Texas Hunting Forum

Bow hunting in city limits?

Posted By: jcarlson91

Bow hunting in city limits? - 08/29/11 06:11 PM

I'm in Argyle and right now I have a doe coming and eating corn that I put out. Is it legal to shoot her with my bow? Or maybe if she bring a buck in happy3

Posted By: bjankowski

Re: Bow hunting in city limits? - 08/29/11 06:44 PM


Governor Perry signed Senate Bill 734 into law, safeguarding hunting land on the urban fringes for future generations to come. The law allows property owners to continue hunting on their land, or leasing it out to sportsmen, even if they are annexed by a municipality with an ordinance banning the discharge of firearms. The bill also adds "wildlife management" to the list of activities which would be grandfathered under Texas’ "Right To Farm" Act when annexation occurs.

Most Texas municipalities have had ordinances banning the discharge of firearms, but there had been no exception for lawful hunting or safe recreational shooting. Existing Texas laws offered minimal protection to property owners who were annexed by a city, but wished to continue hunting on their land or leasing it to sportsmen before development occurs around them. The law provides reasonable buffers that are accepted in some communities, but have been largely disregarded by many major urban cities. The law is designed to address urban sprawl and its impact on hunting and sport shooting.

TWA extends its sincere thanks to Governor Perry and the Legislature, especially bill sponsors Representative Anna Mowery (R-Fort Worth) and Senator Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands), for their action to protect hunters` rights, and Representative Charlie Geren for his efforts.

This bill was jointly supported by NRA, Texas State Rifle Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Wildlife Association, and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.


I do believe that in Texas you cannnot hunt on less than 10 acres.

Posted By: jcarlson91

Re: Bow hunting in city limits? - 08/30/11 02:39 PM

thanks for the info

Posted By: Bill Waldschmidt

Re: Bow hunting in city limits? - 08/30/11 06:57 PM

10+ acres and it was annexed after Sept 21 (?) 1981, you can.

Posted By: KeithTT

Re: Bow hunting in city limits? - 09/04/11 08:52 AM

I don't know for sure but I think that 10 acre rule only applies to discharging a firearm I would think you can shoot a bow. I would def. call the local game warden on this one and don't tell him where you live lol

Posted By: Sniper John

Re: Bow hunting in city limits? - 09/04/11 12:11 PM

Originally Posted By: KeithTT
I don't know for sure but I think that 10 acre rule only applies to discharging a firearm I would think you can shoot a bow. I would def. call the local game warden on this one and don't tell him where you live lol


It includes bows.

(1) a shotgun, air rifle or pistol, BB gun, or bow and arrow discharged:
(A) on a tract of land of 10 acres or more and more than 150 feet from a residence or occupied building located on another property; and....

Posted By: bjankowski

Re: Bow hunting in city limits? - 09/04/11 02:50 PM

Originally Posted By: Sniper John
Originally Posted By: KeithTT
I don't know for sure but I think that 10 acre rule only applies to discharging a firearm I would think you can shoot a bow. I would def. call the local game warden on this one and don't tell him where you live lol


It includes bows.

(1) a shotgun, air rifle or pistol, BB gun, or bow and arrow discharged:
(A) on a tract of land of 10 acres or more and more than 150 feet from a residence or occupied building located on another property; and....


Thanks, not going to get much info going to Texas Parks and Wildlife website. I couldn't find anything. I wanted to see how far away from a road you had to be when hunting, it would have been easier to find Bigfoot.

Posted By: billybobbass

Re: Bow hunting in city limits? - 09/25/11 02:30 AM

great info was hoping to take a smasher at lake house at pk the land was b.r.a. but is now private land in large land sell out. the b.r.a. out is of land buisness. only on 1 acre

Posted By: Jayburl

Re: Bow hunting in city limits? - 09/25/11 10:11 PM

I looked into this earlier. I contacted the local game warden and she didn't know. She told me to conact the city. So I called the police station and they told me every city is different but there is no law in Palestine that says a bow can't be fired or used. There are laws against guns. So gamewarden gave me the green light.

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