there a hiker there for example. Each of us are responsible for where our shots go - modern ammunition can travel a great distance with destructive results. A safe backstop guarantees that no one will get hurt.

 

[Baked on Grease]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone knew the laws regarding firing a handgun on your own land and knew where I could look up the laws. I have a friend who has neighbors on either side, relatively close, but a great deal of woods, which are unowned, directly the rear of his property. I was wondering if it is legal to do some target practice into those woods? Thanks.

IANAL, but from my understanding if you can garuntee that no bullets cross into someone elses property, you're ok. That means have a really good backstop and don't aim high. Recomend not shooting towards housing should go without saying.

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[skidmark]

IANAL, but from my understanding if you can garuntee that no bullets cross into someone elses property, you're ok. That means have a really good backstop and don't aim high. Recomend not shooting towards housing should go without saying.

Sent using tapatalk

It's ^^ a trap!

Some counties have laws on the books restricting discharge of firearms regardless of "garunteeing" no bullets cross property lines and all the other safety things you might think of. That's why I referred the OP to MuniLaw. We still don't know where he's from, but are probably all presuming it's somewhere in Virginia. As it could just as easily be deepest darkest NOVA as it could be Far Southwest, giving out general pronouncements carries some danger. Better the OP does his due dilligence and confirms things.

stay safe.