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Shooting on your own land

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  • Driller

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    Feb 21, 2011
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    I used to know this answer. It is different for rifles and shotguns on how many acres you have. Texas law negates any city ordinances. Cities dont like it when you quote them the law when they want to do it their way.

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    Charlie

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    Mar 19, 2008
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    'Top of the hill, Kerr County!
    Are there Texas state laws governing the amount of land one must own regarding shooting on it? I've never been aware of any state laws covering the amount of land, not saying there isn't but I'd like to see the actual laws if they exist.
     

    General Zod

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    The only laws I can find on it are on a county and city level. Look it up on Google for your county. Search for "County Name shooting on private land" and the results should have an answer from the county's website within the first page of results. If you search "Texas shooting on private land" you get a lot of county and city websites.
     

    Flat Lander

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    Oct 25, 2012
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    Size makes no difference outside a city limits. If the projectile leaves the property then you violate the law. As long as the projectile doesn't cross a property line then it is perfectly legal. I can look up the exact code if you like.
     

    pvtsnowball82

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    Jan 28, 2009
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    Size makes no difference outside a city limits. If the projectile leaves the property then you violate the law. As long as the projectile doesn't cross a property line then it is perfectly legal. I can look up the exact code if you like.

    Not entirely true. While it is generally accepted that people shoot on their property outside city limits, I believe technically in most counties the minimum required area is 10 acres.
     
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    9   0   0
    Aug 17, 2010
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    Austin
    Are there Texas state laws governing the amount of land one must own regarding shooting on it? I've never been aware of any state laws covering the amount of land, not saying there isn't but I'd like to see the actual laws if they exist.

    There is a state law proscribing discharge of firearms inside populous municipalities, and there is a state law restricting the power of counties to ban shooting on property over certain acreage.
     

    Flat Lander

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    Oct 25, 2012
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    Sec. 235.022. AUTHORITY TO REGULATE. To promote the public safety, the commissioners court of a county by order may prohibit or otherwise regulate the
    verity_arrow_left.gif
    discharge
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    of
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    firearms
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    on lots that are 10 acres or smaller and are located in the unincorporated area of the county in a subdivision.

    They can only regulate it if it is in a subdivision it appears, which makes sense.
     

    Mexican_Hippie

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    Fort Worth
    And there's a law around having 50 acres in an unincorporated area that is later incorporated. There's some nuances but in general you could still shoot on it even if it became incorporated.

    I can't find the link right now but I'll look for it....
     

    Flat Lander

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    229.002. REGULATIONOF DISCHARGE OF WEAPON. A municipalitymay not apply a regulation relating to the discharge of firearms or otherweapons in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the municipality or in an areaannexed by the municipality after September 1, 1981, if the firearm or otherweapon is:(1) a shotgun, air rifle orpistol, BB gun, or bow and arrow discharged:(A) on a tract of land of 10 acres or more and more than 150 feet from aresidence or occupied building located on another property; and(B) in a manner not reasonably expected to causea projectile to cross the boundary of the tract; or(2) a center fire or rim fire rifle or pistol ofany caliber discharged:(A) on a tract ofland of 50 acres or more and more than 300 feet from a residence or occupiedbuilding located on another property; and(B) in a manner not reasonably expected to cause a projectile to cross theboundary of the tract.
     

    thorkyl

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    Oct 13, 2008
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    Brazoria County
    If your in the county there are a few things come into play

    1 - Hunting regs
    PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE  CHAPTER 62. PROVISIONS GENERALLY APPLICABLE TO HUNTING

    2 - You must be 200 foot from an occupied building

    3 - Property line issue
    -- see Sec. 62.0121. DISCHARGE OF FIREARM ACROSS PROPERTY LINE.

    3 -- 100,000 people
    PENAL CODE  CHAPTER 42. DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND RELATED OFFENSES

    see

    Sec. 42.12 DISCHARGE OF FIREARM IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES


    Other than that the county can regulate the number of acres you must have to be able to hunt on
     

    TheDan

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    Nov 11, 2008
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    Austin - Rockdale
    All I find is county and city regs. Nothing state.
    State law basically says if you have 50+ acres you can shoot no matter what the county or city says. Anything smaller and you have to defer to the city and/or county. There's lots of scenarios where you don't need 50 acres, however. You just need to research your county regs and avoid any subdivisions.
     

    TXARGUY

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    May 31, 2012
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    Wildcat Thicket, Texas
    State law basically says if you have 50+ acres you can shoot no matter what the county or city says. Anything smaller and you have to defer to the city and/or county. There's lots of scenarios where you don't need 50 acres, however. You just need to research your county regs and avoid any subdivisions.

    Please post the "state law" you are referring to. I have a buddy who owns 62 acres in McKinney (surrounded by sub-divisions) that he is forbidden through city ordnance to shoot on. His family has owned the land for three generations and it used to be "out in the country" but none of that meant anything once it was annexed into the city.
     

    Flat Lander

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    Please post the "state law" you are referring to. I have a buddy who owns 62 acres in McKinney (surrounded by sub-divisions) that he is forbidden through city ordnance to shoot on. His family has owned the land for three generations and it used to be "out in the country" but none of that meant anything once it was annexed into the city.

    229.002. REGULATIONOF DISCHARGE OF WEAPON. A municipalitymay not apply a regulation relating to the discharge of firearms or otherweapons in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the municipality or in an areaannexed by the municipality after September 1, 1981, if the firearm or otherweapon is:(1) a shotgun, air rifle orpistol, BB gun, or bow and arrow discharged:(A) on a tract of land of 10 acres or more and more than 150 feet from aresidence or occupied building located on another property; and(B) in a manner not reasonably expected to causea projectile to cross the boundary of the tract; or(2) a center fire or rim fire rifle or pistol ofany caliber discharged:(A) on a tract ofland of 50 acres or more and more than 300 feet from a residence or occupiedbuilding located on another property; and(B) in a manner not reasonably expected to cause a projectile to cross theboundary of the tract.
     

    Shooter McGavin

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    Jul 26, 2012
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    Free Texas
    Does anyone know where I can find a summary of the laws covering when I can shoot on my own land? I'm looking to move and I want to get enough land to where I can shoot on my property without being hassled. My google-fu is failing me and all I'm getting is results highlighting the potential coming gun control laws or other irrelevant stuff. This is Bell county, if that matters any.
    The easiest and most simplest way to find out is to just contact the Authority Having Jurisdiction (sheriff probably) of the particular area you're looking at moving to. They will KNOW FOR A FACT what you can and can't do on your property. For example, I can bust some caps where I'm at but just a few miles down the road (same county) others are not allowed to do so.
     

    Flat Lander

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    Oct 25, 2012
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    Basically, more than 10 acres in unicorporated county land then you are fine, no matter what county you live in. More than 50 acres even in incorporated city limits, if annexed after 1981 then you are also fine. Relevant laws posted above.
     
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