Shooting across private land from public to public

[CoHunter1991]

I heard an Idaho game warden comment on this a few years back. Example given was L shaped public parcel and shooting across private from one public arm to the next. He said as long as there were no structure and you didn't endanger person or property it shouldn't be an issue. I'm wondering everyone's opinion on this and if you think it is accurate. Feels wrong... but is it?

 

[SaskHunter]

I can't think of a scenario where I would have to shoot over private land within my own effective range, but:

 

[nrpate05]

I assume it isn't illegal but likely frowned upon. Meateater had a Wildlife LEO on a few years back to talk about it I think.

 

[D4570]

It's called trespassing by bullet, and yes, it is illegal.

 

[smw110136]

My guess is it's probably state specific. But as @D4570 commented, there are actual laws about trespassing by bullet/projectile.

 

[Bob-WY]

Airspace issues??

 

[Knighted]

Probably civil and criminal trespass in all states. I wouldn't try it.

 

[Drake4]

I've done it. But most of the time I try to line up the surveyed property pin exactly in my scope, so that my bullet crosses at the corner.

 

[Jamen]

Friend of mine was after a whitetail buck a few years back and had this same problem. He called the local warden the warden came out and looked over the situation and said it would be legal for him to do so. Next day he got the deer. Not saying it is right or not, just an example i have heard first hand.

 

[Forkyfinder]

If trophy muley forky is in my scope - you already know

 

[jimh406]

My guess is it probably depends on who the officer and prosecutor are.

 

[FairWeather]

If it’s an L shaped plot, why wouldn’t one simply walk through the connected public land to get closer w/o having to shoot over the private?

 

[Addicting]

What about shooting public to public over a railroad track?

 

[Nick87]

What about shooting public to public over a railroad track?

I would think that would be treated the same as a roadway?

 

[Mudranger1]

Sometimes I wonder why y'all don't have better things to think about while sitting on the

 

[Doublecluck]

I actually asked this exact question to a game warden once on a bedded bull and even after calling another game warden they couldn’t give me a clear answer. I sent him the onx pin and he said he wouldn’t ticket us for it but didn’t know how a sheriff would treat it. Another time I had a bull standing in a stream, the stream was the divider between two units, one was special permit area for bulls but the other was general. The bull was not across the stream but in the stream closer to the general side. I was hunting with a cow tag in the draw unit side but wanted to know if I could shoot the bull not across the stream but in the stream. Same warden couldn’t give me an answer but later called back and said go for it. By then the bull was well within the draw unit. I also once asked a game warden if I could shoot a bull standing in a weapon restriction area if I was standing on a non weapon restriction area of two pieces of blm that touched. Onx showed the section line as the separation for the weapon restriction.

 

[Nameless Range]

Though I am advocate for more “liberal” access precedents - corner crossing, stream access, etc - I would be pissed if someone shot over my own private property and wouldn’t do it to someone else.

 

[JM77]

It's a state issue.
23-3-305 Wyoming Statute
(d) No person knowingly shall fire any rifle from the enclosed lands of one person onto or across the enclosed lands of another without the permission of both persons.

 

[hank4elk]

I would never do it. Maybe across the corner of my place.

...and how far is it to this other side?

 

[LuketheDog]

I heard an Idaho game warden comment on this a few years back. Example given was L shaped public parcel and shooting across private from one public arm to the next. He said as long as there were no structure and you didn't endanger person or property it shouldn't be an issue. I'm wondering everyone's opinion on this and if you think it is accurate. Feels wrong... but is it?

No freaking way, and if someone started shooting over my property like that while me or my kids were on it we'd have a real problem.