Target practice on state land during deer season.

[Criticalt]

A friend of mine lives on the edge of state land in Chautauqua Co. Target practice IS allowed on the state land because there are NO signs prohibiting it.
He asked me if he was allowed to target practice and sight in rifles and handguns during deer season, Oct 1-Dec11?
I looked through DEC website and hunting regulations and found nothing prohibiting it.
Possibly "harrasing" deer but he would be in one place, with obvious targets set up.
Soooooo, do any of you know?

 

[warrendee]

A friend of mine lives on the edge of state land in Chautauqua Co. Target practice IS allowed on the state land because there are NO signs prohibiting it.
He asked me if he was allowed to target practice and sight in rifles and handguns during deer season, Oct 1-Dec11?
I looked through DEC website and hunting regulations and found nothing prohibiting it.
Possibly "harrasing" deer but he would be in one place, with obvious targets set up.
Soooooo, do any of you know?

I wouldn't suggest going out in the woods, blasting rounds during deer season when the woods are filled with guys with guns. Bad juju there

 

[Criticalt]

I wouldn't suggest going out in the woods, blasting rounds during deer season when the woods are filled with guys with guns. Bad juju there

Thats kinda what I told him but he wanted to know if it was illegal. Its his thinking that the state lands are as much his as anyones and he doesnt care about juju.

This bit of state land is only 400 acres and lots of wetland. In 25 years hes never seen a single hunter on this land, its really not great hunting land.
Hes just bitter because he owns 1/2 acre that is connected to this 400 acres of state land.
I told him to call DEC, we will see what they say.

On a side note, I have 600 acres that he can come shoot on during all BUT regular deer season or until I get my tags filled. He just hates driving 10 miles when there is 400 acres outside his door. Also, he just inherited his fathers gun collection of 20 plus guns.

 

[Greywolf224]

Normally during hunting season target practice out on state land is a no-no for 2 reasons.

1. Respect other hunters hunting
2. Hunters may be walking around where they normally dont during non hunting season.

Lastly I dont think one rule of law covers every public land tract in NY. There are different land tract types that NYS owns that is considered State Land with each have different firearms laws. Simplest is to call your local DEC to find out. Because if you are charged, more than likely your local DEC will be the one doing the charging.

 

[SubOhm]

there are dec regulations pertaining to the posession of rifles during deer season.
from dec webpage:

During the open season for deer, it is illegal to:

• possess shotgun shells loaded with slug or ball, unless holding a valid license or permit to take deer or bear, or
• possess a rifle larger than a .22 rimfire (muzzleloading rifles excepted) in areas where rifles are banned for taking deer.

In Westchester County and on Long Island it is illegal to use any rifle or crossbow for hunting, or to carry one afield.

In the Northern Zone it is illegal to carry a rifle larger than .22 rimfire or a shotgun loaded with slug, ball or buckshot afield if accompanied by a dog, except when coyote hunting under permit from the local Environmental Conservation Officer.

Possession of handguns in New York State requires a NYS Pistol Permit. New York does not recognize permits issued by other states.

 

[MilesTeg]

I agree ask the local DEC officer. Make sure you have a pen and paper ready if he states any laws that could effect you write it down. I like to ask law enforcement for more of a direction then research the law myself and decide what to do from there.

As stated above, I think where the trouble would be is being accused of hunting. This is the same craziness that doesn't allow you to have a long arm ready to go in your car.

 

[Criticalt]

Ok, so my buddy got a response from the DEC. On a side note, hes been to my house twice this week so no need for state land anyways. Heres the email he got.

"Target shooting is allowed in this area for the purpose of sighting in any legal weapon than can be used on game during the hunting seasons. For example, a person can sight in a rifle on State lands for the purpose of deer hunting as long as there is no damage to trees, shrubs or the environment. Any target used must be non-breakable(no glass, clay pigeons, exploding targets, etc...) and must be removed when the sighting in process is complete. It is preferred that a solid backstop such as an embankment in the gravel pit be used. All applicable laws must be followed including no discharging of a weapon within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling or shooting down or across trails or roads."

 

[Acer-m14]

I see it as this .. if it hunting season .. your to late .. be respectful to the other hunter .. find a gun range please .. I would do the same ..

 

[Blimey]

Ok, so my buddy got a response from the DEC. On a side note, hes been to my house twice this week so no need for state land anyways. Heres the email he got.

"Target shooting is allowed in this area for the purpose of sighting in any legal weapon than can be used on game during the hunting seasons. For example, a person can sight in a rifle on State lands for the purpose of deer hunting as long as there is no damage to trees, shrubs or the environment. Any target used must be non-breakable(no glass, clay pigeons, exploding targets, etc...) and must be removed when the sighting in process is complete. It is preferred that a solid backstop such as an embankment in the gravel pit be used. All applicable laws must be followed including no discharging of a weapon within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling or shooting down or across trails or roads."

That doesn't exactly answer your original question, though a couple of posts up does. "open deer season" starts on the 19th. Currently its bow. My understanding is you could go and sight it in now but come the 19th if you are in the woods you need to have a permit, else you could be considered hunting illegally.

As for the DEC thing here about "sighting in", as if you can only do it on a limited basis, I think he made that up. I got this email from a guy at DEC in my region 1-2 years ago. This is verbatim:

Target shooting is allowed as long as the shooter brings portable targets, cleans up spent casings and papers. And does not injure live trees by nailing targets on them and then shooting them.

Nothing about sighting in. I am guessing your friend's officer is just hoping people don't take an AR and blast out 200 rounds for fun. But, I doubt there is actually a law against that.

 

[Blimey]

I see it as this .. if it hunting season .. your to late .. be respectful to the other hunter .. find a gun range please .. I would do the same ..

I agree with this IF there are indeed any hunters ever around. I'd be mighty pissed if I were in a stand waiting for deer and gun shots were going off a couple hundred yards away. In fact last night at 5pm I was exactly that and heard five shots in quick succession. The saving grace is that it is a fairly loud high traffic area anyway, but any deer in the area would surely have been spooked.

 

[Criticalt]

That doesn't exactly answer your original question, though a couple of posts up does. "open deer season" starts on the 19th. Currently its bow. My understanding is you could go and sight it in now but come the 19th if you are in the woods you need to have a permit, else you could be considered hunting illegally.

As for the DEC thing here about "sighting in", as if you can only do it on a limited basis, I think he made that up. I got this email from a guy at DEC in my region 1-2 years ago. This is verbatim:



Nothing about sighting in. I am guessing your friend's officer is just hoping people don't take an AR and blast out 200 rounds for fun. But, I doubt there is actually a law against that.

Our take was you are allowed to target practice at anytime. I believe regular season is covered in the written law. As long as you have a hunting licence, you can carry and shoot any gun that is legal during that season, like a rifle, shotgun or pistol, whether hunting or not.
The quetion to the DEC officer asked specifically about right now, BOW season.
On a side note, the piece of land my buddy was specifically asking about is a very tiny 400 acre piece of overgrown wetland with one place to park, right in front of my friends house. In 2 decades hes never seen a hunter on the land. The 400 acre land is surrouned by private farms with little hunting. If it was a heavily used hunting area, he would not have considered using it. He owns like 2 acres right next to this land, so he wss going to just use a small slice because 2 acres isnt much. His thought was that he shoots pistols on his 2 acres, so the gun shooting is there, whats another 100 feet.
Anyways, hes been here a vouple times to our 400 yard range with table and bench.
Our area has thousands of acres of public hunting that is very little used these days, its kind of sad, these lands used to be used alot, now it sits quiet. Makes it easy for anyone that wants them to get 2 doe tags though.