If you're in an open area, with a safe backstop, I'd say go for it. That being said, I know in London (Ontario), you cannot shoot a bow or firearm within the city unless at a specified range.
Another option is, how long is longest point in your house? If you have a long open hallway with no windows, just don't miss :wink:

 

There's a no discharge law here in orillia but I was told not to worry about it until a cop shows up and says to stop. I'm building a range in my backyard, empty 60' wooded lot on one side and 120' lot on other side with house on farthest end. Backstop is going to be 1/2" plywood, I only have a 40# recurve so I'm not worried about going through.

I'd say go for it, worst is a ticket, or just a warning.

Oh yeah what part of TO, I'm from Scarborough.

Gerald

 

Stratford has the same by-law; it's a no go.....but it took me a while to find it in the book.

I have done it because like yourself I asked a Police "friend" first from the SPD shortly after moving into town and he said the same...."I think it'll be fine" (or something like that.) Where we lived prior there was no issue but it had been a while since I'd lived in the 'burbs so I thought I'd ask.

I like to practice safety first so I stick to my basement if I can't get to a more suitable location.

 

I would be fairly sure that Toronto has a no-discharge by-law and a map that shows the affected area. I know Ottawa does and they just updated the map a couple years ago. That being said, they have to catch you in the act of discharging. Holding a bow with arrows in the target in front of you is not enough to charge you with according to the conservation officer that taught my hunter safety course.

 

It not so much that you could be breaking the law, you also need to consider should something go wrong and you accidentally fire the bow while drawing and the arrow sky rockets out of you property and into a neighboring house or even hits someone passing by, then you will be up the creek so to speak. I shoot in my garage with the doors close and against a wall where there is no possibility of a miss fired arrow ever leaving my garage or penetrating the exterior wall. I also leave the garage door closed to prevent any distractions from neighbors.

 

Luckily at the end of my backyard there is a 2 story brick wall with no windows, but I know there's the risk of an arrow going sky high if something were to go wrong. definitely something to keep in mind.

As far as taking the "shoot till i get caught" route. The fine for discharging a firearm is $5K, so no thank you. But the knowledge that they need to catch me in the act is good to know.

 

Wow, I wasn't told it's a 5k ticket.

 

I live in a rural town with 30 miles of bush and farm fields behind me so I shoot in my backyard all I want. I've never actually checked to see if there's a bylaw but my neighbors all know I do it and don't mind. That might be an idea for you. Inform your neighbors that you are going to practice there, who knows, they might want to join you.

 

I thought about that but don't want to end up in a situation where I bring it up and they say they aren't cool with it. Then I'd feel like I'm antagonizing them to call the authorities if they see me.

 

If they're not cool with it they will no doubt do that anyway. My neighbors boys used to watch me, then I taught them for a bit, now they have bows and shoot too.

 

Very true and a great story.

Think I might have to try it out and see what happens.

 

Mid 70s in Scarborough, I built a target and shot on my driveway for several month. Had a 10ft by 12ft net to stop stay shots. Shooting 35lb recurve and scoring 530s-540s at 18m on 40 cm face. Never missed the butt.

And then a neighbour called the cops.

The boys in blue parked at the end on my driveway and watched for 30 minutes, while on the radio with someone. Then they stepped out and said we want you to stop. We cannot charge you but your neighbours are worried. I was 15 or 16 at the time and agreed to stop. Packed up my bow and put it away.

Never shot there again.

 

Just shoot. If someone complains then stop. But shoot safely (solid backstop etc etc) But it is illegal to discharge a firearm in city limits.

 

If they fine you or using a "firearm" you can fight it. If it flies under 500 fps its not considered a firearm

 

A bow is considered a firearm, so yes it is illegal to shoot in populated areas. But again the police are likely to ask you to stop and not charge you the first time.

 

There are so many laws if you want a clear answer call a lawyer. The police do not know all laws and can be wrong. Not theyre fault just far too many to memorize them all.

 

Won't be a lawyer issuing the citation. It's what the cops 'think' that matters.

 

I live on the same block as the police department in my city.

I shoot in my driveway into my garage. I have the police stop at least half the time I am shooting to tell me I shouldn't be shooting.

I politely tell them that our local by-law allows me to shoot on my property. Some of them are happy with that and that I know our local laws......others continue to tell me that I can't and explain to me that I am responsible if anything goes wrong.

I don't shoot in my yard as much as I used to just to avoid the hassle.......but this summer is going to be different. I plan on shooting more as I need to practice.

I am safe about it, and I know that I am legally allowed to.

 

Just remember you are in a city full of hunting and gun hating Liberals, the call is going to be made to the police that someone is in your back yard with a weapon. The police will arrive on seen as such and depending on the officer you could be fine or find yourself in handcuffs trying to explain your situation. My advise is make sure you know your neighbors well and let them know what you are doing is safe and that you don't have any unwanted spectators.

 

Just remember you are in a city full of hunting and gun hating Liberals, the call is going to be made to the police that someone is in your back yard with a weapon. The police will arrive on seen as such and depending on the officer you could be fine or find yourself in handcuffs trying to explain your situation. My advise is make sure you know your neighbors well and let them know what you are doing is safe and that you don't have any unwanted spectators.

Yeah and I am one of them. But that doesn't mean I am opposed the careful use of archery or gun ranges.
No need to slander 'liberals', who from your comment, are likely what most of us would simply call 'sensible'.

 

It's rare that I agree with Bow Bandit on anything D) but this time you should listen to what he has to say.

I lived in Toronto a bit over 10 year ago and used to shoot in my driveway into my garage. Driveway was narrow, between the houses, so I drew a curtain across it so people on the street couldn't see. Neighbours didn't mind. One day I had an arrow nock break, the arrow went sideways though the neighbour's wooden fence into his yard. Nobody saw it, but I stopped shooting immediately. Just not worth it.

Just a note re the bow being a firearm - it is NOT considered a firearm under the Criminal Code. If you do something stupid with it you can be charged with a weapons offense, but not a firearm offense. A bow IS considered a "firearm" under the Hunting Regulations though, so you need to consider it as such when hunting - encased when traveling, hunting after dark, shooting across a road, all that stuff.

 

catch 22 here buddy of mine used to shoot in his drive way on baseline rd in Ottawa 4 lanes cops there all the time ...he was never charged as not a true fire arm and he was proficient at it ... not kids shooting squirrels or street lights... do it out of sight and don`t piss the neighbours off...

 

If you have checked with the local by-laws that apply to the area that you live in and there is not a specific clause that includes the discharge of a bow or crossbow or considers them as being the same as a "firearm" ( which by definition under the Criminal Code is a barreled weapon capable of....etc... a bow is not a firearm under the CCC, and is only a firearm under the FWCA while in the act of hunting ) then the only consideration is to the immediate area and circumstances. IF you are able to establish a safe area ( backstop ) and are not infringing on anyone elses property then you are fine. As always, no matter where you shoot, you are responsible for every projectile that you launch and any collateral damage that occurs as a result. Also, as stated , optically if a passer-by or neighbour see's you shooting and does not know what you are doing, they may make a complaint of some kind. Be prepared to explain to the Offier(s) who investigate the complaint and demonstrate you are safe and competent ( price you pay for living in a densly populated area without alot of privacy - like it or not).

 

a bow is only a firearm under the provincial fish and game act, under the federal criminal code of Canada, archery equipment is not considered a firearm hense the reason for not requiring a FAC or PAL, whatever they call that now. If the discharge of a firearm is forbidden in town I believe it would have to specifically include archery equipment. Just my two cents. by the way, I shoot in my back yard constantly, safely and with an open conscience

 

Is it really worth the risk, just join the closest range!

 

What's the risk? Upsetting the police? If you are safe....with a good backstop, and you are legally allowed......why wouldn't you?

Trust me.....I'm not a "screw the police" kind of guy.....far from it. But I'm also not going to let them hassle me into not doing something.

If you don't want to upset the people around you, that's one thing.....each to his own......but if I want to partake in a legal activity in my property, that does not affect people around me......then I will be doing it.

When the police talk to me, I am always polite and respectful. It just pisses me off when someone, police or otherwise, try and act as bigger and better than me and try to "persuade" you into doing what they want.

(You may hear a touch of sarcasm in my tone.......it's because I have had to deal with a select few idiots in my area. No disrespect to the rest if the good, upstanding police officers that are around out province).

 

http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/bylaws/2004/law0087.pdf

You decided what's best for you and your situation:

Authority: Board of Health Report No. 1, Clause No. 1, adopted as amended, by the City of
Toronto Council on January 27, 28 and 29, 2004
Enacted by Council: January 29, 2004

CITY OF TORONTO
BY-LAW No. 87-2004
To adopt a new Municipal Code Chapter 463, Firearms, to permit an agent of the City to
discharge a firearm in order to carry out contracted services.

WHEREAS under section 119 of the Municipal Act, 2001, the City may, for the purpose of
public safety, prohibit or regulate the discharge of guns or other firearms, air-guns, spring-guns,
cross-bows, long-bows or any other weapon; and
WHEREAS the former municipalities’ by-laws prohibiting or regulating the discharge of
firearms and other weapons have not yet been harmonized;
The Council of the City of Toronto HEREBY ENACTS as follows:
1. The City of Toronto Municipal Code is amended by adding the following chapter:

Chapter 463
FIREARMS

§ 463-1. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FORMER MUNICIPALITIES’ FIREARMS BY-LAWS – The following by-laws:

A. Former Borough of East York By-law No. 17-94, “To prohibit the discharge of
guns or firearms”, as amended.
B. Former City of Etobicoke Municipal Code Chapter, 130, Firearms.
C. Former City of North York By-law No. 366, “A By-law to regulate the discharge
of guns and other firearms.”, as amended.
D. Former City of Scarborough By-law Number 22959, “being a by-law to prohibit
the discharge of firearms in the City of Scarborough”.
E. Former City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 186, Firearms.
F. Former City of York By-law No. 1043-71, “To Prohibit the discharge of guns in
the Borough of York”, as amended and as codified in Chapter 865,
Firearm - Discharge in the former City of York Municipal Code.2

City of Toronto By-law No. 87-2004

§ 463-2. Discharge by City agent.

Despite the former municipalities’ firearms by-laws, an agent of the City, who holds the required
licences under the Firearms Act (Canada) and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, and
otherwise complies with those Acts, may discharge a gun or other firearm in the course of
carrying out his or her contracted services for the City, with the prior written consent of the City
official responsible for the contract or the official’s designate.

ENACTED AND PASSED this 29th day of January, A.D. 2004.

DAVID R. MILLER, ULLI S. WATKISS
Mayor C

If you decide to practice in your backyard please do so with common sense for safety for your fellow neighbours. The last we want is bad publicity from the media, It's bad enough that handguns, rifles and shotguns are frowned upon and socially unacceptable by the general public.

Or head over to the free public archery range behind the Ontario Science Centre and practice worry free. https://www.facebook.com/torontoarchery

 

In the City of Oshawa the by-laws specifically state that you are NOT permitted to shoot a bow at your place of residence.
The by-laws specifically state that you can not discharge a rifle,shotgun,handgun,spring gun or compressed air or gas, pellet rifle,longbow or cross bow within the city limits.
By-Law 126-97 section 1.01(e) for further definitions.

 

http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2227190

Just another one of all too may such incidents from people thinking they were being safe and "it can't happen to me".

 

If you're not indoors in Toronto, you don't have a big enough back yard to be genuinely safe. Way too many ways for something to fail and cause complete miss of any and all backstops set up, then you're in for a world of hurt.

 

I thought a firearm is legislated to b capable of shooting a projectile at more than a certain number of FPS. A bow is NOT a firearm, which is why it does not fall under the CC of Canada. City bylaws a are another thing altogether and some cities have enacted no discharge of bows bylaws. These are fines.

As you have checked with your city bylaws and they have said that there are no bylaws that say you CAN'T that means you CAN.

Just be safe and have a large backstop. The joker who deflected off a tree wasn't being safe. I shoot in my backyard every single day that it's not raining.. Granted I'm not in Toronto, but like I said, firearms are under federal jurisdiction and a bow is not a firearm or you would need a PAL to own one.

I shoot TOWARDS the house, so if I'm an idiot the arrow is going into my house. The idiots are the guys who shoot againts a fence that backs into a neighbours house or a road. That's not safe.

I know someone else who shoots INTO his garage. He opens the garage door, stands at the end of his driveway and shoots into the garage. Perfectly safe.

 

I know someone else who shoots INTO his garage. He opens the garage door, stands at the end of his driveway and shoots into the garage. Perfectly safe.

See my post #22 - that's what I was doing, shooting from my driveway into my garage. Perfectly safe...until something weird happened.

Just because something is legal doesn't mean you should do it. There is no "perfectly safe" in a residential area. A bowstring could break, a d-loop let go, a limb crack, and arrows have been known to bounce off things and come right back and hit someone behind the shooter.

Legal or not, I sincerely wish people would not shoot outdoors in a residential area. Period.