Shooting near a home (I must not have search the right terms)

[Eskimo]

Sorry if this has been covered (I'm sure it has been), but searching "House" brings up almost every thread, and "home" had a bunch. too.

Anyway, I live in a rural area, and found a possum eating out of our outside cat's food bowl in the middle of the day. I chased him away from the house (after he tried to hide in the "dogloo", and then shot him.

Our home is ~1000' from the nearest other home, and we're not inside any city limits.

Was I violating any kind of law by doing so? I guess this question also applies to going out back (we have a little over 10 acres, mostly wooded, no chance of stray rounds going near a house) and shooting at targets?

Thanks..

[LBaker]

As long as your township doesn't have some ordinance you are ok. You are outside the safety zone of your neighbor and that would be ok with their permission.

[customloaded]

Is a possum considered a game animal? If so, you shot a regulated animal on a Sunday. What kind of firearm did you use? If you used a semi auto pistol, you again broke the law. If you used a pistol, well, you need a Sportmans Permit plus a hunting and furtakers license.

Again, I don't know if possums are regulated much less as furtaking.

Yup, you could be in alot of trouble.

CL

PS. Just researched it, yup, possum is a regulated furtaking animal under the PGC, and explicity bars hunting on Sunday. Also, could get ya for baiting too. Ok, you didn't have to be wearing orange.

[shortthrow50]

Go on your township website and check if their is an ordninace. It will state specifically if there is one " no dishcarge of firearms" or something along those lines. I beleive if your 1000 yards from the nearest you can shoot your rifle and 100 yards for shotgun. Not 100 percent positive if this applies to every county

[LBaker]

I was answering the target shooting part and should have said so, sorry. Yes it could be an issue for shooting the possum. You could make the argument that you were protecting yourself because the animal was acting weird which would be true if a possum was on your porch during daylight hours. I don't know if it would stand up or not. Also a semi auto firearm other than a pluged shotgun would be a no-no.

[Eskimo]

PS. Just researched it, yup, possum is a regulated furtaking animal under the PGC, and explicity bars hunting on Sunday. Also, could get ya for baiting too. Ok, you didn't have to be wearing orange.

Sheesh.

Thanks for looking that up...

[DonM55]

PS. Just researched it, yup, possum is a regulated furtaking animal under the PGC, and explicity bars hunting on Sunday

Might want to delete the thread.

[Eskimo]

I was answering the target shooting part and should have said so, sorry. Yes it could be an issue for shooting the possum. You could make the argument that you were protecting yourself because the animal was acting weird which would be true if a possum was on your porch during daylight hours. I don't know if it would stand up or not. Also a semi auto firearm other than a pluged shotgun would be a no-no.

To be honest, I was protecting my pets. Upon further reading, I didn't have much to worry about. Live and learn.

[YosemiteSam]

To be honest, I was protecting my pets. Upon further reading, I didn't have much to worry about. Live and learn.

From a probable rabid animal.

[DonM55]

Hope the cats are OK.