So does anyone else live in the burb's and shoot in the backyard? The two story to the North of me has been vacant for three years and I've always shot toward that house. Pretty safe, if I did happen to put one over the fence it would hit the brick side of the two story and go no where else. Well today, I see someone is moving in and they will easily see me shooting in the back yard wonder what I do now?? They look like the type to freak out over something like this ...

Is it even legal?

About 15 years ago, I lived in Irving. To practice, I would go to a City park that was on the edge of town. There was a place where I could set up that had a big open field behind it so I could make sure no one got behind the target. If there was anyone else in that portion of the park, I wouldn't set up. There weren't any picnic tables on that end so it was usually deserted. I used to practice there several times a week. The Irving Police would cruise through pretty often and they'd always stop and watch me shoot for a while. In all the times they stopped, they never once called me over to the car or told me to stop. After a bit, they'd move on.

That might not work anywhere else in the Universe but it used to work in south Irving.

I shoot in the back yard all the time. I just hit the lil black dot on the target every time so I don't have to worry!

I shoot in my backyard every week. I can shoot 20 yards wide and 33 yards long. I shoot at several open spaces in our subdivision for 40-70 yard shots. Had a local LEO threaten to write me a ticket one day for "discharging a weapon in the city limits". I told him to go ahead, but suggested that he read the current city ord 1st....which I gladly pulled a copy out of my backpack that I had printed off of the web. The ord does not refer to "weapons". It only mentions guns; rifle, pistol, shotgun, pellet, and starter guns. Nothing about bows. I went back to shooting while he read the ord.

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I shoot in my backyard every week. I can shoot 20 yards wide and 33 yards long. I shoot at several open spaces in our subdivision for 40-70 yard shots. Had a local LEO threaten to write me a ticket one day for "discharging a weapon in the city limits". I told him to go ahead, but suggested that he read the current city ord 1st....which I gladly pulled a copy out of my backpack that I had printed off of the web. The ord does not refer to "weapons". It only mentions guns; rifle, pistol, shotgun, pellet, and starter guns. Nothing about bows. I went back to shooting while he read the ord.

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thats great!

From what I understand, It's illegal if you know that theres is a chance that a projectial (spelling) will pass over property lines no mater where you are.If you dont have a back stop set up to avoid a missed shot passing across property lines then I wouldnt do it nor would I recomend it.And if that LEO went over to the other vacent property and saw evidence that you were shooting across property lines then you could have some issues.
I live in a neighborhood as well inside city limits and shoot in my back yard as well..I get 20 yds. at best from corner to corner. I set up a 4x8 sheet of 3/4 ply wood behind my target as a back stop...I have hit it many times...messed up an arrow here and there and even a few broadheads. But its cheaper to pay for an arrow/brodhead then it is to pay for a ticket or an injury to someone out of my line of site.You Never Know....for this reason alone...play it safe..

JM .02

Not sure about Frisco, but Mckinney has an ord. where you can't shoot any weapon inside the city limits. I know that here in Allen you still can shoot, but I dont see it last long. I think the little buttheaad going around a few years back shooting paintball gun at people was alot of the problem.

Here are examples of two different ords in N TX. Glad I live in Murphy.

Murphy ord:

Sec. 46-41. Discharging firearms prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person to fire or shoot or cause to be fired or shot any firearm, rifle, shotgun, automatic rifle, revolver, pistol or any other weapon designed for the purpose of firing or discharging a shell or cartridge, whether such shell or cartridge is blank or live ammunition, or to fire, shoot, discharge or cause to be fired, shot or discharged any air rifle, air pistol or pellet gun of any description, by whatever name known, that is capable of discharging a pellet or any solid objectby means of compressed air, gas, springs or other means, within the corporate limits of the city.
(Code 1984, § 9-3-1; Code 1993, § 130.15; Ord. No. 82, 11-2-1976)

McKinney ord:

Sec. 20-2. Discharging firearms and projectile weapons near residence.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a peace officer, to carry a firearm in any city building, regardless of whether or not the person is duly licensed by the state to carry a concealed handgun.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any BB gun, pellet gun, gun, pistol, rifle, firearm, or bow and arrow of any kind within the city limits, except:
(1) Within a properly secured and permitted indoor or outdoor firearms range, constructed and maintained in accordance with applicable National Rifle Association specifications and standards and any standards prescribed by city ordinance;
(2) Upon a shooting range owned and operated by a governmental entity; or
(3) By any authorized person participating in a wildlife management program to mitigate wildlife hazards near the Collin County Regional Airport or the McKinney Landfill.
(c) The term "city building" as used in this section is defined as any building or portion of a building owned, occupied, leased, or controlled by the city for city or public operations and activities. The term does not include any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage or other parking area.
(d) The term "handgun" as used in this section is defined as any firearm that is designed, made or adapted to be fired with one hand, and the term "concealed handgun" as used in this section is defined as a handgun, the presence of which is not openly discernible to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person.
(e) The terms "gun," "pistol," "rifle" and "firearm," as used in this section shall not only be defined as to include all percussion weapons, but shall also include all air guns, air pistols, air rifles and all other firearms using air pressure to propel a projectile.
(f) The term "bow and arrow" as used in this Code shall have the same meaning as intended, defined or construed under chapter 229 of the Texas Local Government Code, as amended.
(g) The term "projectile weapon" as used in this Code is defined as firearms (unless permitted under subsection (a) of this section), fireworks, airguns, bows and arrows, slingshots or any device which would or could project any object which would or could create a fire hazard or any hazard or danger to the public.
(h) This chapter shall not be construed to prohibit any peace officer from discharging a firearm in the performance of his duty, nor to prohibit any citizen from discharging a firearm when lawfully defending person or property.
(i) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-15 of this Code.
(j) The prohibition of the use of a bow and arrow set forth in subsection (b) of this section, does not apply in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the municipality or in an area annexed by the municipality after September 1, 1981, if the bow and arrow is utilized:
(1) On a tract of land of ten acres or more and more than 150 feet from a residence or occupied building located on another property; and
(2) In a manner not reasonably expected to cause a projectile to cross the boundary of the tract.
(Ord. No. 608, § I, 11-18-63; Ord. No. 96-01-04, § 1, 1-2-96; Ord. No. 2000-09-72, § I, 9-19-00; Ord. No. 2003-09-081, § 1, 9-16-03; Ord. No. 2005-12-130, § I, 12-6-05; Ord. No. 2006-06-076, § 2, 6-20-06)

Guess I better try and find the Frisco Ord information especially being a Frisco Police officer lives on the back side of me. He doesn't seem to be the friendliest guy around ..

gspbrad, section (a) of that is been made moot by the castle doctrine and other ammendments to the concealed carry laws. At least that's what the TSRA/NRA is saying. I shoot in my backyard and can shoot 54 yards. I recently had to reverse directions as my neighbor cleaned out his backyard and now his young children play there. It is illegal but I haven't had an issue yet but I pick my times wisely, like when other neighbors aren't out. I agree with BIGBOW though, just hit the target and you're okay. Saves on privacy fence repairs, arrows, dead pets and such.

okay I'm going to try putting my sticky shooting dots on a big block instead of the fence and see what that gets me.

I guess im illegal then, cool

Sucks to be in violation but it is necessary to maintain the level of accuracy I've grown accustomed to.

Used to shoot before I got built up all around me.... Now I'll take Edgar(deer target) out to the parks around Lavon to practice those 60+ yard shots

iv seen people shooting on the pratice football field at our high school. try there

do it all the time. square bales make good cheap backstops. If you are missing the arget too bad DONT SHOOT, got o a local bow shop and have some work done

nah I'm really just joking I can hit the target it's just I figure it's the right thing to do NOT to shoot towards their house. At least not when they are home and milling about -- I'll just have to pick my times.

I recently asked a plano cop if it was legal to shoot in a city park, ie:bowfish. She said that you may be approached by a police officer with a gun pointed at your head. I still practice in the back yard, at the park, and sometimes bowfish creeks at some city parks. Haven't been shot yet.

Seems a bit extreme for them to pull the service weapon and point at a guys head who's just shootn' his bow ..

No offense taken I agree 100%. Only way is if I knew 100% that they were not home and I needed to shoot 3 or 4 arrows to make sure i'm on I might do that. And like I said I angle such that were one to get away from me it would hit the brick side of their 2 - story with no windows there.

I have seen people put the block up in their garage and then stand in the alley or street and shoot back up into their house... might try that.

Greg, you'd understand if you saw how my yard is set up and the direction I did shoot the neighbor had a brush, trash, car parts pile right behind my privacy fence and I have a sheet of plywood there too. Now it is into a corner where three fences converge and I have a woodpile behind the target and a privacy fence not to mention no kids at this house. The chances of me loosing an arrow are slim and like I stated previously, I pick my shooting times wisely. If I went to a archery range and paid to shoot each time I practiced I would be broke, divorced and have no rubber left on the tires. I'm more afraid for the kids with the 150 or so convicted sex offenders living in my town that the cops have on record.

Very interesting. I shoot in my backyard here in Murphy as well. My neighbors are ok - never called it in, but it's good to know the actual law allows it here.

Thanks neighbor!