Shooting Firearms outside City Limits

[T Bone]

Guys,

Excuse my ignorance but I can't find answers on google or anywhere else..... I moved down from Canada where I can't even ask these questions.

I am aware that it is illegal to discharge my firearm within Austin city limits but are there places where people just go and shoot (not a shooting range)? I.e. out in the middle of nowhere (and where it is safe)?

I wanted to set up targets like watermelons, waterjugs etc....

If this is legal, can you guys advise where these places are?

Many thanks.....

[Beiruty]

You need to be on Private land, lot bigger than 10 acres. Have permission from owner to shoot and your bullet does not leave the boundary of the land.

Welcome to the board from another Canadian.

[speedsix]

...I read something with some of those points when I was wading the game warden's moat...can you tell me where you found it??? what I found said shotguns, air rifles, pellet guns and seemed to exclude rifles...and I lost it...my brother has 10 acres in Springtown and we hunted that law for days and never found it...but it is 10 acres...is it state or county by county???

[Beiruty]

...I read something with some of those points when I was wading the game warden's moat...can you tell me where you found it??? what I found said shotguns, air rifles, pellet guns and seemed to exclude rifles...and I lost it...my brother has 10 acres in Springtown and we hunted that law for days and never found it...but it is 10 acres...is it state or county by county???

It is county by county, but state has prohibition from banning by the counties/rural cities when those limits are met:



Sec. 229.002. REGULATION OF DISCHARGE OF WEAPON. A municipality may not apply a regulation relating to the discharge of firearms or other weapons in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the municipality or in an area annexed by the municipality after September 1, 1981, if the firearm or other weapon is:

(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

(B) in a manner not reasonably expected to cause a projectile to cross the boundary of the tract; or

(2) a center fire or rim fire rifle or pistol of any caliber discharged:

(A) on a tract of land of 50 acres or more and more than 300 feet from a residence or occupied building located on another property; and

(B) in a manner not reasonably expected to cause a projectile to cross the boundary of the tract.

[speedsix]

...that's it...thanks...now to figure out where to put it where I won't lose it

[tbrown]

Actually, Sec. 229.002 applies only to municipalities. Sec. 235.022 applies to counties.

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 discharge of firearms on lots that are 10 acres or smaller and are located in the unincorporated area of the county in a subdivision.

Notice that all firearms are exempt on lots larger than 10 acres outside of town. Also, the county can choose whether or not to prohibit or regulate it on small lots, but by default it's legal unless they do.

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/?link=LG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[speedsix]

...thanks for that...he's in the county and that's more what he needs...

[AEA]

10 acres adjacent to a major highway might introduce you to a friendly TXDPS Officer (or 2)!

[T Bone]

Thanks guys....

If there is anyone here who wants to let me onto his land and shoot, I am willing to pay! Happy shooting.