Target shooting question – firearms. Distance from building?

Is it MN law for target shooting that you must be at least 500′ from a building?

I found this in the humting regulation and restriction laws. but was sure if this rule applies for any firearm discharge or just while hunting.

Subd. 7.Use of firearms and taking in certain areas. (a) Unless otherwise provided by law, a person may not discharge a firearm within 500 feet of a building occupied by a human or livestock without the written permission of the owner, occupant, or lessee:
(1) on another person’s private land, if the land is not a licensed shooting preserve; or
(2) on a public road right-of-way.

Who’s building is it? Anyone living there? Any livestock there?

It’s an occupied building….not the shooters property.

From everything I can find in Firearm ordinances, it seems looks like state law for target shooting unless you have approval from the land owner.

The township I live in is adding a firearm ordinance and I am trying to verify some of the details they are looking to make law in the township. I was always aware of the 500′ rule for hunting, I just wasn’t sure if that applied to all discharge of firearms including target practice.

I dont see how its a problem. I wouldnt even think twice about shooting next to or out of my house if safe and in a legal area.

That’s the question, what is a legal area based on state law. Do you need to be 500′ from an occupied building or have permission if closed to target shoot?

I would think that if it was your property and building, occupied or otherwise, unless the building is leased or rented for occupancy, you’d be fine. If you obtain permission to shoot on someone else’s property and near buildings that are not inhabited by persons other than the owner’s family you should be fine. I have farm sites where I shoot pigeons right next to the barn and certainly not 500 feet from the house, but I have explicit permission to do what I am doing. Now if you are on one property with permission that adjoins another where you do not have permission you would have to allow for that 500 foot before shooting if any building falls within the 500 feet.

When I hunted pheasants big time I always got permission. As soon as I had permission I’d go to the neighboring property and let them know that we were going to be hunting and would ask if anyone on their side was going to be in the field so we’d be aware of where they were. Half the time the same people would say just go ahead and hunt if you want and many times these properties were posted. People are generally pretty decent if you let them know what you are doing.

I think the key word here is “shooting.” I don’t think it matters why. Talk to the person who lives there.

So, I live on 9 acres and my next door neighbor is 150′ from my house. Can I legally discharge a firearm from my patio without obtaining consent during non-hunting season?

This post is not a matter of an actual issue I am having, I am trying to find out what the legal aspect is to this question as the township I live in is adding a firearm ordinance and I don’t know if it’s more restrictive than state law. I will probably have to bring it up with them to find out from their lawyer.

311hemi wrote:

So, I live on 9 acres and my next door neighbor is 150′ from my house. Can I legally discharge a firearm from my patio without obtaining consent during non-hunting season?

This post is not a matter of an actual issue I am having, I am trying to find out what the legal aspect is to this question as the township I live in is adding a firearm ordinance and I don’t know if it’s more restrictive than state law. I will probably have to bring it up with them to find out from their lawyer.

My read on this has always been that the 500 foot rule is a general prohibition and it applies across the board. To me it deals with any firearms discharge, so it’s not specifically linked weather or not hunting is the purpose.

The law references “Unless otherwise provided by law…” which makes me think that some local bodies have laws that either extend or reduce this distance. I also suspect that this clause provides for gun clubs and shooting ranges to prevent people from using this 500 foot rule to close them down.

In your situation I think you almost certainly need permission and you’ll need to find out what the new law says because it could be a blanket ban or have even more restrictions.

Grouse

I called the Anoka country sheriff yesterday and they refereed me to the DNR regs. I called the local conservation officer and he said the 500′ only applies within the tresspass laws and only during hunting season (which I still question). Anyways, I emailed the DNR to get an answer in writing….I will see if I hear back from them.

State law says the following:

Subd. 7.Use of firearms and taking in certain areas.

(a) Unless otherwise provided by law, a person may not discharge a firearm within 500 feet of a building occupied by a human or livestock without the written permission of the owner, occupant, or lessee:

(1) on another person’s private land, if the land is not a licensed shooting preserve; or

(2) on a public road right-of-way.

suzuki wrote:

I dont see how its a problem. I wouldnt even think twice about shooting next to or out of my house if safe and in a legal area.

I’m pretty tough on the little red squirrel population that hangs out in my back yard. Works like a charm out the bsmt slider Just to be clear tho, the closest neighbors north and south of me are a good quarter mile and nobody for miles out back. As for the reason for my vengence, I still have keepsakes of the plastic roof vents the little criminals chewed thru to get into the garage while we were gone one winter. Mass amounts of damage jerr

Talked with a dnr officer again. He said the 500′ rule does not apply to discharging a firearm on your own property. It only applies if your are on a property you don’t own.

.22 subsonic out of the sliding door at the cabin works nicely too.

You’re fine so long as they don’t have horses or other livestock. There is a Minnesota law prohibiting shooting within 500 feet of a livestock corral or barn whether or not you are hunting.

If you are shooting 150 feet from someone else’s house, you should probably make sure they are OK with it.