Shooting near houses

[FLnick87]

How far do you have to be away from a house/propery to legally hunt?

[fishnhuntnboy]

I believe its 500ft away from any structure. Someone can correct me if im wrong

[mnhunter79]

think your right. thats what ive heard too.

[walleyehunter80]

its in the regs

[schr0563]

What page is it on? The other day I was looking for this info and couldn't find it... Thanks for the help.

[flyfisher03]

page 6

• A person may not enter legally posted land for outdoor recreation purposes without permission.

• A person may not enter agricultural land for outdoor recreation purposes without permission.

• A person may not remain on private land for outdoor recreation purposes after being told to leave.

• On another person’s private land or a public right-of-way, a person may not take a wild animal with a firearm within 500 feet of a building occupied by humans or livestock without written permission of the owner, occupant or lessee of the building.

• A person may not take a wild animal with a firearm within 500 feet of a corral containing livestock without permission.

• A person may not take a wild animal on any land where the person is prohibited from lawfully entering by this law.

• A person may not wound or kill another person’s domestic animal, destroy private property, or pass through a closed gate without returning it to the original position.

[LightningBG]

So you can hunt right next to a building if its yours or you have permission from the owner. right?

[flyfisher03]

I guess you can. I've heard stories from guys who have shot pheasants, rabbits, squirrels, and other game from the front porch.

[RumRiverRat]

500 foot rule does not apply when on water.

[bemidjibasser]

I would double check that RRR... I can't imagine that you can hunt a shore line from a boat and be closer to a house than if you were on dry land... Doesn't seem logical, but who knows...

[BoxMN]

RRR is correct. Some cities may have tougher policies (i.e. Hugo, Lino Lakes) but on the water the 500 foot rule does not apply "when hunting waterfowl". I honestly can't say where you can find that info, but ask any DNR CO and they will tell you the same, but they will also say to check local ordiances as they don't enforce those. Good luck.

[Quackaddict9]

BemidjiBasser- I had contacted a DNR about this rule applying on water and they told me it was legal to hunt on shore on water of course because no one owns it and the 500 foot does not apply. Needless I did that and get chewed on by a neighbor and told him I was perfectly legal and talked to the DNR about this prior hunting it. He called the CO and talked to me and did not get ticketed or anything. Just suggested me to talk to neighbors before hunting it, well this guy is old and think the lake is his so $#@! him!

[bemidjibasser]

Good to know I guess. I guess I would rather not hunt right in front of someone's house out of common courtesy, as I would not want someone to hunt infront of my house...

[Quackaddict9]

Yeah I guess so...I have not been out there since. (2007) It just did not feel like hunting out there with some houses surrounding but what can they do if someone random they don't know was sitting in the patch of the reeds 50 yds away from shore.

[jentz]

Well I had two young guys ticketed by the CO.They were less than 200 ft and were shooting at coot between them and my house,Shot dinged my window.Called the sheriff he held them till the CO got here.They were in a boat and the ticket was for the 500 ft rule,and reckless discharge of firearm.This is on a public lake backwater slough.

[Finlander]

Being on public water has nothing to do with the 500' rule. 500' is 500' feet no matter where you are. The regs don't make an exception anywhere with refernce to water/550' rule. 500' = 166.66 yards, so imagine just a little over a football field and one half and give another 50 yards or 2 football fields total for good measure and you'll be good to go!

[Quackaddict9]

Well I had two young guys ticketed by the CO.They were less than 200 ft and were shooting at coot between them and my house,Shot dinged my window.Called the sheriff he held them till the CO got here.They were in a boat and the ticket was for the 500 ft rule,and reckless discharge of firearm.This is on a public lake backwater slough.

Well I did not get ticketed by the CO that talked to me, I was no further than 75 yards from his house. CO said I did nothing wrong just suggested me talking to the neighbor letting him know I will be out. I guess it depends who you run into for COs.

[Quackaddict9]

an email that I received from the DNR

"The Bemidji state Game Refuge at its nearest point to X Lake is almost 2 miles (see attached map). Thus you are correct that the Bemidji State Game regulations do not apply to any part of X Lake and is open to waterfowl hunting with all season regulations applying. AS long as you are in the public water there are no distance requirements to occupied structures unless you are on their property."

[bemidjibasser]

Quack-

Who was it that sent you that from the DNR? Just for future reference if needed. Thanks.