Michigan Hunting Rules

[Mrwurm]

Around this time of year, hunters can be seen walking the property behind my house. They seem to take lots of shots at things that I cannot see. I actually think they shoot at anything that moves. (I'm not a hunter)

These guys are shooting into the brush in a direction that is away from my house, but they are only about 100 ft from my house when they shoot. It seems a bit too close for my comfort. What are the rules?

(sometimes they have dogs with them, sometimes they don't. They are always walking and shooting.)

 

[AndyM]

Jerry, I found this on the Michigan DNR web page --

"Safety zones are all areas within 150 yards of an occupied building, house, cabin, or any barn or other building used in a farm operation. No person, including archery and crossbow hunters, may hunt or discharge a firearm, crossbow or bow in a safety zone, or shoot at any wild animal or wild bird within a safety zone, without the written permission of the owner or occupant of such safety zone. The safety zone applies to hunting only. It does not apply to indoor or outdoor shooting ranges, target shooting, law enforcement activities or the discharge of firearms, crossbows or bows for any non-hunting purpose."

Just for your own information, I find it interesting to educate one's self on the rest of the rules on their web page. It's good info to know, even if you're not a hunter.

 

[ronjhall]

Jerry

Seems to me that the rule is no shooting within 300’ of a home.

In my area of Southeastern Michigan only Shot Guns or Bows are allowed. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

The rule that limits most hunters here is all hunters must have written permission to hunt on private land. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Mrwurm]

Thanks to all. The link to the web page was quite handy. They plan to build homes adjacent to my lot next year, so this is the last year I will have to worry about careless hunters. But, of course, I'll have new neighbors. That's always good or bad.

 

[F350Lawman]

These guys are shooting into the brush in a direction that is away from my house, but they are only about 100 ft from my house when they shoot. It seems a bit too close for my comfort. What are the rules?

That is a problem, sooner or later one of them will take a folow-up shot or get turned around and then it is only a matter of time before you are repairing bullet holes in your siding or worse. Shooting within 100ft of someone else's house is insane.

P.S. Tomorrow morning is opening day near me, I will surely be chasing some inconsiderate knucklehead off of my property by breakfast time. I have my tractor hooked up to the manure wagon and at dawn I will be dumping it in my woods where I am certain not to be alone. Hopefully the ain't huntin' green deeres. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[dmccarty]

Jerry,

Call up your state WildLife/Game Officers and see what they can
do. Check or ask to see if it is legal to be hunting deer with dogs.

Is the land that the "hunters" are using posted?

I would hope the Wildlife officers would help solve your problem
since its such an obvious safety issue.

This last week we have had two hunters shot by mistake. One
was a teenage who was shot and killed by his friend. They
went hunting with four teenagers, split into two groups, and
the dead boy went to the other pair to fetch a different round.
On the way back to his partner, his friend shot with out seeing
what he was shooting. Killed the boy instantly. Took a couple
of days for the teenagers to fess up to what happened. None
of the boys where wearing hunter orange.

The other hunter was shot by a stranger. The strangers
dropped the wounded man off at a store and left......

Later,
Dan McCarty