Consider These Factors Before You Practice Your Crossbow In Your Yard
If you're a new crossbow enthusiast, you'll want to spend a considerable amount of time honing your skills by shooting targets. While you can visit a shooting range in your city, another thought you might have is to set up a makeshift range in your backyard. Obviously, if you're on a small city lot, this idea might not be a good one. However, if you have a significant amount of property, a range for your crossbow can help you to hone your skills in privacy. Before you begin setting up the range, however, there are several vitally important factors to think about.
Legality
Different jurisdictions view crossbows in different manners. While your local government may not have problem with you shooting a crossbow on your property, not every municipality takes this approach. It's imperative that you call your local government office — calling the bylaw department is a good place to start — to determine the legality of target practice in your yard. Some areas view discharging a crossbow in the same manner as discharging a firearm, which means that you could be face a police visit and a fine if you use your crossbow in your yard when it's prohibited by law.
Behind The Target
You'd like to think that you'd hit the target each time you shoot, but the reality is that you'll probably have some misses — especially if you're still a novice crossbow enthusiast. Give careful consideration to what is behind the target. If your lot backs onto an empty field, for example, you should set the target up between the house and the field. This way, any bolts that miss their mark will land harmlessly in the field beyond the target. If you don't have such an ideal setup, don't think that a fence will stop an errant bolt from entering a neighbor's yard.
Discussions With Neighbors
Provided that shooting your crossbow on your property is legal, you may wish to let your neighbors know what you'll be doing. Neighbors who have pets that roam the area, for example, may ask that you let them know when you'll be practicing so that they can call their pets indoors. Even though you'd be unlikely to accidentally shoot a pet, your neighbors may have a higher degree of peace of mind when they know that their furry friends are safe inside the house. The same goes for neighborhood children; you want to let people know that their kids should not trespass onto your property for safety reasons.
For more information or advice, contact a business such as Kidron Sports Center.