I heard a story at work regarding a 17 year old shooting nuisance squirrels in their yard (on their property) with a pellet gun. Apparently a neighbor called the police and they came down and told them they cannot do so without their neighbors "permission", and were instructed by the officer to stop.

This sounds a little fishy. Is there any validity to this? Are there laws applicable to this type of thing?

500 foot rule?

As posted above there is a season for grey squirrels. That's #1, #2 is the 500 ft rule, if he was closer than 500 ft (and in season) he can't do it. #3 - he needs a hunting license. A pellet gun falls under

Sec. 26-1. Definitions. (12) "Hunting" means pursuing, shooting, killing and capturing any bird, quadruped or reptile and attempting to pursue, shoot, kill and capture any bird, quadruped or reptile, whether such act results in taking or not, including any act of assistance to any other person in taking or attempting to take any such animal.

Sec. 26-27. Licenses required for hunting, trapping and fishing. Exceptions. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), (c), (e), (f), (g) or (h) of this section and other provisions of this chapter providing specific license exemption, no person shall take, hunt or trap, or shall attempt to take, hunt or trap, or assist in taking, hunting or trapping, any wild bird or mammal and no person more than sixteen years of age shall take, attempt to take, or assist in taking any fish or bait species in the inland waters or marine district by any method or land marine fish and bait species in the state, regardless of where such marine fish or bait species are taken, without first having obtained a license as provided in this chapter. No person under sixteen years of age shall hunt or trap, except as provided in section 26-38.

26-66-1. Behavior and actions of hunters
(a) The method of taking wild birds and wild quadrupeds by hunting shall be restricted to firearms, high velocity air guns using a single ball or pellet type projectile, and compound, long, or recurved bow. In designated areas, by special permit, the commissioner may allow the use of modified versions of air guns or archery implements to achieve wildlife management objectives. No arrow or projectile which is coated with or contains any drugs, poison or known tranquilizing substance may be used or possessed while engaged in archery hunting.

Skip

Please no that I'm trying to argue this in any way, I just want to see if/where an air rifle is defined as a "firearm" and how that pertain to the 500 ft. rule. Here is the 500 ft rule regulation I found, and it only mentions firearms:

500 Foot Zone - It is prohibited to hunt with, shoot, or carry a loaded firearm within 500 feet of any building occupied by people or domestic animals, or used for storage of flammable material, or within 250 feet of such buildings when waterfowl hunting in tidal areas from land shooting positions or from floating blinds anchored adjacent to land or from rock positions, unless written permission for lesser distances is obtained from the owner and carried. Landowners, their spouse, and lineal descendants are exempt from this restriction, providing any building involved is their own. The 500 foot zone does not apply to bowhunting.


Thanks,

As always I appreciate your insight

Page 12 of this year's Hunting & Trapping guide:

High-Velocity Air Guns - Restricted to those that use a single ball or pellet-like projectile. Additional restrictions on the use of air guns are the same as those for rifles and handguns.

The additional restrictions include the 500 ft requirement.

Scott