Shooting bow in my backyard?

[Roadliner]

My property abuts RT 95, where I practice shooting my bow and arrow. 10 yards from my targets is more then 150 feet to the hard surface of the highway, but only about 20 feet from the fence separating my property from state property. My neighbors are also within 500 feet but don’t think that applies. I have had local police drive by while I’m shooting and have had no issue, but can I get hit with breaking any laws by an LEO in a bad mood?

MGL 131-58

Also can a bow and arrow ever be considered a firearm?

Thanks

 

[bigjim]

its not a firearm its completely legal as far as i know i used to shoot my bow at a target like 10 ft away with a good backstop in my yard all the time bb guns too and thats in arlington with a small small yard

i dont think there is any 500ft rule for bows

 

[ptanks56]

IANAL . Some level of responsibility must be there. If your target area relies on your ability to hit targets and a miss of that target allows an arrow to cross a public road hummm. Not a chance I would take just my .02

 

[stinx]

Some towns have By-Laws that prohibit this YMMV

 

[Titan]

Be responsible about ensuring an adequate backstop, and shoot away.

 

[Broc]

Some towns have By-Laws that prohibit this YMMV

+1

also, some (not all) gun clubs will let bow hunters just go in and shoot (no need to be a member). Ask your local gun club. And a lot of them have special nights when all bow hunters get together and do some shooting.

 

[yanici]

+1

also, some (not all) gun clubs will let bow hunters just go in and shoot (no need to be a member). Ask your local gun club. And a lot of them have special nights when all bow hunters get together and do some shooting.

That would be good KARMA. Where are these clubs? It would be good info for some guys who shoot arrows. I know that my club wouldn't allow it unless you were a guest. In fact you would be criminally trespassing, since the club is posted as such. Seems to me like there could be problems with insurance coverage too, if you allowed non-members to use the archery range at will.

 

[Titan]

That would be good KARMA. Where are these clubs? It would be good info for some guys who shoot arrows. I know that my club wouldn't allow it unless you were a guest. In fact you would be criminally trespassing, since the club is posted as such. Seems to me like there could be problems with insurance coverage too, if you allowed non-members to use the archery range at will.

The Monument Beach Sportsman's club in Bourne has a terrific indoor archery range that is open to the public.

 

[yanici]

The Monument Beach Sportsman's club in Bourne has a terrific indoor archery range that is open to the public.

Is it open to the public without a member being present?

I know that a lot of clubs have trap shoots are open to the public during the trap shoot but the club is "off limits" otherwise.

 

[Titan]

Is it open to the public without a member being present?

I know that a lot of clubs have trap shoots are open to the public during the trap shoot but the club is "off limits" otherwise.

As far as I know...Yes.

I'm not a member, but took my hunter education classes there. The range is awesome, and clearly posted 'Open to the Public'.

I took that as without a member present, because normal practice is that guests are welcome with members. There'd be no reason to post it as 'open to the public' if normal rules applied.

 

[Broc]

i wont post any club names. The last thing i want is for a bunch of people to show up and said that they heard they could shoot without being a member and then they get kicked out.

but, if you PM, i can tell you of a club in the south shore that is pretty cool and reasonable when it comes to bows and arrows.

 

[salesman]

As far as I know...Yes.

I'm not a member, but took my hunter education classes there. The range is awesome, and clearly posted 'Open to the Public'.

I took that as without a member present, because normal practice is that guests are welcome with members. There'd be no reason to post it as 'open to the public' if normal rules applied.

Taken from the website:

"The Indoor Archery Range is open to members and escorted guests on a 24/7 basis. On Thursday evenings from 6:30 pm to 9 pm, the range is open to the general public for a nominal fee."

 

[MARINE96]

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/education/hed/hed_shooting_clubs.htm


Check out the link. Many people dont know about this program. I never knew until a few years ago when it was brought up at a club meeting.