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Hit&Miss84

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Kingsport, Tn
Have any of you guys ever shot a deer off your back porch or in the city with other houses nearby? I'm talking about homes with .5-.75 acres yards and a few empty lots here and there. What are your thoughts? Possible implications and applicable laws? thanks!
 
i hunt a 9 acre tract in Knoxville. I can hear dogs, kids playing, leaf blowers running all day. Deer still move and do not mind it. This is archery only. Just got the property to hunt last year. Killed 2 deer. First couple times hunting, i was out of sorts with the noise and such.

Both deer died on the property but my buddy who hunts with me said he hopes we never have to go in a yard to get a deer. Our pop-up blind is in the middle of the property.
 
droptine said:
Both deer died on the property but my buddy who hunts with me said he hopes we never have to go in a yard to get a deer. Our pop-up blind is in the middle of the property.
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That is what I would worry about, especially with archery. I have heard of deer running into peoples' backyards, even up under decks, after being shot. That can get a little messy. But a lot of people have deer eating their plants and want them gone, so this may not be a problem in some areas.
 
I would just talk with some of the neighbors to see if it was going to be a problem and make sure you make a good shot...LOL
 
Any laws that might come into play in that particular situation? I guess you have to get permission to retrieve deer? Do you need permission in advance? I'm sure it's advisable but is it required?
 
I doubt you would have much objection to getting a deer that was dead on someone's property in town. They may not be happy about it but what choice do they have. Let you have it or tell you no and leave it laying. Doubt that would happen. I wouldn't make it a habit. And I would probably talk to the neighbors in advance but I don't think you'd have a problem recovering it unless they wanted it for themselves
 
If there's an HOA check to make sure there is not a rule against shooting your bow in the neighborhood. Most HOA's have rules against firearms which is a no-brainer but nothing about archery equipment.

If you enjoy the spot then I would advise NOT to talk to the neighbors until you have to. They could be antis and ruin it for you. The motto better to ask for forgiveness than permission may apply here.

In my experience hunting urban areas, deer will not run into backyards. They seek familiar thickets when shot because they have no clue what just happened. Running into the open is the last thing on their mind.
 
Born and Raised said:
If there's an HOA check to make sure there is not a rule against shooting your bow in the neighborhood. Most HOA's have rules against firearms which is a no-brainer but nothing about archery equipment.

If you enjoy the spot then I would advise NOT to talk to the neighbors until you have to. They could be antis and ruin it for you. The motto better to ask for forgiveness than permission may apply here.

In my experience hunting urban areas, deer will not run into backyards. They seek familiar thickets when shot because they have no clue what just happened. Running into the open is the last thing on their mind.
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If you have permission to hunt HOA does not apply in my thinking.
 
Other than the landowner and his immed. family. No neighbors have any idea we are hunting this tract of land. The only reason we gained permission is exactly what was mentioned earlier. Deer were destroying plants.

This is off Northshore in Knoxville.

I can honestly say i have seen deer on every sit. Being archery, most were out of range. Pretty cool to watch deer feed through while lawnmowers and kids playing. deer payed no mind to it.
 
I don't have an HOA to worry about so that's a plus. Is it legal to shoot a bow from a porch or even out a window at deer? From everything I've read it's ok as long as you are on private land. And I don't think there is a distance you have to be from another dwelling as long as you are hunting on private land? My understanding is that if you are on public land you can't shoot within 100yrds of a dwelling?
 
I killed a young doe from my climber in the backyard last year, it's iffy killing one so close to all the houses but the deer mainly travel on a narrow strip of common ground behind all the houses with a fence to act as a funnel to keep them from crossing onto the other property behind us... but anyway that doe did not go far at all with the heart shot, I watched her tip over.

A few days ago I was watching a deer in the woods a couple houses up from us, and I sat on the back porch with my bow waiting, and sure nuff here she comes straight through our yard. I had an arrow nocked and was ready to shoot but our neighbor on the other side was out on his deck, so I decided not to shoot her.. of course, she went on behind their house and the neighbors dog took off like a bullet and chased her off onto the other property. But that's neighborhood hunting. :D I'd rather stick one when they come by early in the morning before people are up and doing things.
 
Born and Raised said:
If there's an HOA check to make sure there is not a rule against shooting your bow in the neighborhood. Most HOA's have rules against firearms which is a no-brainer but nothing about archery equipment.

If you enjoy the spot then I would advise NOT to talk to the neighbors until you have to. They could be antis and ruin it for you. The motto better to ask for forgiveness than permission may apply here.

In my experience hunting urban areas, deer will not run into backyards. They seek familiar thickets when shot because they have no clue what just happened. Running into the open is the last thing on their mind.
Click to expand...
that's exactly my thinking, I would be very surprised if a deer shot in my yard would die in another yard. It may die right behind someone's house but will most likely be in the wooded common ground heading for cover and not an open backyard.
 
I've been doing a lot of hunting inside the city limits in Clarksville the last couple of years.
I have a relative whose neighborhood is all 1 acre yards. Deer move through the neighborhood from the river by way of powerline cuts.
I set up my climber next to the cut. When the trees are down I am actually at eye level with house windows.
Each deer has only run a max of 30yds, all stay inside the heavy brush of the cut. EXCEPT, a huge doe that took a double lung and hauled. She went through the relatives yard, across the wooded back yard of the next house, jumped a ravine and crashed in the middle of the backyard of the next house. Right behind his deck. Totalled about 100yds.
It was still very early, so I just went ahead and snagged her, leaving only a puddle of blood. You have to take into account that you can't field dress them in the yard, so you are having to load live weight into the truck.
Not one single neighbors has any idea of how many deer have been taken, but they all seem to notice how their trees and shrubs are doing so much better.
 
I guess it's time I come clean. I have been thinking about all this since I moved into my house 3-4 years ago and although I don't see deer often I know they come through my yard and my back porch serves as a pretty awesome stand. It's 20-30 yards above my back yard that is really steep until you get to the very bottom. I decided this year that I would shoot one with my crossbow if the opportunity arose. I talked to the police last year and emailed TWRA and felt like I was within my rights to shoot one.

I watched a doe last year with my crossbow in hand and let it walk off because I just wasn't comfortable with the whole situation yet. My wife is wanting 5+ deer to put in the freezer and since I have limited opportunities to hunt until late season in VA I decided now was the time. I was going to hunt a friends 20 acre farm but decided to stay home with the family a couple Saturdays ago.

About 7 that Saturday my 2week old son woke us up and I looked out the window like I always do and there were two does sneaking through the backyard. My crossbow was in the car so I threw on some pants and went to get it but a police officer was patrolling the neighborhood and I didn't feel like explaining myself so by the time he was gone the deer were also gone. I went ahead and got my crossbow ready and decided to sit on the back porch a while. After 15-20 minutes a 9 point with a drop tine came through and I got off a shot. He was quartering away and the bolt entered his right shoulder. With minimal and spotty blood I found him about 150 yards away. The shot hit one lung. I was able to make the recovery and I feel blessed that everything went smoothly but if I try it again I'll definitely want to make a better shot. I found blood in two spots about 50 yards apart while I was tracking before I saw the deer and I could tell he was breathing so I backed out for a little over an hour and he was dead when I returned.

That's the brief version. I brought up this discussion because I wanted to hear others experiences and thoughts. Thanks for all the replies so far. I have determined, as Catman said, its probably best to do this sorta thing early as possible while people aren't out and about. I may try for another this Saturday if season is still in, I haven't checked yet.
 
I also hunt several small tracts of residential city limit hunting in clarksville. I haven't had any issues with neighboring properties with houses. I did have a lady scream from 110 yards away that I cant hunt in city limits after we killed a turkey. Just know your surroundings. also check your city ordinances. Clarksville for instance prohibits firing any projectile. The only exception is hunting. So target practice is not allowed. I hunt near a greenway bridge. creepy watching joggers at 0430 running with flashlights 300 yards away and 150 feet high. good luck!!
 
That's what A Kingsport police officer told me. He said you are actually allowed to shoot a firearm as long as you are shooting at a game animal that is in season and you are licensed but he requested I not. At the time he also requested that I use discretion if I ever decided to hunt within city limits.
 

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