ParcelVisionHunting Laws by State
Quick answer: Hunting law is set state by state. The rules hunters trip over most are the safety zone around houses, how land must be posted, whether you can cross a line to recover game, and when Sunday hunting is allowed. Pick your state for the full rules, each linked to its official source.
| State | Safety zone | Purple paint | Sunday hunting | Landowner license |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 100 yards (any hunting) | Yes — 8 x 1 in, 3-5 ft high, 100 ft apart (forest) | Allowed | Yes — residents, family and tenants |
| Alaska | No statewide distance | No purple paint law | No statewide restriction found | No (residents under 18 exempt) |
| Arizona | 1/4 mile (440 yards) — firearm and archery | No purple; orange-painted posts (100 sq in) | Allowed | No |
| Arkansas | 150 yards (firearm) / 50 yards (archery) | Yes — 8 in, 3-5 ft high, 100 ft apart | Allowed | No (under 16 exempt) |
| California | 150 yards (firearm or other deadly weapon) | No purple paint law | Allowed | No |
| Colorado | Check agency | No purple paint law (posting not required) | Allowed | No (nuisance species causing damage only) |
| Connecticut | 500 ft (firearm); none for archery | No purple paint law | Private land only; written permission for deer/turkey | Yes (residents; free permits for deer/turkey) |
| Delaware | 100 yd (firearm); 50 yd (archery deer) | No purple paint law | Yes — private land; public land where designated | Yes — farms of 20+ acres (free LEN required) |
| Florida | No set distance; no shooting over occupied premises | No — orange paint (with signs) instead | Allowed | Yes — own homestead |
| Georgia | No statewide dwelling distance | No purple paint law | Allowed | Yes (residents) |
| Hawaii | Public hunting areas: e.g. 50 yards from inhabited buildings | No (signs or fencing only) | Yes (open days set by hunting unit) | No — license required |
| Idaho | Check agency | No — orange/fluorescent paint | No statewide restriction found | No — license required |
| Illinois | 300 yards (firearm); 100 yards (archery/shotshell) | Yes — 8 in. marks ≤100 ft apart (trees) or post caps ≤36 ft apart | Yes | Yes — resident farm owners/tenants & family, own land |
| Indiana | Check agency | Yes — 8 in. tree marks ≤100 ft apart; post tops ≤36 ft apart | Yes | Yes — farmland owners/farming lessees & family |
| Iowa | 200 yards (buildings w/ people or livestock, feedlots) | No (personal or printed/written notice only) | Yes | Yes — but deer/turkey licenses still required |
| Kansas | No statewide distance | Yes — 8 in. vertical, 3–5 ft high | Allowed | Yes (license); big game permit still required |
| Kentucky | None statewide; 100 yd on WMAs | Yes — 8×1 in., 3–5 ft high, 100 ft (forest)/1,000 ft apart | Allowed | Yes — resident farmland owners/tenants |
| Louisiana | Check agency | Yes — 8×1 in., 3–5 ft high, 100 ft (forest)/1,000 ft apart | Allowed | No — license required |
| Maine | 100 yards (firearm & archery) | Yes — 1×8 in., 3–5 ft high, ≤100 ft apart | Prohibited | Yes — residents, own domicile, 10+ acres |
| Maryland | 150 yards (firearm); 50–100 yd archery in some counties | No — blue paint (2×8 in., 3–6 ft high) | Varies by county | Yes — farmland owners/tenants |
| Massachusetts | 500 feet (firearm and archery) | No | No (banned) | Yes: resident owners/lessees living on farmland + family 15+ |
| Michigan | 450 feet / 150 yards (firearm); no archery zone | No | Yes | No |
| Minnesota | 500 feet (firearm); no archery zone | Yes: 8-in. strips, 3+ ft high, plus annual corner signs | Yes | No (free landowner antlerless tag available) |
| Mississippi | Check agency | No | Yes | Yes (land titled in own name) |
| Missouri | No general dwelling setback; 100 yards from occupied school/courthouse/church | Yes: 8-in. lines every 100 ft at 3-5 ft, or capped posts every 36 ft | Yes | Yes for small game (5+ acres); free deer/turkey permits (20+ acres) |
| Montana | No statewide distance (1/4 mile on state trust land) | No - orange paint (50 sq in) instead | Allowed | No (predators/nongame are license-free for everyone) |
| Nebraska | Check agency | No - red paint instead | Allowed | Yes for small game/upland (resident operators); no for big game, turkey, waterfowl |
| Nevada | Check agency | No - orange paint instead | Allowed | No |
| New Hampshire | 300 feet (firearm and archery) | No | Allowed | Yes - resident landowners on own land |
| New Jersey | 450 ft (firearm); 150 ft from buildings (bow); 450 ft from playgrounds (both) | Check agency | Bowhunting deer only (private land and WMAs) | Yes - resident farmers and immediate family on own farm |
| New Mexico | 150 yards (firearm discharge) | No (printed signs only) | No statewide restriction found | No — license required |
| New York | 500 ft firearm / 250 ft crossbow / 150 ft bow | No — signs required | Yes — statewide | Yes — resident farm families, except deer & bear |
| North Carolina | No statewide rule; 150 yards on game lands (firearms) | Yes — 8-in vertical line, 3–5 ft high, ≤100 yards apart | Yes — no gun hunting 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Yes — landholder, spouse, dependents under 18 |
| North Dakota | 440 yards (any method) | Not recognized — signs or electronic posting only | Yes | Small game: no license on own/leased land; deer: free gratis license |
| Ohio | No set distance from homes; 100 yards from cemeteries | No purple paint statute | Yes — allowed | Yes — resident owners, family, resident farm tenants |
| Oklahoma | 440 yards (churches, schools, public gatherings) | Check agency | Allowed | Yes — residents only |
| Oregon | No set distance; no hunting in city limits, parks, school grounds | No — fluorescent orange paint instead | No statewide restriction found | Yes — residents, own land, non-tag species |
| Pennsylvania | 150 yards (firearm); 50 yards (archery/crossbow) | Yes — 8 in x 1 in, 3–5 ft high, ≤100 ft apart | Allowed (except migratory birds) | Yes — resident working farmers only |
| Rhode Island | 500 feet (firearm or other deadly weapon) | Not in statute | Allowed (4 towns closed on private land) | Yes — resident farm owners/lessees who live there |
| South Carolina | 300 yards (deer, firearm, under 10 ft high) | Yes — 8 in x 2 in, 3–6 ft high, ≤100 yards apart | Yes on private land; WMAs closed unless specified | No — license required |
| South Dakota | 660 ft (rights-of-way) | No | Yes | Yes for small game/game birds; no for big game |
| Tennessee | 100 yards from dwelling (public lands) | Yes: 8 in x 1 in, 3-5 ft high + 1 entry sign | Yes | Yes (resident farmland owners + family, resident tenants) |
| Texas | No statewide minimum | Yes: 8 in x 1 in, 3-5 ft high, 100 ft (forest) / 1,000 ft apart | Yes | No (except feral hogs) |
| Utah | 600 ft (written permission to hunt closer) | No (yellow/orange/fluorescent paint instead) | Yes | No |
| Vermont | 500 ft only if posted as a Safety Zone | No | Yes | Yes (resident owner + spouse + minor children) |
| Virginia | No statewide distance; set by local ordinance | Yes (aluminum or purple) | Yes, with limits | Yes (owner, family, resident tenants) |
| Washington | Check agency | No purple paint law | Allowed | No landowner exemption in the licensing law |
| West Virginia | 500 feet (firearm) | Yes (8 x 2 in, 3-6 ft high, every 100 ft) | Yes (private land needs written consent) | Yes (residents only) |
| Wisconsin | 100 yards (firearm) | No ("private land" + owner name marking instead) | Allowed | Small game/furbearers only |
| Wyoming | No statewide distance | No purple paint law | Allowed | Check agency |
"Check agency" means we haven't confirmed that rule against an official source yet. Season dates and bag limits change every year and are linked from each state page, not listed here.
Every Law Above Starts With Where the Line Is
Safety zones, posted land and trespass all turn on one question: which side of the property line are you on? ParcelVision draws the line on the ground through your phone camera. Search any address free.
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General information, not legal advice. Laws change; confirm current rules with your state wildlife agency before you hunt. ParcelVision is a visualization aid, not a legal survey.