Archery Practice

Demonical

Demonical

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Whitecourt, Alberta
Can I shoot my bow in my back yard (legally)?

I bought a bag to practice with field points and a foam block to shoot broadheads into. I want to shoot in my back yard, I've got up to 40 yards, but it's more to work on form then anything. I haven't bothered with the thing for 6-8 years...
 
Demonical said:
Can I shoot my bow in my back yard (legally)?

I bought a bag to practice with field points and a foam block to shoot broadheads into. I want to shoot in my back yard, I've got up to 40 yards, but it's more to work on form then anything. I haven't bothered with the thing for 6-8 years...
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Check your municipal bylaws .. in some jurisdictions inside city limits it is illegal to shot anything that can fire a projectile.
 
Guy JR said:
If you have room and a safe back stop do it. If you have a fence no one will see you anyhow.
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This could be bad advice if the by-laws are against this & you do not have good relations with your neighbor. The audible "thwack" of arrows striking the target are virtually unmistakeable within hearing range. Being unseen, does not guarantee secrecy.
 
Whats the worst that could happen? The police telling you to stop. If your in-laws hate you that much to screw you over, you have bigger and more inportant issues to deal with than where to shoot your bow. The "thwack" is only unmistakeable if your an archer and us archers dont screw other archers.
 
I do it all the time. Neighbors even see me. But then again I clear their drive ways in the winter and trim their grass the odd time in the summer. It's all about relationships!
 
I have heard that some municipalities consider bows to be firearms in relation to their dischage laws.

BUT, we are in Alberta. Not gonna happen here.
 
Like Bentleg said, check your municipal bylaws. If the bylaws say you can't, and are comfortable with your neighbours, then by all means go ahead. Just remember that you are doing something that can get you into some trouble if you get caught. As long as the neighbours are cool with it, you should be ok. You will only get caught if the neighbours rat. I shoot my bow in the basement. I have a pretty good relationship with the neighbours, but the less they know, the better. Mind you I can't shoot anywhere near 40 yards down there, but it's better than nothing.
 
"...Whats the worst that could happen?..." You get arrested, charged and lose all your firearms and your PAL. Then get to pay a huge fine.
"...some municipalities consider bows to be firearms in relation to their discharge laws..." Yep.
"...haven't bothered with the thing for 6-8 years..." Get some upper body toning excercise. And start slow.
 
I found working out with a 70 pound boxing practice heavy bag, using 16 ounce Everlast gloves complete with cotton hand wraps, a very very good muscle toner for archery practice.
An added benefit, those same muscle groups gain strength & endurance for handgun, or offhand rifle practice.
(It's easy to hurt your back OR hurt your wrist, if you dont strike right, and ensure your gloves have wrist support!)

My two bits........
 
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I went to the CFC home page and read FAQs there. There is nothing there that deals with bow & arrows, only crossbows.

I believe I have to get a copy of the Town of Whitecourt Bylaws and read those.

From all the different opinions I've found on this subject, unless it is specifically mentioned in the town statutes, there may be no law against shooting the bow in my backyard. I do have a high fence, with a private yard.
I know that I can shoot my bow there without bothering people because I've done it in the past.

Anyway, the point of this was to find out if it's legal.

I'm gonna contact Town of Whitecourt and try to get a copy of the bylaws.
 
^ Yep. Last time I went bow hunting, I called in a young bull moose, up on Whitecourt Mtn and shot him. Memorable day. I brought the moose outta the bush, whole by myself in a snow storm. No pics exist.

That was something like 6-7 years ago, I've kinda lost track actually.

Haven't bow hunted since.
 
"...have to get a copy of the Town of Whitecourt Bylaws..." They might be on-line. A lot of municipalities do that these days. At least they do here in Ontario. Otherwise a phone call to the town office will do nicely. Talk to the by-law enforcement guys, not the clerks. I'd be very surprised if it's an issue in Whitecourt though.
"...Haven't bow hunted since..." Not surprising. Just recovering from that now? snicker.
Where do you shoot a moose? Close to the road.
 
^ Oh it's not because of the effort. I'm used to doing stuff like that. I've had 2 young kids at home the last number of years. They are a full time job and limit my time in the bush. I've always considered bow hunting a luxury past-time, and I'd way rather hunt Oct-Nov time period with the rifle.

What this is, is an opportunity to bow hunt early season elk-mule deer, that has come up since I got drawn for antlered mule deer this year. :)
 
Even if you cant find that its illegal, if you were to have an accident, even with no injuries, you would still be using a dangerous weapon (I know I know...) in town where a court could make very plausible case of it being irresponsible. Just saying, I would be very very weary...
 
1st-check the bylaws
2nd-your cops will differ, but if an arrow leaves your property, charges of endangering the public could be laid
3rd-your cops will differ, but if they get enough complaints, charges of disturbing the peace could be laid

I shoot in my backyard and have no problems doing so... but this is just a friendly heads up to know what you may be faced with. I don't agree with it, but that's what could happen. I know the local cops and the local bylaw enforcement officer and that's where this information has come from
 
I read through the town bylaws. There is nothing in there that specifically deals with this. So I think I'm good there.

Second is I've got neighbours on each side of me that I'm friends with. They both have young kids; too small to be able to open the gates into my yard once I latch them. So I think I'm good there.

Third, I set up my butt in a spot, where it's impossible for anybody to walk into my line of fire, without seeing me or me seeing them. I have a measured 25 yards there to shoot. I could set up for longer shots, but then they'd be alongside the house, where the risk would be that people could inadvertently enter the shooting line. I'm shooting at my storage shed, which acts as a backstop if an arrow was off target. So I think I'm good to go.
 
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