Hunting in Tacoma? Bow laws within Tacoma?

[SmallGameHunter]

I got cottontails everywhere over here, I want to grab my bow and go get some but I can't find any city laws regarding the use of a bow and hunting within city limits. Called all over the city and police department and they were eager to turn me away. Does anyone here have the info I need?

[Curly]

You might try searching the Tacoma Municipal Code to see if it says anything about archery equipment being used in the city limits.
https://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_departments/CityAttorney/CityClerk/TMC/

[SmallGameHunter]

You might try searching the Tacoma Municipal Code to see if it says anything about archery equipment being used in the city limits.
https://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_departments/CityAttorney/CityClerk/TMC/

I am struggling to find anything on there. I went threw "weapons" knives/guns/air guns/slingshots, nothing at all about bows. Can't seem to find anything about hunting either

[Bob33]

Cities should not regulate hunting; only WDFW (should) has the authority to do that. Cities can restrict activities that impact public safety such as discharge of a firearm.

If you can't find anything in the municipal code that restricts the use of certain weapons, hunting should be legal. Odd that you could use a firearm but not a slingshot.

[SmallGameHunter]

If you can't find anything in the municipal code that restricts the use of certain weapons, hunting should be legal. Odd that you could use a firearm but not a slingshot.

You cannot discharge a firearm within the city. They did cover just about ever weapon except a bow, so I may be good. Now I just have to brush up on my WA bow laws. Like a distance from roads or residences and also maybe Pierce county laws as well.

[Bob33]

If you can't find anything in the municipal code that restricts the use of certain weapons, hunting should be legal. Odd that you could use a firearm but not a slingshot.

You cannot discharge a firearm within the city. They did cover just about ever weapon except a bow, so I may be good. Now I just have to brush up on my WA bow laws. Like a distance from roads or residences and also maybe Pierce county laws as well.

WDFW does not have any distance laws pertaining to roads and residences; a county may. It is not legal to "discharge a bow from a vehicle or from, across, or along the maintained portion of a public highway."

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=220-414-070

[Fl0und3rz]

Check Section 8, Public Safety, which speaks about archery in terms of parks, and exempts certain uses of dangerous weapons by licensed hunters.

http://cms.cityoftacoma.org/cityclerk/Files/MunicipalCode/Title08-PublicSafety.PDF

Also be aware of County Code restrictions, as well as game limitations by WDFW. 


Hunting and pest control within a populated area is a nightmare patchwork of ordinances and restrictions.

[ljsommer]

Cities should not regulate hunting; only WDFW (should) has the authority to do that. Cities can restrict activities that impact public safety such as discharge of a firearm.

If you can't find anything in the municipal code that restricts the use of certain weapons, hunting should be legal. Odd that you could use a firearm but not a slingshot.

As to the legality of this ordinance I cannot comment, but cities do definitely issue ordinances to this effect.

http://ccr.cityofup.com/Lists/Ordinances/DispForm.aspx?ID=930

[Tinmaniac]

Define everywhere.In your yard?I have had a target in my yard for 25 years and have never had an issue with it.I am mindful of when I shoot.I don't make a public display of my bow or draw unwanted attention to myself.I don't think there are any places in the city where you could walk around with your bow and hunt.

[Bob33]

Cities should not regulate hunting; only WDFW (should) has the authority to do that. Cities can restrict activities that impact public safety such as discharge of a firearm.

If you can't find anything in the municipal code that restricts the use of certain weapons, hunting should be legal. Odd that you could use a firearm but not a slingshot.

As to the legality of this ordinance I cannot comment, but cities do definitely issue ordinances to this effect.

http://ccr.cityofup.com/Lists/Ordinances/DispForm.aspx?ID=930

Yes some do, and WDFW would dispute that they have the authority to regulate hunting. Can cities change bag limits, hunt hours, make all deer legal, etc? What a mess that would create.

[ljsommer]

Define everywhere.In your yard?I have had a target in my yard for 25 years and have never had an issue with it.I am mindful of when I shoot.I don't make a public display of my bow or draw unwanted attention to myself.I don't think there are any places in the city where you could walk around with your bow and hunt.

The key word here is "limits". "City" implies heavy development. I am within the city limits of University place but I am surrounded by forest. I have a good size family of deer, raccoons, multiple coyotes that all live behind my house. I also happen to be directly across the street from town hall, the police and fire departments. Weird little setup, but there ya go.

[Tinmaniac]

Surrounded by forest in UP?The small patches of trees that are left are by no means forest.I live right next to PT.Defiance Park but I don't call it a forest.The reason the animals are there is that they can't be hunted.

[SmallGameHunter]

Define everywhere.In your yard?I have had a target in my yard for 25 years and have never had an issue with it.I am mindful of when I shoot.I don't make a public display of my bow or draw unwanted attention to myself.I don't think there are any places in the city where you could walk around with your bow and hunt.

Northend neighborhoods. I live in an apartment so no rabbits here. I looked through the "public safety" portion of Tacoma code. Nowhere is a bow mentioned, nor is hunting so legally I am in the clear as far as I can tell. Realistically I doubt anyone, especially the police who will inevitably come, will know that or will listen to me explain that.

[WapitiTalk1]

About the time a screaming rabbit, with an arrow in it's arse, drags himself onto a local hiking trail or road, in plain view of the local people population, .... you'll probably find out if the laws lean your way or not    I'm not sure about shooting critters within city limits, good question though and I hope your research ends up saying its legal.  Good luck.   

[Fl0und3rz]

Rabbits practically fall over dead if you give them the stink eye.  I might use small game tips and just suggest you were practicing with blunts if hassled, assuming all else is legal.