Trad Gang

Well I was going to have a bunch of us get together and stump shoot in a state game area .
Guess what , shooting stumps is considered destruction of state land .
You can only shoot in designated shooting areas and at targets only .
Applies to guns and bows .
If there are 20 or more people in an area , you must have previously approved permission and a permit .

if you all had small game tags,which any one who buy a deer tag must have in mi. then I do not see how they can stop you stop you .

Never herd of such a thing, I stump shoot on state land all the time, never had a problem

Wow, that is very interesting...

Apparently those stumps are an endangered species. When is this crap going to end?

So how you get around this is , you tell the DNR officer that you are hunting red squirrels and you are good to go .
If he seen you shoot , you just say that you missed .
Problem is , if there's more than 20 people . I guess you could say that everyone doesn't know each other and it's just a coincidence that so many people are here .

Graps you can come up by me.  You can shoot stumps until you pass out.  The local warden will help guide you.

Please post a link to the Satutue, and where it can be found in said Statute, that states what you are claiming.  I believe we all would be interested in seeing it.  I'm in no way saying it doesn't exist, I think if it is there, we all need to be aware of it.  Until then I will continue "small game hunting"

Bunny Stomp this weekend is on State Land. Never had any problem with the law. Michigan Out Of Doors even did a story on it one year. We are shooting at rabbits not stumps but there are more than 20 people there. Every one has a license and hunter orange. But yes with a small game license you can rove in Michigan. Just say you are targeting woodchucks.

It's a shame that common sense went out the window a long time ago.

I shoot stumps on state land around here without an issue. Never run into the DNR, but there's always a first. We've got one up here that is pretty uptight, so I don't really know how she would handle it.
I don't see how shooting a stump is destruction of public land. Was it not already destroyed when the loggers came through and made that stump?

Wonder if the old beer cans and plastic water and pop bottles (that people throw out on State land) are protected buy state law also.   :biglaugh:

It stems from laws/rules that don't allow random target practice on state land. And while I understand how silly it may seem to us guys with a longbow shooting at pine cones, imagine how dangerous it would be if Yahoo-Joe was allowed to wander around with his AR15 blasting away.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10366_54559_10402-397116--20,00.html

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-31154_35728---,00.html

QuoteOriginally posted by Graps:
So how you get around this is , you tell the DNR officer that you are hunting red squirrels and you are good to go .
If he seen you shoot , you just say that you missed .
Problem is , if there's more than 20 people . I guess you could say that everyone doesn't know each other and it's just a coincidence that so many people are here .

If it's in March, just tell them you are hunting rabbits (legal until March 31st).

Oh brother! What a joke... Another example of too much control on stupid things, and not enough control on more important things...   :knothead:    :knothead:   What about bringing your own throw target?

Roger has a good point about Yahoo Joe so you can understand the law. However we stump shoot state land around us and never once had a problem, however we do have our small game license and wear some orange.

I understand the AR 15 thing but tell me, who has never been out squirrel hunting and plinked a couple old beer cans with a 22 rifle. Come on

I wouldn't be plinking with a AR15 or a high powered deer rifle but I guess that's where the common sense comes in.

QuoteOriginally posted by Graps:
    http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10366_54559_10402-397116--20,00.html    

    http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-31154_35728---,00.html    

First link only speaks of firearms, AND is not a Statute, but just a list of "Rules".

Second link appears to only refer to "Commercial Use" and is also not a link to a Statute.

I would suggest this...Contact your local Game Warden, (DO NOT CALL LANSING!!!), explain to them what you are wanting to do, invite them to join everyone and that you have a spare longbow and arrows for him/her to join in the fun, then ask him/her if they see a problem with it.  (I suggest this because I have done it in the past and it has worked as expected).  Game Wardens are our friends, and it is a good thing when people come to them with an issue that can be solved by just a simple question.  Honestly, they are really good people and like to know that the public thinks highly enough of them to seek them out for guidance.

Get your answer straight from the one who will be enforcing the laws that, to be honest, we have no idea exist or not.  Don't try to be a Google Lawyer (I mean that in a nice way).  Let them know you don't want to break the law and are just looking for guidance.  

Please let us know how that works out.  I'm going to postulate that it will be a favorable outcome.

Graps
I didn't read anything about bows, only firearms.
I agree with Mike Vines advice, then again Army MPs are level headed individuals.  Drive on MV.
Deno

QuoteOriginally posted by Graps:
 http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10366_54559_10402-397116--20,00.html  

 http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-31154_35728---,00.html  

Note that the first link only applies to designated state game and wildlife areas (not necessarily all state and federal land) and appears to only apply to "firearms."  In MI, bows are not considered firearms.


 "Firearm" means any weapon which will, is designed to, or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by action of an explosive."


 
Second link appears to only be in reference to commercial operations and bonafide "events."  Having a group of people meet for a stump shoot does not appear to qualify as a hosted "event."

QuoteOriginally posted by Mike Vines:
 

QuoteOriginally posted by Graps:
     http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10366_54559_10402-397116--20,00.html      

     http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-31154_35728---,00.html      

First link only speaks of firearms, AND is not a Statute, but just a list of "Rules".

Second link appears to only refer to "Commercial Use" and is also not a link to a Statute.

I would suggest this...Contact your local Game Warden, (DO NOT CALL LANSING!!!), explain to them what you are wanting to do, invite them to join everyone and that you have a spare longbow and arrows for him/her to join in the fun, then ask him/her if they see a problem with it.  (I suggest this because I have done it in the past and it has worked as expected).  Game Wardens are our friends, and it is a good thing when people come to them with an issue that can be solved by just a simple question.  Honestly, they are really good people and like to know that the public thinks highly enough of them to seek them out for guidance.

Get your answer straight from the one who will be enforcing the laws that, to be honest, we have no idea exist or not.  Don't try to be a Google Lawyer (I mean that in a nice way).  Let them know you don't want to break the law and are just looking for guidance.  

Please let us know how that works out.  I'm going to postulate that it will be a favorable outcome. [/b]

Mike, I agree with your intention but you are wrong. I personally know a guy who was ticketed for taking a warm up shot with his bow. Safely, just outside of the parking area on state land.

I myself was in the middle of a swamp on state land , rabbit hunting with a .22 pistol. I missed a couple running bunnies with a flurry of shots. When I got back to my truck, "The Man" was waiting for me. He stated that if I had not come out with a beagle he would not have believed my story, and would have ticketed me.

A large organized stump shoot is nothing more than large, organized target practice. Harmless as it may be, they WILL ticket you and it WILL stick.

I don't agree , buit that's the way it is.

QuoteOriginally posted by Roger Norris:
   

QuoteOriginally posted by Mike Vines:
   

QuoteOriginally posted by Graps:
        http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10366_54559_10402-397116--20,00.html        

        http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-31154_35728---,00.html        

First link only speaks of firearms, AND is not a Statute, but just a list of "Rules".

Second link appears to only refer to "Commercial Use" and is also not a link to a Statute.

I would suggest this...Contact your local Game Warden, (DO NOT CALL LANSING!!!), explain to them what you are wanting to do, invite them to join everyone and that you have a spare longbow and arrows for him/her to join in the fun, then ask him/her if they see a problem with it.  (I suggest this because I have done it in the past and it has worked as expected).  Game Wardens are our friends, and it is a good thing when people come to them with an issue that can be solved by just a simple question.  Honestly, they are really good people and like to know that the public thinks highly enough of them to seek them out for guidance.

Get your answer straight from the one who will be enforcing the laws that, to be honest, we have no idea exist or not.  Don't try to be a Google Lawyer (I mean that in a nice way).  Let them know you don't want to break the law and are just looking for guidance.  

Please let us know how that works out.  I'm going to postulate that it will be a favorable outcome. [/b]

Mike, I agree with your intention but you are wrong. I personally know a guy who was ticketed for taking a warm up shot with his bow. Safely, just outside of the parking area on state land.

I myself was in the middle of a swamp on state land , rabbit hunting with a .22 pistol. I missed a couple running bunnies with a flurry of shots. When I got back to my truck, "The Man" was waiting for me. He stated that if I had not come out with a beagle he would not have believed my story, and would have ticketed me.

A large organized stump shoot is nothing more than large, organized target practice. Harmless as it may be, they WILL ticket you and it WILL stick.

I don't agree , buit that's the way it is. [/b]

I agree 100% with you Roger, as there  is zero reason to doubt you, because you are as honest as they come,  but With all due respect, neither You, or I, are any longer in the position to enforce any "Law" and things change.  What was once illegal, might full well be legal now. All Im saying is that before declaring something would be "illegal", I would refer back to my last statement about contacting the Local Game Warden if Graps is wanting to find out straight from the one who will either join them in having a great time, or writing them a ticket.  

It would not do anybody justice to make a determination on the legality of anything by making a few mouse clicks.  I say work with those who know, and enforce the laws that are there.  It's the best way to find out the truth.  And NOBODY can argue with the Truth.

Sounds like a bad conservation officer to me Roger. If you had a valid license, orange and small game was open I would say you were legal. If I would have been issued a ticket, I would have fought it. But the second ticket for telling him what I think of his policing skills....Well I guess I would have to pay that one.   :goldtooth:

Yep, we need MUCH smaller government at all levels.

QuoteOriginally posted by Mike Vines:
 

QuoteOriginally posted by Graps:
     http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10366_54559_10402-397116--20,00.html      

     http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-31154_35728---,00.html      

First link only speaks of firearms, AND is not a Statute, but just a list of "Rules".

Second link appears to only refer to "Commercial Use" and is also not a link to a Statute.

I would suggest this...Contact your local Game Warden, (DO NOT CALL LANSING!!!), explain to them what you are wanting to do, invite them to join everyone and that you have a spare longbow and arrows for him/her to join in the fun, then ask him/her if they see a problem with it.  (I suggest this because I have done it in the past and it has worked as expected).  Game Wardens are our friends, and it is a good thing when people come to them with an issue that can be solved by just a simple question.  Honestly, they are really good people and like to know that the public thinks highly enough of them to seek them out for guidance.

Get your answer straight from the one who will be enforcing the laws that, to be honest, we have no idea exist or not.  Don't try to be a Google Lawyer (I mean that in a nice way).  Let them know you don't want to break the law and are just looking for guidance.  

Please let us know how that works out.  I'm going to postulate that it will be a favorable outcome. [/b]

I love you Mikey....   :archer:

I was just referring to Graps original post where he checked and they said no already.

I also believe it is absolutely an officer discretion thing. You can believe that when I had a cabin up in St Helens, I stump shot my tail off on state land adjacent to my cabin.

And wandering around on state land now with my longbow, I am hunting rabbits....but know for sure I kill more pine cones than bunnies.

It's a dumb rule, especially how it applies to a traditional bowhunter.

But look at it this way, considering officer discretion and all: You may get pulled over for speeding on a rural road, and get a warning. I know I have. But if I call the Sherriff and say "Me and a couple guys are going to drive real fast down D19 today" , you can bet your finest Motor City Machete that they are going to tell you "No", and be there to ticket you should you do it.

To me a more disturbing question...if Graps and crew were rabbit hunting, would they get a ticket?  

Also....are there rules for unloading a crossbow on state land? Because our state now considers that bowhunting.

I swear I'm moving to Alaska....

We have similar laws against target shooting on state game lands here in pa. Obviously, there are ways around it if you're out stumping. When I was in school and didn't have access to a range for formal practice it was a pain. There's always something in season in the woods, but throw out any sort of formal target and its hard to talk your way out of that, as silly as the laws are.

QuoteOriginally posted by bunyan:
We have similar laws against target shooting on state game lands here in pa. Obviously, there are ways around it if you're out stumping. When I was in school and didn't have access to a range for formal practice it was a pain. There's always something in season in the woods, but throw out any sort of formal target and its hard to talk your way out of that, as silly as the laws are.

Pretty much my view of it

Did Daisy get mad at you when you missed that rabbit with the 22 pistol?   :laughing:

quote:

---

Originally posted by finkm1:
Did Daisy get mad at you when you missed that rabbit with the 22 pistol?    :bigsmyl: