Hunters Lead Residents to Fire Off Concerns

City Councilman Says He's Received Several Calls

Dove season is well underway in North Texas and one area in north Fort Worth has residents hearing about it in an unexpected way. 

As the city of Fort Worth continues to grow and expand, homeowners and those who use open lands nearby are bound to cross paths.
 
"It's just them hearing gunshots in what they consider to be close proximity," said councilman Dennis Shingleton.
 
Councilman Shingleton said he's heard from several constituents along Blue Mound Road, south of Highway 287, concerned about hearing gunshots this dove season and wondering what, if anything, the city can do about the hunters.
 
"Most of those guys (hunters) know what they're doing, they exercise good judgment," Shingleton said. "It's the homeowner next door that's never hunted or discharged a weapon and then 'Oh my God, are they being safe?'" 
 
There have been no reports of damage, only people hearing the shots which prompted the calls to Shingleton's office.
 
"And it's of concern to them, them not knowing the rules," Shingleton said. "And frankly when I asked the question, I didn't know the rules."
 
The rules are pretty simple. As long as you're the right distance away from the homes, on a property the proper size and own the land or have the owner's permission, it's perfectly legal.
 
The city doesn't have an ordinance as it's governed by the state and it'll stay that way.  
 
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.
 
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 18 (S.B. 734), Sec. 4, eff. May 3, 2005. 
 
"It's one of those small nuances of growth that we don't deal with everyday, but it's one of those things you just deal with," Shingleton said.
 
One way the issue will be dealt with is educating residents who are concerned about the rules, because with more homes being built, it's an issue that could come up again.
 
Dove season ends October 20th.
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