Hunting near roads

[troutkingmaster]

Hey guys, does anyone know how far off the road you have to be to legally hunt? I found a spot with a few dead trees that some doves are roosting in about 15 feet off the road on a WMA. The land quickly drops in to some marsh land so I cant get as far off the road as I would like but would still like to hunt it. The road is a dead end with only 2 or 3 houses on it so it is not very busy. I know I can not legally shoot over the road.

Thanks

[Bigtom]

I know you have to be off he plane of the road but it could be diffrent in a WMA. I would check the Hunting Regs. Plus you have to be at least 500 feet from any houses.

[troutkingmaster]

Houses are not an issue. I combed through the regs and didn't see any numbers. I have a call in to the local CO, hopefully he will get back to be soon.

[jentz]

Township roads are I believe 66 ft wide,33 ft from center.

[dustin85]

Question e-mailed to MN DNR:

Is it legal to shoot at small game from a roadway or ditch? I looked in the regs and only saw a reference to shooting at big game from roadways. Thanks for your time clearing this up

Answer from DNR:

Low maintenance roads (gravel/dirt) it's usually ok. There has to be a public right-of-way to make it legal otherwise you'll need to ask the private land owner for permission. You cannot shoot across the road,but you can certainly be in the road ditch. Hope that helps. Thank you! Have a great day!Jennie Urbano Customer Service Specialist Int. DNR Information Center 651-296-6157 or1-888-646-6367

[YoMan]

Good stuff! I was wondering about this. Does one have to wear blaze orange when hunting for doves?

[troutkingmaster]

You do not need to wear blaze orange while dove hunting . Dove kabobs on the grill are a tasty early season treat.

[paul pachowicz]

Trout, I think I'd run a copy of the reply you got and carry it with ya.

[dustin85]

Just to clarify, I am not affiliated with MN DNR in any way. I once e-mailed them the question that I posted above. The reply I posted is copied and pasted from the reply email that they sent me. Use this info at your own risk :-)

[HunterLee]

From my understanding for small game you can shoot off unimproved roads and in the roadway. No shooting from the road or right away only pertains to big game.

This is stuff that has been taken word for word off the dnr website.

Other Restrictions

• No person may discharge a firearm or an arrow from a bow on, over,

across, or within the right-of-way of an improved public highway

(including but not limited to federal, state, county, and township

roadways) at a big game animal or a decoy of a big game animal that

has been set out by a licensed peace officer

Road right-of-way

Some road right-of-ways are not owned by a unit of government.

In these instances the landowner has granted an easement for vehicle

and foot travel. The landowner generally retains authority to restrict

access for hunting or trapping and may prohibit trespass by posting

the land or by verbally directing hunters and trappers to leave the

easement. It’s always best to ask permission if in doubt about the ownership

of a road ditch area. County or township offices also may be

able to help determine the ownership status of a road ditch.

Taking geese from public roads and their rights-of-way is prohibited in the metro goose area during the early and late goose seasons.

So in your case you can stand by the tree and shoot away.

[vitalshot5]

I talked to our local CO today and asked this question, his reply was, Even though it is not very safe you can shoot small game from ANY roadway including county roads, state highways ect. He says you will not find a law or rule about this for small game, only big game. You do not need to be in the ditch, you can be standing on the yellow dotted line down the middle of the highway- perfectly legal- He says that standing so many feet from your vehicle is another issue.

[troutkingmaster]

Thanks guys. To my amazement, today my CO gave the same general response listed above regarding shooting small game from the road being 100% legal. Surprising, but good to know. Thanks again.