r/canadaguns • u/RDasher3333 • Apr 25 '26

Application / Regulation advice Safe distance birdshot

Planning for goose hunting this fall. I am wondering how far I have to setup from buildings.

The furthest away I can get is around 750m and I’ll try to avoid shooting in that direction. I just don’t want to bang up the farmer’s barn or to break a window.

Thanks for your input, this will be my first season goose hunting

11 Upvotes

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8

u/airchinapilot Apr 25 '26

750m is more than enough distance IMO but here are some thoughts for you to consider when you decide for yourself:

  1. Your ammunition: likely BB or BBB. Heavier loads will be less affected by wind resistance, air resistance, gravity and will travel further than lighter loads. You can do a search for max ranges for the ammunition you choose.

  2. Angle of shooting. If you are shooting upward angles, what goes up must come down and on the downward trajectory it will lose much of its velocity. So if you do find yourself within range of something you feel is iffy, then make sure you are shooting up. You should be careful anyway when shooting closer to the horizon since you should be mindful of your buddies, dogs, farm animals and decoys. Plus you want to make it easier to clean up hulls and wads at the end of the day.

  3. Effective distance is what you should understand (vs maximum range). Not only will it give you more confidence that what you are shooting at isn't likely to be damaged if it is on the outer edge of the ranges for your ammo, but it helps you understand how close you should allow your birds to get before you should start shooting for chances of success.

  4. It's great you are mindful of your environment. When you do set up for peace of mind you should coordinate with your buddies what angles all of you are shooting in any case so you are not crossing and also for optimal hunting success.

  5. Even if you find you are in a safe distance away from buildings, roads and other no-no targets, be aware that you might have eyes on you and from their perspective they might not know anything about effective ranges. In short: don't give Karens (or worse, the host) reason to doubt you are doing everything you can to be safe.

1

u/RDasher3333 Apr 25 '26

Thanks for the advice!

1

u/airchinapilot Apr 26 '26

I shoot in a couple places where all of this is a concern.

  1. Public foreshore that is bounded by a walking path on a dike. All hunting is well within sight of the public and there are cyclists, families, horses all being walked. You are allowed to hunt 180m away but cannot aim at the dike unless unless you are 250m away. By regulation the powers that be consider it 'safe' but every year there is someone who complains they were showered by pellets on the dike - whether it is true or not. In such a shared environment where there are definitely Karens with their eyes peeled I would rather be overly safe than cause an area to be shut down.

  2. I hunt at a farm where our blind is around 250m from a major highway (in BC single projectiles must be 400m away from highways but shotguns obviously are different). The property itself is large so you could be as close as 50m from the highway. One would think, you could be at the closer site and simply point away from the highway. We've been checked a number of times by Conservation Officers at our 250m site but one time we observed them making hunters pack up who were at the closer end of the property.

I have been showered by pellets from other hunters on public land which is why I advise everyone to wear eye protection even if you don't need glasses. Don't be looking up at the wrong time.

Only you know your site so make your judgments accordingly.

8

u/Romulin-romm Apr 25 '26

The “law” states 200 yards unless you have permission so whatever you feel comfortable obviously don’t shoot towards buildings

6

u/KadeB420 Apr 25 '26

Our law is in yards?

8

u/Romulin-romm Apr 25 '26

Go read the regulations….

In Alberta, it is illegal to discharge a weapon within 183 meters (200 yards) of any occupied building, or cause a projectile from a weapon to pass within that distance, without the explicit permission of the owner or occupant.

2

u/tmwildwood-3617 Apr 25 '26

Check your municipal regs/bylaws. One place we shoot geese has no stipulation...another field in another area stipulates 500 meters.

I think...but honestly have no hard fact to know for sure...that the 500 meter distance is because typical heavy shotgun loads could travel 400-450 meters.

Effective that far out...no. But I wouldn't want to be sprinkling a farmers tin roof or cattle even if the pellets won't do anything.

1

u/3e_Design Apr 26 '26

at 80m birlshot will only make divots in plywood

-10

u/zulu_tango73 Apr 25 '26

Grok says that, basically, at 300 yards, all pellets will have lost all horizontal momentum and be falling straight down, even when fired at an optimal angle.

-6

u/Orcasystems99 Apr 26 '26

If you have to ask this question.. Your not safe to hunt with..and a danger to anyone near bye. Take the course again.

3

u/anANGRYkangaroo Apr 26 '26

If you have to make a comment like this.. You must know the answer to the question.. and just don't want to share it.

Enlighten us.

3

u/briancatams Apr 26 '26

I would say a new hunter being overly cautious would be a good thing.