How Far Away From A House To Hunt

Location:
FISH AND GAME;

HUNTING Distance FROM OCCUPIED BUILDINGS

By: Janet Kaminski Leduc, Senior Legislative Chaser

Issues When did Connecticut prefer its ban on hunting inside 500 feet of an occupied edifice, and was there any public comment about it? What do New York and the other New England states require for hunting distance from an occupied building?

SUMMARY

Language nigh discharging hunting devices inside sure distances from buildings entered Connecticut statute in 1955 (PA 535). The human activity authorized the State Board of Fisheries and Game to adopt hunting regulations that could, amongst other things, prohibit discharging firearms and other hunting devices within specified distances of buildings ( CGS � 26-66 ).

The board adopted regulations on August 15, 1955 that prohibited hunting, discharging firearms, or carrying loaded firearms within 500 feet of a building (one) occupied by people or domestic animals or (2) used to store flammable or combustible material. They also prohibited discharging a firearm toward a person, edifice, or domestic animal when within range.

The hunting regulations were published in the Connecticut Constabulary Periodical on September 27, 1955. While they have been amended numerous times since 1955, they notwithstanding incorporate the 500-foot requirement (come across side box).

According to the legislative history of the 1955 human action, there was no public comment nigh the hunting distance from buildings requirement. State agencies are the repository of records, including public comments, for proposed regulations from that era. The Legislative Library contacted the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for historical records well-nigh the original regulations. Should DEEP provide any public annotate related to the 1955 regulation, we will update this report.

New York and the other New England states each legislate hunting distance from occupied buildings, but in varying means. In general, all but Vermont prohibit hunting inside a specified distance from occupied buildings: Maine – 100 yards; Massachusetts – 500 feet; New Hampshire – 300 feet; New York – 500 feet (firearm), 250 anxiety (crossbow), or 150 feet (long bow); and Rhode Island – 500 feet. Vermont authorizes property owners to constitute a 500-foot no hunting safety zone around occupied buildings.

SELECTED STATES

Maine

In Maine, it is mostly unlawful to discharge a firearm or crossbow, or cause a projectile to pass, within 100 yards of a building or residential abode without permission from the possessor, or in the possessor ' due south absenteeism, an adult occupant (Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, � 11209). Under the law, "building" means any residential, commercial, retail, educational, religious, or farm construction designed to exist occupied by people or domestic animals or used to shelter machines or harvested crops. "Projectile" includes a bullet, pellet, shot, shell, brawl, commodities, or other object propelled or launched from a firearm or crossbow.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts law prohibits a person from possessing a loaded firearm or hunting by any ways on another person ' s land inside 500 anxiety of a dwelling in use, unless immune by the dwelling ' s owner or occupant (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 131, � 58).

New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, it is illegal to discharge a firearm or shoot with a bow and pointer or crossbow and bolt within 300 feet of a permanently occupied dwelling without permission from the (1) dwelling ' s owner or occupant or (2) possessor of the land on which the person is situated (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. � 207:3-a).

New York

New York law by and large prohibits anyone from discharging a firearm within 500 feet, a crossbow within 250 feet, or a long bow within 150 anxiety from an occupied or used domicile house, farm building, or farm construction; school building; school playground; public structure; or occupied factory or church. The ban does non apply to an owner or lessee of a dwelling house, immediate family members, or employees or guests acting with the consent of the owner or lessee (N.Y. Envtl. Conserv. Law � eleven-0931).

Rhode Island

Rhode Island police force prohibits anyone, while hunting or pursuing wild birds or animals, from discharging a firearm or other deadly weapon inside 500 anxiety of any (1) dwelling house, residence, or other building occupied by human beings or (2) barn, stable, or other edifice used in connection with them, without the owner ' s or tenant ' s permission (R.I. Gen. Laws � xx-13-7).

Vermont

In Vermont, hunting on individual holding is generally allowed unless the property is properly posted to prohibit it. The law allows a property owner to constitute a 500-foot condom zone effectually an occupied home, residence, barn, stable, or other building past posting signs provided by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. The signs must (1) contain the words "safety zone, shooting prohibited" and (2) be placed at each corner of the belongings and no more than than 200 anxiety apart. A person cannot discharge a firearm or take a wild animal from inside a prophylactic zone without the owner ' s or occupant ' southward accelerate permission (Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. x, � 4710).

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Source: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2014/rpt/2014-R-0239.htm

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