Posted: 10/29/2005 5:16:27 PM EDT
| Does anyone out there know what the legalities of constructing a private outdoor shooting range are? I live in western Pennsylvania and have about an 2 acres of property behind the house. Any info on building a private indoor range would help too. |
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In Michigan, you cannot hunt within 450 feet of an occupied dwelling without permission of the owner. You or the game may not be within that 450 feet zone. The operative word is hunt. Target shooting is covered under state and local laws. We have a local family that bought a piece of property outside of town and built a 100 yard range. He even dug out the hill to provide a safer backstop. The neighbors complained because of the noise, safety of their children, scaring the horses, etc. He is within the law, no action taken. End result, if you dont want to listen to gunfire, move into town. 
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Yea I choose to store all my deer corn by the targets FREE
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Are you inside the city limits? Then you are pretty much out of luck. I think your area would have to be zoned correctly to have a range. We have ranges inside the city limits here in Iowa, but they are not in residential zoned areas (although there are houses within a block). Ours are usually located near an airport. If you are outside the city limits, I would get a second opinion, or ask which statute prevents such a thing. It seems doubtful to me they could prohibit that on private land outside the city. |
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From the PA Game Commission website under "Arms and Ammunition" - "Shooting at Random During turkey season, it is unlawful to shoot at any target other than legal game. Target shooting is lawful only when done: (1) on property owned by the shooter or by a guest of the property owner; (2) within 200 yards of a camp or headquarters where the shooter is either quartered or an invited guest; (3) at an established shooting range. The target must be protected by a natural or artificial barrier so that the bullet or arrow cannot travel more than 15 yards beyond the target." Of course, your local guberment may have additional laws to protect you. |
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