Trad Gang

I'm curious how those who can't shoot and practice in their own yards get along (so to speak).

I just can't seem to be able to wrap my head around not being able to walk out the back door and shoot.

My better half is in heavy house hunting mode and while one of my requirements is being able to shoot in the backyard, it's very hard to actually meet that need (I know, move out in the country ... but that's just not going to happen.)

So for those of you who have to shoot 'off site', or for those who were once able to shoot in their yards and now can't, have you found it a large pain the butt or just a minor inconvenience?

I can shoot in the yard, but often go to the local range to meet friends and shoot. i also have a 10yd target in the basement and a 15yd target I set up in the kitchen and shoot from the living room. It makes it nice when i get the urge to shoot late and night, in the rain, snow....

It's a pain in my butt. I want to be able to shoot whenever I want, not make it a half day planned event with travel and such. But, I don't have any other choice, I live in the city. I hope that my next place of residence affords me such luxury.

I can't imagine not being able to shoot at home. Except when I was living on campus at Purdue in the mid-70's I've always been able to shoot in the yard, in the house, or in the drive-way.

As I approach my 2nd retirement, God has blessed me with the best shooting environment of my life. Indoor range, deck and yard range, and 45-minute woodland 3-D range right out the back door. Of course I was aiming (pun intended) for this exact set-up for most of the past 30 years.

Shooting my bows is part of every day for me except, ironically, as I write this from about 4,000 miles from home, for the next 10 days. I wish I had packed one of my takedowns just so I could ...you know, hang out with it. I was afraid a baggage handler would take a liking to it.

Untill the middle to later part of this month I shoot into my basement/ManCave but after that I'll not have that oporatunaty because my Mom-n-Law is moving in due to her having a Stroke about a month ago & my room is the most logical location since it's next to our bedroom, the bathroom is better suited for her needs & less need for a 35+ foot wheel chair ramp.

Yeah I'll go batty not being able to shoot & since I live in a HOA shooting in the back yard isn't an option but I'll manage.

I recently moved to a house with an 1800 square foot unfinished basement. I now have a 13 yard range on one end. It is very nice to be able to slip downstairs and shoot a few.

Eigene:
A great and worthy sacrifice for family. I applaud you.

Folks, rules and regs against shooting in city limits, backyards, etc. are unncessary and written by folks who know nothing about archery. Some of these same folks think nothing about chipping golf balls around their house.  Golf has a far more dangerous safety record than archery.  

If 8,800 schools and 1,916,000 kids can shoot indoors with zero harm to their million dollar gymnasiums, (NASP) you and I can figure a way to contain our practice in the smallest of areas.

It isa pain not being able to shoot in your yard, even just for form. But I am lucky to belong to an archery club only 20 minutes away that has 3D targets, field and stump course on 21 acres. The mosquitos are brutal in the summer though.

Magoo,
I hear ya', brother... I am a country boy who went off to the city for college, fell in love with a city girl and have been living in town since. That was 20 years and 3 kids ago.

Keeping a family together can be tough, which is why almost 50% of us fail at it in this country. The sacrifices are real and don't let anyone tell you different. But that is what being a big boy is all about and giving yourself to others is better for your soul than making sure you get what is yours.

We have tried the "you get to live in town, so I get more time outdoors" thing, but the realities of life make it hard for that to actually work.

At one point I went back to shooting a compound because with the time restrictions, I needed a "set it and forget it" solution at the time.

We have some public land about 35 minutes from the house where I take the kids stump shooting. It is tough with one in his early hunting years, who needs one level of attention and a couple younger who need a whole differen approach, which usually leaves my own skills neglected.

In the end though, I figure that if I have to limit my hunting range to 12 yards, but I have a kid or 2 sitting in the woods with me, then I got it right.

So, to answer your question, it is a large pain in the butt. However, as hard as it is to believe, there are bigger fish to fry. Keep that wonderful family of yours close, count your blessings, shoot when you can and enjoy it when you do.

Easy answer - keep looking!  :)

I made a vow a long time ago that I will never live in a place that I cannot take a leak off of my own front porch when I want to.  I can shoot the archery target off the same end of that front porch too!

Now, how do I get the horses from coming and standing in back of bales every time I carry my bow out of the door? (Note: solution cannot involve shooting the horses!  ;) .

Seriously, best of luck in your house hunting and I'm sure you will be able to find a house that suits the boss where you can still shoot arrows.

R

In Europe we live stacked one next to the other,I am blessed to have my own yards and indoor range,so I can take care of my 90 bows!

The problem is, if you check the law closely enough in most metropolitan areas, you will probably find that it is against the law to shoot archery in your backyard.  However, most people do it anyway, and given the priorities of most law enforcement agencies, it is unlikely that anyone will bother you unless some neighbor complains or you cause damage or injure someone with your bow.  Also, you never know until you get to know your neighbors if they would mind if you shoot arrows in your backyard or not; it's not the kind of thing you can ask them when you introduce yourself to them for the first time.

So unless you move to a rural area where it is clearly no problem, you are going to have to live with some uncertainty for a while, unless you are content to shoot in your garage or down your hall.

I'm in the same exact boat there magoo. I have to drive 30 min to my club range, in the end I'm grateful for that....I sure hope we find a house with a suitable yard.     :pray:

Honestly I couldn't do it. I live in the country and can shoot as much and as far as I want. I also have a 14 yard range in my unfinished basement for those nasty cold winter days.

I've been really lucky.  I have only lived in two homes where shooting my bow was not possible.  That was only for about 3-4yrs when we first married.. It took that long to convince my "City Girl" that she really was ment to be a "Country Girl".

For the last 26+ years, it's been a small Log Home on a little over 7 acres, woods with a roving 3D and bag range and plenty of rotten stumps to shoot at...      :thumbsup:    

I feel sorrow for those of you who have to limit your shooting, or drive hours or miles to a place to shoot.     :rolleyes:    

Gene Carroll

This was the most important reason my time living in town was very limited. Found a nice place in the county. It is simple. Stay away from city limits and subdivisions.
I have a 55 yards archery range and a 100 yards rifle/muzzleloader range. I would never consider marrying a city girl. Completely out of the question for me.
I have never understood why a lot of americans want to live in those nasty subdivisions where you have to follow stupid regulations set up by ignorant people. Not my cup of tea....

I'll be keeping an eye on this one. Going to be shopping for houses in town soon too. I have been shooting out of my garage into the yard with a substantial backstop (shed). I leave the bow when I go to get arrows and don't draw any attention. Works pretty good but still not ideal. I'll build a shed to shoot out of if I have to but hoping for a good spot instead.

I shoot in the yard, but also go to a local bow shop - 20 yard range and techno hunt!

Shooting in the yard/garage/property varries from city to city in my metro area.  My city clarified the rules after an archery shop with indoor lanes opened up downtown.  NO Shooting except for certified ranges.  Only certified range in town in at that shop. I've only visited there once. Nice enought folks but they don't sell traditional gear.  That being said I still shoot my garage,just did so this pm,  its double deep so I can get a 10yard shot.  Used to shoot in back yard until a family moved in behind with a couple of small kids, while I never shot directly toward their backyard better error to caution than expain a wayward shot.  Bought where I live now in part due to distance from local range and club.

I do shoot in the back yard but only at certain times. We live on a 1/4 acre in the middle of a development. I shoot from 12 yards behind the attached garage. I can only do when there are no kids outside. They tend to rove the yards. If I want to shoot further then I head out to a drainage basin. It is wide open there and only a couple hundred yards away from my house. I have also shoot in the garage.

You just have to make it work. Short of that, I head 20 mininutes away to a club where I can shoot indoors when it rains.

Martin

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about how fortunate I am to be able to shoot bow, rifle or pistol in my backyard. That, and 300+ acres of my neighbor's fields and woods for my kids to roam. Don't know how I'd survive without it.

I can and have always been able to shoot at my house...  Most of us are going to whatever it takes to "sling a few" when we have that itch...

Wow guess I never thought about not being able to shoot at home.  Heck if I can see another human they are tresspassing and have been doing so for quite some time.  I can understand the dangers in a subdivision.  Just glad I have never had that problem and god willing never will.

I shoot in a school gym on Wednesday nights, but it's almost a 40 minute drive. Recently I've gotten permission to shoot up at my boss's hunt camp, about 15 minutes out of town. Where I used to live I belonged to a shooting club with 24 hr access to an indoor and outdoor range (pretty much the holy grail, as I could practice whenever I wanted) but I moved for another job and now I shoot where I can.

My house hunting will include a search for an area where I can shoot in the backyard. Having to drive out to where I shoot limits the number of times I can shoot in a week, especially in the winter when there's less daylight. If I could walk out back and shoot, I'd go every day!

I've shot in my yard "Forever" even though I am told it is against the law..

The only time I was ever hassled when I had a Hispanic co-worker over.. We hadn't been shooting for 10 minute before John law showed up and hassled us.

Dave felt bad and I was just plain pixxed

I have a 20 yard range in my basement not because I can't shoot in my back yard, but because if I pulled a shot and something tragic happened I would never forgive myself.  I once hit the seem in the bails of hay and the arrow went through the fence and into the neighbors yard.  

My wife wants to finish the basement and I dread the day I can't just go in the basement and shoot.  This is especially important during winter months when I get up when it is dark and get home in the dark.

George

QuoteOriginally posted by cacciatore:
In Europe we live stacked one next to the other,

Same here, I just don't have space, I'm lucky if I get to shoot once a week in the range    :(

I'm sure it against the regs to shoot where I'm at now (since I'm in town and in a development), but I just lucked out with a fenced, private, wooded yard.  

It's tough to find anything to match the privacy the way they stack homes together now.

Oh well, hope I find something before the boss gets tired of me vetoing everything and tells me to stick it in my ear   :)   .

Don't move somewhere you can't shoot!  I've shot in apartment complex yards during college(despite complaints of neighbors..luckily the property manager was a bowhunter).  Shot down my driveway into the garage, off my roof in my small backyard in Phoenix, you name it I've done it to be able to shoot at home.  Last year I finally convinced my wife to move out to the country.  We live on about 5 acres now and she has no desire to move back to the city.  Now I have to convince her to move to CO or NM!  Move your wife out to the sticks and don't look back.

Not a problem at all. I just don't shoot. Sooner or later I make every one around me crazy, so they make me drive to the club for a day of shooting. I will go to the garage and shoot some but not much fun.

I shoot 5 yards in the basement hunched over due to low ceilings and also shoot down my driveway 15 yards into the garage.

It is  not against local ordinance to shoot here but it is against NYS DEC Law. (not being 500 feet from a house or road).  I do it anyways and haven't had  a complaint yet, of course I am mindful of who is out when I am shooting also as all neighborhoods have at least one crazy with a heavy finger on the Police speed dial.

I try to get to a range as much as possible though.

I feel for you fellows who are hindered by your living space. We are spoiled to live on 14 acres with lots of options right out the front door. Unfortunately, I am on the road with work more than I would like and can't enjoy it every day.

Mr. Magoo - To make you and the Mrs. happy, my thought would be to look for a house with a large basement or 2-3 car garage and set-up an indoor spot like many of the guys. My most productive practice is from up close working on form and shooting a vertical line (and visualization per Dr. Kidwell). If you get a wild hare and decide to move further south you are welcome at my place any time!

McDave is certainly correct about discharge ordinances. It is a problem for NASP schools in some areas (Albuquerque, Madison, etc.) until those who want it changed, change it.

Typically, these discharge ordinances are designed to prevent the shooting of guns. They often contain language that prohibits the shooting of bullets, BBs, pellets and other projectiles. Some are so vague that archery is also frowned upon or worse. I know of a town in N. KY that specifically added archery to the ban because a bozo "accidently" shot a neighbor's cat. However, in that town (90 miles from my home) a citizen and I worked with the local police chief to write an ordinance that allowed archery if the homeowner became NASP certified and built a range, complete with arrow curtain, according to NASP specificiations.  This was extreme and over-kill but the only way to get the exclusion. Now that neighbor runs a Home School association archery program in his yard.

My point is that ignorance and broad brush painting is usually behind these laws. They can and should be changed. It generally took only one or two people to get them in place. A little activism can get them overturned.

My tightest situation after college lasted 6 years. I lived in town with 1/4 acre lots and houses on all sides of my yard. I talked to all three neighboring homeowners (I was a renter). I explaned that I would be shooting at a target placed in front of and against my "mower shed". Any stray arrow would hit the shed. My shooting was limited to 20 yards. I didn't shoot when the neighbor who lived "behind" the shed was outside. I never had the first problem or complaint.

For work I need to live in the city, and no shooting in the sub divisions of the burbs.  So I have a 9 yard range in the basement for daily shooting.  I have to drive 30 minutes to get to my sportsmans club range to shoot further than that!  Its a pain but gotta work til my kids are through college (only 19 more years!  :knothead:  )

Many years ago I had to shoot from my driveway into my garage, 18 ids max. Holes in my cabinet and tool box.  Now I am a lucky man, I can shoot in my yard, up to 50 yds. As if I could hit the back stop bales, even at that distance.

When we were house hunting I was dead set on finding a house where I could shoot in my backyard. I found exactly what I needed after awhile. We are in a small suburb on the edge of a farm. The farm is adjacent to my back yard. I don't know how I would get along if I hadn't been so determined. Shooting my bow with peace of mind was too big a thing to let go.

City Ordinance that prohibits discharge of a weapon within the city limits.  Technically no bow shooting.  Arrangement with my neighbors; if they are out I don't shoot, if they come out I stop.  Good back stop and several block, 3-D animal targets.  I'm an outlaw.  :thumbsup:    :archer2:

I shoot inside my apartment


I can get 12 yds

Get 12-14 yards in the basement, while I don't get to practice distance much, I do get to work on form, and that has been a great help for the time when I do get out!

I have to admit I got it made in this respect out to 80 yards if I want to. Only two problems for me are losing or breaking an arrow in the shub oak if I miss, and waiting for deer and elk to get away from my target. Seems they think my GlenDel buck is a friend of theirs. Unfortunately not all my neighbors would be ok with me sticking one of the beasts with an arrow, and those are the ones close enough for the critter to make it to before it dies. I don't want to sound like I'm gloating now but I'll say it anyway. My boss almost insists that we go out and get in a few rounds after lunch if you can believe that, nothing but dirt fields on two sides of the shop.

I saw something about how G. Fred would shoot blunts at a couch in his house when the boss lady wasn't around. Living in an apartment I created some large soft blunts (duct taped foam over rubber blunts) and shot into a pile of anything old and soft that couldn't be ruined. I could get about 12 yards and practice my form. Any shooting is better than no shooting.

Now I have a friend with a 28 yard range in his basement. Hopefully my shooting will improve.

On another line of thought, most of the country has an excess of homes for sale. If a property has been foreclosed and purchased back by the bank, the bank will list the property for the current market values, which are low. If the property does not move in a certain number of months, the bank will knock 10-20 percent off their asking price. Typically, if the property does not sell in another certain number of months the bank will again lower it's asking price.

Banks and realtors are trying to keep values up, so it can take a bit of hard-nosed dealing to come up with the bottom priced foreclosed properties, but that is where most of the great deals are. If you find one of these you want,  you should still offer 20% less.

If the realtor and the bank/seller don't cry like a hungry baby at your offer, then you offered too much.

If this can help find you a yard to shoot in, then maybe you need to get more in the game.

When I was fresh out of college I lived in an apartment for two years. Block and bag targets weren't out back then so I built a 2' X 2' compressed cardboard target that I kept in the bottom of the linen closet at the end of my short hallway.  I could open the door and shoot about 12-14 yards if I stood in the kitchen, shot over the counter and down the hallway.  Not perfect but at least I got to shoot when I wanted.  Close the closet door and range was put away.

I later moved into a city that prohibited shooting in the yards.  I bought a 63 foot long ranch house with an unfinished basement.  I partitioned off a 5' wide section down the length of it with drywall and then finished the balance of the basement on the other side of it.  You never even knew it was there except I had an odd door in one corner of a room.  Opened the door and there was essentially a long hallway that I could shoot about 19 yards in.  I installed a target butt on the far end and hung a string of lights down the length of it. Could shoot 24 hours a day, rain or shine.

Thirty years later I now live out and have an 80 yard archery range in my side yard and 1/2 dozen 3-D targets scattered out amongst the trees, along with a couple of ladder stands to practice from.  Only downside is that I never know how many of my buddies are going to be waiting in the driveway to do some shooting when I get in from work. (They tend to drink all my beer!)

it all boils down to the kind and quality of shooting.  

for practicing form and release, it only takes a few yards of room and i've yet to find a dwelling that won't accommodate that kinda indoor shooting.

but finding real yardage sure can be an issue for some folks.

and even if yer property has a goodly shooting distance, you might not have the acreage for really fun ROVING.  :)

Magoo, I'm fortunate enough to be able to shoot in my back yard and we have a portable indoor range set up here at the funeral home so we can shoot on days we have some down time. Eagles Flight Archery is only 45 minutes away and less that a half mile off I-40. Don and Karen are good folks to deal with too. We would enjoy having you come shoot with the gang on Tuesday evenings from about 6:30 till...... Lot of fun, sometimes we even get serious, lots of BS too. Would enjoy having come and shoot with us.....Randy

Thanks for the invite Randy.  I appreciate it.  I don't know how well I shoot, but I can BS with the best of 'em.

I'm lucky I guess I'm out in the country. My wife bought our home while i was up in Canada chasing bears, I got to admit she did good!

I have a dozen or so 3-ds scattered through the back yard and in the edge of the woods with a couple ladder stands for shooting as well.

But since the wife can buy a house while i was on vacation i found it only fair to wait until she went on a vacation with her Mom to put up a 66 by 24 garage so I would have a cold/wet day shooting spot!

I've been practicing in my yard for two years on the side of my house, there's only 20 ft between the two. I ended up getting a visit from the local police dept because of a trailer on the side of my yard. they happened to notice my target and asked me if I had participated in shooting in the side yard. I told them I was into traditional archery which intrigued that particular officer's interest. He asked to watch me shoot against his better judgement and then asked if he could try, even though he knows he's not supposed to even participate in this. He asked if he could continue trying to shoot the bow. to make a long story short, I have not received any backlash of any sort from them in two years. As a general rule, even a slingshot is considered a firearm in this community.
RV

I shoot at my workplace, and when I'm teaching archery, sometimes I get paid to shoot alongside the kids!

QuoteOriginally posted by Ben Kleinig:
I shoot at my workplace, and when I'm teaching archery, sometimes I get paid to shoot alongside the kids!

ben, i sure wish that was the way here in the states ... at least it USED to be that way.     :mad:     :banghead:

To me I don't care what town you are in.  If you want to shoot in your back yard put up a 6-7' privacy fence and have at it.  Heck shoot in the nude if you want.

Like has been said, most city ordinances prohibit shooting a bow - usually it says "projectile" and is broad to cover slingshots, air rifles, etc.  You can say what you want about it not being right, but it makes some sense when you consider all the different situations in a city and all the idiots in this world, especially with more powerful compounds. Out of city limits is probably a free-for-all for most.

BUT, in most places if you know your neighbors and use your head you probably won't have a problem.  

My house requirement with my wife is I have to be able to shoot my bow in the yard.  This isn't only for shooting, I really like a yard and trees, and some space.  I'm blessed to have that right now.

I shoot in the house at 7 yards my wife loves it  :D . Its really good pratice I shoot for small 1" dots which makes you really focus even at close range. When I go out side hitting a 3 inch dot at 15-20 yards seems easy. It works for me and keeps me in shooting shape outside weather doesn't matter inside thats a big plus.

I lived in the Country in New York and had a club range only 6 miles from my house. When I did not have time to go to the range, I shot from the dining room through the kitchen and the Play Room and into the garage using a block taget. I was living alone so I was able to do this in my house. Now I live in a city and can only get to a club range about once every two months . It really has caused me a lot of grief. I wish that I had never left New York for living in a city. I am one unhappy camper. Think twice about what you giving up!

No, I can't shoot in my backyard due to living in a subdivision. Too bad cause it's 22 paces from the back fence to the house. It could be totally safe but all it takes is one neighbor in a bad mood to have Mr. Po-po at my door. Sorry but I don't want to know them well enough to explain my sit.

In the meantime I'll either shoot at 8 yards in my garage or drive 20 mins to the local compound range or over 40 to the one outdoor public range in town.

I would give anything to walk out my back door and just go stumpin'. You guys who have that consider yourselves either smart or lucky or both!

I belong to an archery club within 15 minutes of my house so when I want to shoot it's not that big a deal. Indoor range with key access and outdoor practice range to 80 yards along with a field course through the woods. Depending on the shift I am on I can either shoot before or after work. No big deal not shooting in my backyard!  


Lee

Yeah, I break the law every day and the cops know it too, but they don't seem to care no neighbors can see me and everybody is happy especially me.
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Reading all these Replies, I just had an epiphany!

I just solved everyone's urban/suburban shooting woes.

Have  truck Driving Friend Park the Semi Trailer on the street out front! get in, shut the door, (this next step could be important) Turn on the lights,

Shoot to your hearts content!    :readit:    :bigsmyl:

I live in a major city suburb...but I have a 7ft cedar fence and the position of my house/trees allows me to shoot unobserved and with no complaints from my neighbors (yet). I shoot all year round unless the temps drop below zero.

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glenn

I live in an HOA controlled development. The HOA does not address archery. I shoot in my backyard with no fence and use my shed as a backstop. I have been doing this on and off for about 4 years now and never a peep form anyone.

I spend about 60% of my time traveling outside of the country & living in hotels or worse. I ALWAYS take my bow, a couple of arrows, blunts, etc. Sometimes the best I can do is shoot for form into a couple of pillows in my room but I can usually find a safe out of the way place to shoot outside. I've even snuck in a few hunts! Bottom line is- if you want to shoot bad enough you'll find a way.