Road Hunting Reminders
Source: http://www.sdgfp.info/
Published: Oct. 16, 2009
The South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Department reminds hunters about several road-hunting laws:
- No person may hunt a road right-of-way within 660 feet of schools, churches, occupied dwellings and livestock. Neither the person discharging the firearm nor the small-game animal being shot at may be within the 660-foot safety zone.
- While hunting a highway or public right-of-way, hunters may shoot small game (except doves) and waterfowl that take flight or originate from a public right-of-way or highway . The hunter must be within the right-of-way and the game must have taken flight from within or be flying over the right-of-way. The public right-of-way along a section line or other highway is open for hunting if: the right-of-way has been commonly used by the public for vehicular travel, as demonstrated by the existence of a well worn trail or an intentional alteration or adaptation has been made to the right-of-way to enhance the natural terrain’s utility for vehicular travel or to permit vehicular travel where it was not possible before. Remember that fences are not always on a right-of-way boundary or sometimes there is no fence. Most section line rights-of-way are 66-feet wide.
- People must park or stop their vehicles as far to the right-hand side of the road as possible.
- If the person who discharges a firearm is more than 50 yards from the vehicle, the doors on the side of the vehicle nearest to the roadway must be closed, but the engine may remain running.
- If the person who discharges the firearm is less than 50 yards, all of the doors of the vehicle must be closed and the engine must be turned off.
- It is NOT legal to shoot small game and waterfowl that take flight from a public right-of-way over a Federal Refuge or Indian Tribal Trust Land. If a state-licensed hunter shoots at a bird across the fence of either of those lands, the hunter may be subject to arrest by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer.
- No person may discharge a firearm, muzzleloader, crossbow, or bow and arrow at any big-game animal, except turkeys, from within the right-of-way of an improved public highway. Turkeys may be taken with a shotgun using shotshells or with a bow and arrow within the right-of way.
- A person may not discharge a firearm or other weapon across from any Black Hills National Forest system road.
- Any person while hunting a road right-of-way who negligently endangers another person or puts that person in fear of imminent serious bodily harm is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
- When in doubt, don’t shoot.
Reader Comments
0 Comments on Road Hunting Reminders
