Backyard shooting, legalities and pragmatics.

[phillip]

My intent in starting this thread is to get a pretty broad ranging conversation going about the topic.

Is it legal to backyard shoot where you live? No. But that doesn't stop me and I've been doing it for about 25 years.

How do you know? It's Southern California. Damned near everything is illegal here.

How did you find out? I live in this hellhole, so I'm aware of the restrictions.

Where does the line between being a good neighbor and being strictly legal get drawn? It's just plain common sense that if you shoot in your backyard, especially in a restrictive environment, that you not have noisy rifles or loud clangy backstops. Make sure you're not going to have lead splatter or pellets bouncing into your neighbor's yard. Keep everything quiet and even go so far as to set up a blind so others can't peer over a fence and see you. Remember, most people will have no idea of what you're doing.

There's safe targets and then there's backstops. If you shoot in your backyard what do you do for the latter? I use a target butt filled with rubber mulch for most of my more powerful PCP rifles. It's very quiet and it contains the lead. Really, the noisiest thing is the pellet hitting the cardboard that I tape my targets to. Again, I never shoot at steel targets - for a couple of reasons; A) they're too loud, and B) I don't want lead fragments all over my yard. Also, don't leave your targets out for everyone to see. If someone sees a bullseye target with a bunch of holes in it, it won't take a rocket scientist to figure out what's going on.

Have you ever had a neighbor complain even where you are safe and legal? Never. Because they don't know. Never, ever, tell your neighbors what you're doing and you shouldn't have any problems.

Did you talk with your neighbors before setting up your backyard range? Absolutely not.

If you limit yourself caliber/fps/fpe wise, how did you come up with those heuristics? I'll shoot .177, .22, and .30, though I mostly try to shoot the .30 rifles at a regular rifle range. Mainly because they're just a bit noisier. The smaller calibers are much quieter and less powerful.

 

[2L8]

@Larcat​

Great topic my friend.
Denver CO.
Backyard shooting is legal with limitation being "projectiles must remain within your property line". Simple and very "Wild West", no restrictions (just your neighbors being pissed off and calling the Police). No complaints here by me. Targets as well as "listed pests" are full on legit. Firearms as well as any projectile shooting weapon are included in the City Statute. Trapping and relocating have more restrictions than elimination by means of a projectile. Got to give Denver some Love here

Patrick

 

[Trucker3573]

I live in the country so it is perfectly legal. No neighbors within 200 yards. My backstop is a 20 acre field.

 

[N2 Shooter]

It is not legal to shoot airguns in my city in the least.

• No paper punching.
• No pest control.
• No harvest of legal game with a valid hunting license (which I do have).
• No nothing.

With that said, I don't think my local law enforcement department can care less about me killing the 33 groundhogs and a few pest squirrels this year. They are all too preoccupied with fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, human trafficking, and the all too common shooting/murder. If I do have an issue, hopefully some of the police I know cut me some slack. If not, I'll claim ignorance, show my hunting license, and see what happens.

All my neighbors know what I am doing, and they encourage it. Groundhogs have caused extreme damage in the area where my rental units are, and I'm just glad they are not prevalent where I live, because how my residence is situated don't leave me any airgunning options.

 

[Tony D’Agostino]

Anyone familiar with the local ordinances about airguns in Boca Raton, Florida?

 

[Firewalker]

I can shoot full auto PBs where I live with no problems.

 

[Spartan]

Anyone familiar with the local ordinances about airguns in Boca Raton, Florida?

Old thread, but the best thing for you to do is email whatever law enforcement org has jurisdiction over your area. Ask them. Don't trust answers from random people on an internet forum. Emailing is better than calling because it gives you a written record. Google will give you a website for them. Their contact email will be somewhere on their website.

Edit: Here, I made it even easier for you. This is the contact email the Boca Raton PD list on their website: [email protected]

According to the site, the Chief's name is Michele and her pic paints her as a sassy brunette ready for some fun in the sun when she's not busting bad guys.

 

[.20calguy]

I don't shoot in the back yard I shoot in the front yard.
The neighbors shoot powder burners.
My back stops have been tested with 22LR, they're large, reflect down, and are concealed from veiw.
I stand down if anyone comes in or out of mine or the neighbors driveway.
Two out of my four neighbors have come and joined me in a shoot.

 

[Tony D’Agostino]

Old thread, but the best thing for you to do is email whatever law enforcement org has jurisdiction over your area. Ask them. Don't trust answers from random people on an internet forum. Emailing is better than calling because it gives you a written record. Google will give you a website for them. Their contact email will be somewhere on their website.

Edit: Here, I made it even easier for you. This is the contact email the Boca Raton PD list on their website: [email protected]

According to the site, the Chief's name is Michele and her pic paints her as a sassy brunette ready for some fun in the sun when she's not busting bad guys.

View attachment 474257

Sounds like good advice. I’ll follow up. Thks