licensing regulations
Can I shoot my homemade bow and arrow in my backyard in Beaverton Oregon?
<p>I have a PVC homemade bow in my backyard that I want to shoot. Can I shoot it at a target that is up against the fence? I will put cardboard around it, but I have neighbors on three sides of my house and a road on the 4th. I will be shooting down but I might miss. Do I need to get the neighbor's permission and if I do is it still legal?</p>

<p><a href="https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/166.220" rel="nofollow noreferrer">ORS 166.220</a> suggests this would be illegal - specifically its &quot;unlawful use of a weapon&quot; if a person (emphasis mine):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Intentionally discharges a firearm, blowgun, <strong>bow and arrow</strong>, crossbow or explosive device within the city limits of any city or within residential areas within urban growth boundaries at or in the direction of any <strong>person, building, structure or vehicle</strong> within the range of the weapon without having legal authority for such discharge.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So what's &quot;within range&quot;? With a homemade bow of unknown construction, draw weight, and unknown arrows I'd say it's pretty much going to be something you find out when an arrow <em>goes</em> that far. I wouldn't expect it to match the range of high-end bows and arrows (I've seen 40lb recurves cover ~250 yards) but 100 yards plus doesn't sound ridiculous - more if it's got some elevation to it. The point is you <em>really</em> don't want to find out the hard way when a shot goes astray giving your neighbours the old King Harold treatment.</p>
