hunting in davidson county. not sure where to post this.

[me04070]

My friend and his family have a lot of property in davidson county in one of the general services districts. Their places sit on 15 to 150 acre pieces of land. Many pieces are contigous. We hunt them often and shoot for fun now and again in the more secluded sections. Coyotes are a problem out here and we kill them when can. Two questions today. #1 we would like to get serious about removing them instead of just popping them at random. Any advice? #2. We fired at one today (missed....) we had a clean backstop. 20+ acre family property on three sides and i even had my just renewed license in my pocket. The problem was the fourth side. To line up on the coyote safely we we had to set up 10 yards from a main street. A passing driver stopped and had an ab

solute fit after the shot (did i mention i missed) we bave been waiting for a visit from metro police all afternoon. I am certain we were within the law but should we be worried? This guy was pissed. We didn't argue back. We just hopped back in the truck and pulled through gate.

[Guest Grubbah]

I guess it depends on how far the right of way extends from that road. Below is the only info I could find on the matter.

70-4-108. Hunting from or across public road or near dwelling -- Penalty.

(a) It is unlawful to hunt, shoot at, chase, catch, or kill, with or without dogs, any wild animal, wild bird, or wild fowl from a public road right-of-way, or to shoot any firearms across or on any public road.

(b ) It is unlawful to hunt, shoot at, chase, or kill, with or without dogs any wild animal, wild bird or wild fowl on public lands and waters within one hundred yards (100 yds.) of a visible dwelling house, whether or not such dwelling house is on public or private lands, without the owner's permission.

(c ) A violation of the provisions of subsection (a) or (b ) is a Class C misdemeanor.

(d) (1) It is unlawful to hunt, shoot at, chase, catch, or kill, with or without dogs, any wild animal, wild bird, or wild fowl from a motor vehicle on either a public road or right-of-way, or from a public road or right-of-way after leaving a motor vehicle specifically for such purpose with the immediate intent to return to the vehicle.

(2) A violation of the provisions of this subsection (d) is a Class A misdemeanor.

Edited April 16, 2012 by Grubbah

[me04070]

Thanks so much. We should be in the clear.

[whiskey]

I take it you weren't in the city limits of a city that prohibits shooting, right?

Likely if the police did contact you, they would do little more than warn you.

To be safe, I'd recommend you contact your local fish and game officer and run your future plans past him.

[monkeylizard]

I take it you weren't in the city limits of a city that prohibits shooting, right?

Davidson is split into 2 districts, Urban Services and General Services. Nashville Municipal Code 11.12.080 (A) says discharging a firearm in the urban services is a no-no, but © makes an exception for hunting, even in the urban services district. So hunting in all of Davidson county is legal during daylight hours so long as all other safety requirements are met (distance from a dwelling, not across or from a road, etc.) It's hard to imagine a place in the urban services district where those conditions could be met, though.

But the OP said he was in the general services district, where there's still quite a lot of open land in some areas. Thank you, Cumberland River.

Personally, 10 yards is a little too close to a roadway for me, esp. if your vehicle is close by, but it's the TWRA agent's call that matters.