Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations FOE! As Bruce Would Say...

Whats the legal distance to another dwelling when practicing archery, and is the pond visable from any neighbors ?
It's 500ft here.

There is no law regarding distance for practicing archery in VA. Firearms is a 100 safety zone though. The pond I saw the otter in is about 50 yards from several houses. There is a smaller pond, that it buried back in the wooded area of our neighbor out of view of all houses that I plan on turning into a forage pond. I do not think the otter will find that pond though. It is small with no outflow, where as this pond is larger with a steady outflow. I have heard otters can literally smell their way to a pond full of tasty fish.

Your archery laws are alot more liberal than up here, you just have to worry about POing the neighbors.
Is the official vote in on your AKA?
PondFuzz we was robbed

You need to move further south and get a little more distance in between you and Washington DC. Much like the otter can smell his way to the pond, I bet you can smell the stench of DC from Virginia.

Well, I am 45 miles south of DC. But work 10 miles outside of DC. I am looking at property that's about 80 miles outside DC, but its gonna mean a killer commute to work! But if I can find the right land, it'll be worth it!

CJB,

I still wonder if you could convince the neighbors about the downside of having this animal in the pond and if you could hire someone to live trap him or her and relocate it. I guarantee you if I see an otter he will be dispatched ASAP with a shotgun or rifle.

Kevin,

The conibears I used for muskrats are just below the surface as that's where the runs are. However I do worry about the dog getting her nose in one, so it's a good thing I keep her on a lease when I walk her and away from them.

My dad does a lot of trapping, so I am familiar with it. I seriously doubt my HOA would give a poop if an otter was running around or not... Short of a rabid mountain lion I don't think that'll get me anywhere. Just gonna watch the pond over the next month and see if the otter sticks around or moves on... If it doesn't move on, I will leave some "special" fish for it.