Is bowhunting allowed in any east metro ‘burbs?

Do any of you know if and under what circumstances bowhunting is allowed in any east metro suburbs?

Not to rat anyone out, but I know someone who has been bow hunting the back wooded area of his property in the east metro. He’s had some nice bucks on his trail cams back there.

I said, you’re nuts. You can’t do that, bow hunting is certainly going to be banned, or at least allowed only in some areas and by special permit/lotto.

But this guy insists he called city hall and was told it’s allowed as long as he’s on his property. I think this sounds really shakey and if somebody sees him, he’s in trouble.

Are there any burbs that actually allow hunting? Even in the case where it’s just a loophole, for example they specifically ban “firearms use” but don’t specifically say you can’t discharge a bow.

Grouse

Anything in Ramsey county, the answer is NO. Washington county is a whole different story however.

Most cities have their own laws regarding hunting and can vary widely. From what I’ve seen, most Washington county suburbs will allow bowhunting on private lands in excess of 5 acres by either the landowner or by someone with written permission thats been filed with the city. With that said, a bow is not considered a firearm and ive found that cities are much more acceptable to them because if this.

Look into MBRB. Metro Bowhunters something something. I have several friends that do it, and they hunt in the city limits a couple weekends in the season. Lee Lakowsky started doing this years ago and he shot a 180″ buck and some other giants

I definitely depends on the city/township, but where I live(east metro) I am pretty sure you can hunt on your own land or with permish on a minimum of 2 acres. I have 11 acres so I am sure I am legal. I have heard that MBRB has hunted on smaller acres that this in the east metro.

Quote:

---

I have heard that MBRB has hunted on smaller acres that this in the east metro.

---

Yes they do but these are contracts negotiated with the actual city/county for specific parcels and the rules for these parcels can vary from what’s allowed on residential parcels.

Best thing to do is contact your city hall and find out what your city has in place, as every city is different.

Quote:

---

Grouse…Can’t you at the very least just look up the reg’s online for that city?

---

We looked everwhere on the city and county website. There’s absolutely nothing online that says anything about hunting. Just a general prohibition against firearms and air rifles. Nothing even mentioned about archery, target or otherwise.

I’m assuming that if it’s legal at all, it’s burried in the city ordinances somewhere. Or it’s a case where the ordinances don’t say you CAN’T bowhunt, therefore some have taken the inverse to be true.

The hunter in question was sure he heard it was on the website at some time, but has agreed that it would be a good idea to have seen and have a printed copy.

I was just trying to think this forward. It’s a great setup, but if he sticks an arrow in a deer and it runs even a modest distance, it’s going to expire on someone’s well-manicured front lawn or collapse on their patio.

That could get a little uncomfortable if the owner of said lawn proves NOT to be hunting-friendly and calls the cops, only then to find out that whatever city clerk you talked to had it wrong and hunting is illegal.

It’s not Ramsey county, so it’s at least plausable that it is legal. I’m just saying that I think it’s a good idea to know for sure and have it in writing because I’m pretty sure your average person including the cops are going to think there’s no way you can hunt deer in this particular area.

Grouse

Several years ago, I inquired with the local PD whether I could bowfish carp in a pond in a city park. They had no problem with it, but I always kept a copy of the e-mail response that I received with me just in case some hippie-type had a fit.

Quote:

---

Look into MBRB. Metro Bowhunters something something. I have several friends that do it, and they hunt in the city limits a couple weekends in the season. Lee Lakowsky started doing this years ago and he shot a 180″ buck and some other giants

---

This works great. Take the shooting test at Rapids Archery in the fall before Season starts. Then you get put in a drawing for parks in the metro that need heard reduction. The DNR sets this up. Basically if you can hit a 5 spot target at 20 yards your good to go.

That is a lesson I learned from someone here. I always keep permission slips with me when I’m hunting knew places that neighbors might question.

Woodbury allowed me to bow hunt but that was a frightening 22 years ago. I would just go to city hall and start asking people. Perhaps the cops first. I know people get crazy excited to kill those big city deer but it should be within reason and deer really shouldn’t be dropping in anyone’s lawn. To me that sounds the same as letting bear dogs chase across private property without permission. Its wrong.

Suzuki is right. Just go to the city and inquire. Just remember even the people that work at the city may provide inaccurate information. I called one city to verify the information that I found in the city codes and I was told that the complete opposite was true. The city employee cited what she assumed the law would be without looking it up. When I asked her to direct me to the ordinance she found herself enlightened. When you ask the question I suggest that you ask for the specific ordinance in writing. That way you can keep a copy on you in case the next person assumes you are doing wrong.

I have friends that do city hunts in Red Wing and Duluth, and typically, the case where a deer expires in plain-sight is rare to exceedingly rare. They do their best to stick to cover and woodlots especially when mortally wounded. Now in some locales, many of these deer are literally tame. In that case, who the heck knows?

Joel

Predictably, he called the city and got no information other than, “I think bows are like guns, you can’t use them in the city limits.” But when questioned, the clerk couldn’t give say WHERE she was getting this info.

More research is going to be needed. I suspect this might be a deal where there were special permits at one time or there is a process by which you have to register. I’m glad he’s looking into it because I’d hate to see him get into trouble based on what some reciptionist told him.

Grouse

Ultimately it only matters what the cops think so he should go to them for practical answers.