SB-261 Will Restrict Hunting In Indiana! [Archive]

David_218

01-24-2006, 08:56 AM

Indiana Bill Imposes Hunting Buffer Zones- (01/20)
Indiana
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An Indiana legislator recently introduced a bill that could restrict landowners from hunting on their own property.

Senate Bill 261, sponsored by Sen. Connie Sipes, D-New Albany, would prohibit the firing of a bullet, arrow, or other projectile within 200 yards of a residence without the landowner’s permission. This would place unnecessary burdens on landowners and would allow neighbors to impose restrictions on sportsmen, gun clubs and local governments that conduct urban hunts to manage wildlife.

The bill awaits action in the Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters.

Anti’s have tried to impose similar restrictions on sportsmen in other states. In 2005, bills were introduced in Connecticut, New York, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Texas that would place unnecessary distance limitations on hunting.

Take Action! Indiana sportsmen should let their senators know that SB 261 is unacceptable. Explain that it infringes upon landowner rights and could allow people to control activities on neighboring properties. To contact your senator, call (800) 382-9467 or use the Legislative Action Center at www.ussportsmen.org. (http://www.ussportsmen.org.)

Texan_Til_I_Die

01-24-2006, 09:22 AM

Yeah, we easily defeated the one in Texas last year. Hopefully, you'll have the same results in Indiana.

Hoosierbuck

01-24-2006, 10:21 AM

Hoosiers-
When contacting your state law makers, make sure to point out these things:
1)This law will be wholly inneffective in its stated purpose-except bows, the weapons used to hunt in IN have effective ranges of 5-1500 yards. To arbitrarily pick 200 yards is absurd. Absurd bills should not become laws.
2)There is already a law prohibiting hunting in a manner that poses serious danger to others-and it is a FELONY called criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon. This proposed legislation is weaker and redundant, thus it should not pass.
3)This is most assuredly going to lead to an impermissible violation of private property rights.
4)This would prohibit some of the urban hunts that are being used as a tool to control the exploding urban deer populations which are causing problems in localized communities.
5)Many municipalities and counties have their own regulations in place, that are tailored to the specific needs and desires of the communities-a one-size-fits-all, state-wide law would best serve no one.
HB

David_218

01-24-2006, 10:48 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Hoosiers-
When contacting your state law makers, make sure to point out these things:
1)This law will be wholly inneffective in its stated purpose-except bows, the weapons used to hunt in IN have effective ranges of 5-1500 yards. To arbitrarily pick 200 yards is absurd. Absurd bills should not become laws.
2)There is already a law prohibiting hunting in a manner that poses serious danger to others-and it is a FELONY called criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon. This proposed legislation is weaker and redundant, thus it should not pass.
3)This is most assuredly going to lead to an impermissible violation of private property rights.
4)This would prohibit some of the urban hunts that are being used as a tool to control the exploding urban deer populations which are causing problems in localized communities.
5)Many municipalities and counties have their own regulations in place, that are tailored to the specific needs and desires of the communities-a one-size-fits-all, state-wide law would best serve no one.
HB

[/ QUOTE ]

What burns me up, the State of Indiana looks away from the use of Illegal FIREWORKS, when the LAW states: Fireworks are Illegal to use in Indiana. Yet I see fireworks being sold & used around the State of Indiana. Something wrong here! While I don't think it has a Ghost of a chance of passing, a bill such as SB-261, would simply end about 90% of hunting in Indiana. Some Hoosier Sportsmen hold Litftime Hunting Licenses and this law would drastictly reduce the areas they would be able to hunt. So they spent all that money for very little or nothing! http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

slugshooter

01-24-2006, 11:31 AM

From how this is worded it sounds to me like the only thing that would restrict hunting is if the landowner says he doesn't want someone shooting within 200 yards of his residence. A pretty reasonable request it seems like to me.

David_218

01-24-2006, 11:50 AM

[ QUOTE ]
From how this is worded it sounds to me like the only thing that would restrict hunting is if the landowner says he doesn't want someone shooting within 200 yards of his residence. A pretty reasonable request it seems like to me.

[/ QUOTE ]

NOPE! this is not the case here. It means EVERYWHERE within 200 yards of a residence!

Hoosierbuck

01-24-2006, 02:54 PM

Actually, it's any landowner, even if you want to hang a treestand across the road on your own property, facing away from his house at 175 yards distant, using only archery tackle. He can just decline and you are in violation!! Still sound reasonable??
HB

Hillbilly

01-24-2006, 02:58 PM

they wont stop me from doing it... thats a law that I will break, and wont feel a dang bit of remorse of doing so.

Hoosierbuck

01-24-2006, 03:53 PM

Court costs are $156.00
If it's a C Misdemeanor, it would be punishable by 60 days jail and additional fines of up to $500. There is a possibility of suspended hunting privelages, too. That would include license revocation.
Want to hear more??
HB

David_218

01-24-2006, 04:28 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Court costs are $156.00
If it's a C Misdemeanor, it would be punishable by 60 days jail and additional fines of up to $500. There is a possibility of suspended hunting privelages, too. That would include license revocation.
Want to hear more??
HB

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like they are trying to turn once legal Hunters into criminals, doesn't it?

arrow32

01-24-2006, 09:57 PM

Well heck wish you all the best of luck against that. That is crap.

David_218

01-25-2006, 08:36 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Well heck wish you all the best of luck against that. That is crap.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am seriously considering a move to Kentucky in the future!

Hillbilly

01-25-2006, 10:02 AM

Since they took our lifetime licenses away that I wanted to but my future children and my grand kids, I already thought about moving maybe to Minnesota or Iowa.

Hoosierbuck

01-25-2006, 10:54 AM

I don't think those states have LL like we had, either. Most of the states LL are only equal to your annual hunting lic, not incl. all deer and turkey tags.
There is proposed legislation to bring back the LL. It's HB 1039.
I was one level off in my recitation earlier, as proposed SB 261 would make violation a class B misdemeanor, which carries up to 180 jail/$1000 in fines.
HB

David_218

01-25-2006, 11:07 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Since they took our lifetime licenses away that I wanted to but my future children and my grand kids, I already thought about moving maybe to Minnesota or Iowa.

[/ QUOTE ]

With our Current Governor "Our Man Mitch" who is selling Indiana to the highest bidder (Roads) I am starting to think there will be a lot more "Hoosiers" moving away. http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

David_218

01-25-2006, 11:12 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I don't think those states have LL like we had, either. Most of the states LL are only equal to your annual hunting lic, not incl. all deer and turkey tags.
There is proposed legislation to bring back the LL. It's HB 1039.
I was one level off in my recitation earlier, as proposed SB 261 would make violation a class B misdemeanor, which carries up to 180 jail/$1000 in fines.
HB

[/ QUOTE ]

I always though the Lifetime Hunting Licenses was a stupid idea. The state makes some quick money then that money goes into the "General Fund" to be used for other projects. I hope that SB-261 bill get killed off! I can't see how ONE person could decided everything for us. Something like this should require a public vote. http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

horst

01-25-2006, 11:29 AM

ill play devils advocate here for a minute.We have a law in place here in Iowa already that makes it illegal to shoot within 200 yrds of buildings, livestock, or houses.Unless things are a lot different there its really not that restrictive of law.And it makes a certain degree of sense from a safety standpoint.Id feel better if I lived in the country and knew no one was sitting within 200 yrds of my kids playing in the yard with a loaded weapon.I dont see the need for it to apply to bowhunting but other than that you guys are acting like the only place to hunt is in the middle of someones yard http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

01-25-2006, 12:41 PM

[ QUOTE ]
the weapons used to hunt in IN have effective ranges of 5-1500 yards.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly what kind of guns can you use in IN that had effective ranges of 1500 yards? Nothing that is allowed in the states I have hunted meets that description.

David_218

01-25-2006, 01:07 PM

[ QUOTE ]
ill play devils advocate here for a minute.We have a law in place here in Iowa already that makes it illegal to shoot within 200 yrds of buildings, livestock, or houses.Unless things are a lot different there its really not that restrictive of law.And it makes a certain degree of sense from a safety standpoint.Id feel better if I lived in the country and knew no one was sitting within 200 yrds of my kids playing in the yard with a loaded weapon.I dont see the need for it to apply to bowhunting but other than that you guys are acting like the only place to hunt is in the middle of someones yard http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Iowa is a bigger state than Indiana, and the population of Indiana is larger too.

David_218

01-25-2006, 01:13 PM

[/ QUOTE ]Exactly what kind of guns can you use in IN that had effective ranges of 1500 yards? Nothing that is allowed in the states I have hunted meets that description.

[/ QUOTE ]

Here in Indiana we are restricted to Shotgun Slugs, Handguns, and M/L for Deer. We can use centerfire rifles to hunt woodchucks, coyotes, and other game besides Deer or Wild Turkey. There is not that many (if any) shots taken at 1,500 yards. http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

David_218

01-25-2006, 01:34 PM

Here's a more specific link: http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billw...261#latest_info (http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2006&session=1&request=getBill&docno =261#latest_info)

Hoosierbuck

01-25-2006, 02:04 PM

AJ-"effective" was used in lieu of "dangerous" for obviuos reasons. Look right on your .22 box, it probably says that the lowly .22 is dangerous up to a mile away, that's 1760 yards. I am not saying that we shoot at things that far away, but if we are talking safe distances, why not take it all the way to the logical extreme, to highlight the absurdity of it? ****, I coulde have said five miles, since that's the generally accepted dangerous range for a .30-'06, but I figured that would take too much explaining...so I went a little conservative and...it hasn't really panned out that great, either. Most elected officials know little or nothing about this stuff, so I might as well give them the facts in the light most favorable to my position. Agreed?
David 218-The LL fund was not the "General Fund." It was a seperate capital fund for the DNR. Also, I'm not sure how you have it figured that "ONE person" is deciding anything for us. This is the legislative process, and a great many people are involved, including you if you choose to make your voice heard by your elected representatives in Indianapolis.
HB

horst

01-25-2006, 02:09 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
ill play devils advocate here for a minute.We have a law in place here in Iowa already that makes it illegal to shoot within 200 yrds of buildings, livestock, or houses.Unless things are a lot different there its really not that restrictive of law.And it makes a certain degree of sense from a safety standpoint.Id feel better if I lived in the country and knew no one was sitting within 200 yrds of my kids playing in the yard with a loaded weapon.I dont see the need for it to apply to bowhunting but other than that you guys are acting like the only place to hunt is in the middle of someones yard http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Iowa is a bigger state than Indiana, and the population of Indiana is larger too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Iowa also has the second least amount of public hunting land of any state in the US.Which means well over 90% of the hunting done in this state takes place on privately owned ground.Throw in our populaity as a pheasant/deer hunting state and Id bet we get a lot more hunters per year on these private grounds to.And even with all that going on this laws still never been a problem.

Also I looked at the link to the bill you gave and couldnt see anywhere in it where it stated that someone could tell you you couldnt hunt someone elses land.Matter of fact thats what the whole bill looked like to me, just an effort to crack down a little on tresspassing, the key phrase through the whole bill is "without permission"

Hoosierbuck

01-25-2006, 02:11 PM

Horst-
Does your law apply to the scenario I laid out above-with the treestand 175 yards onto your own property? I don't know the wording of yours, but ours specifically mentions arrows and bullets.
We have a lot of deer living in and around rural subdivisions and even in fairly metropolitan areas, and these areas/the DNR are working to use bowhunting to control these populations-like 4 extra deer above and beyond regular bag limits. A significant amout of this control hunting would be precluded by passage of this law.
HB

Hoosierbuck

01-25-2006, 02:13 PM

Horst-
Most assuredly, the bill states that you may not shoot within 200 yards of an inhabited dwelling, regardless of who's property you are doing the shooting on. Trust me on this one.
HB

horst

01-25-2006, 02:44 PM

I trust you on that, Im just not sure why your hunting that close to someone elses house to start with.If things are really that crowded around there maybe you do need this law.Ok, your asking about a stand 175 yrds away, on the other side of the road.By the time you figure in the yard, two ditches, and two lanes of road your stands not to far into the property to start with.And yes, that would apply here as well no matter whos property your on but only to guns, not archery gear.Like I sai, Ive hunted here for 20 yrs and never had a problem with that law, so it cant be to restrictive or more of us would be complaining about it.It does however make a nice little safe area around your house and helps keep tresspassing down.suppose it just depends on which side of the fence your looking at the issue from.

David_218

01-25-2006, 03:05 PM

Horst, maybe this link will clear things up.: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2006/IN/IN0261.1.html Like Iowa, Indiana has a very small percentage of state owned land set aside for hunting. Also, all the Hunters or Sportsmen I know always seek permission to hunt on someone's land. Myself, I have three Subdivisions sourrounding my 15 acres. Currently I can hunt my own property, but if this silly law is passed I will not beable to use my land as I wish, but I still have to pay property taxes. Also the County, I live in, is very small and this law would more or less shut it down for hunting or shooting.

Hoosierbuck

01-25-2006, 03:18 PM

Horst-
I am thinking of this one really great spot that I haunt-I mean hunt. It's on the outskirts of Valparaiso. It's only 52 acres, but man is it a great spot. Part of the reason it's so great is that it is an island, surrounded by development. There are many of those 52 acres that you can't hang a stand on because it is scrub brush, or swamp with no big trees. A lot of the palces to hang stands and hunt are around the outside of the property. I can think of 3 stand sites within a couple hundred yards of residences. I may be on the other side of a small ridge, or across a road, but It sure would shrink those 52 acres to carve a 200 yards buffer zone along the edges where the neighbors have built up. I have never had a complaint from any of these neighbors due to my conduct while hunting, but several would probably exercise the option to close those areas down to me if they could.
EDIT-Oh yeah, the part about hunting without consent is already a law, this just bumps it up one offense level. Nobody much has a problem with that part, as far as I know.
HB

David_218

01-25-2006, 03:37 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I am thinking of this one really great spot that I haunt-I mean hunt. It's on the outskirts of Valparaiso. It's only 52 acres, but man is it a great spot. Part of the reason it's so great is that it is an island, surrounded by development. There are many of those 52 acres that you can't hang a stand on because it is scrub brush, or swamp with no big trees. A lot of the palces to hang stands and hunt are around the outside of the property. I can think of 3 stand sites within a couple hundred yards of residences.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds a lot like my little area I hunt, the past 32 years. My other hunting woods is 60 miles North and my Place I hunt Deer in KY is 98 miles Southeast of me.