Originally Posted by LearAgent
There has not been a major amendment to the City of Calgary bylaw 20M88 addressing the use of bow and arrow within City limits. From the comments I've read above, as well as those attributed to Calgary Police, the Bylaw has been misinterpreted. If Calgary Police purportedly believe that the bylaw prohibits firing an arrow with a bow within City limits, they are wrong, but with an understandably overbearing attitude towards any kind or form of weapon in the hands of the general civilian public.
The prohibition of discharging an arrow by bow is limited to what the City controls directly; that is in short, City property. City property is principally the roads, streets, alleys, sidewalks, pathways, boulevards and parks & playgrounds within the city limits.
You don't have to be standing on City property to breach the bylaw and be guilty of an offence. All that need occur is that any part of an arrow you have launched should fly "laterally, across or over" City property, by any means - which includes re-direction (deliberate or accidental) as in ricochets, bounces, and equipment failures.
But what remains, is not subject to bylaw - and that is an arrow's flight over private property, including neighbouring property, so long as no City property is encroached upon. The City bylaw does not prevent a person from practicing archery or hunting with bow and arrow in their own back yard, or in their home, or on any private property within the City.
If you are hunting, you will further be regulated by Alberta's Hunting Regulations. Additionally, you are always subject to civil and criminal liability should your activities cause damage, harm or injury to persons or property. There is no excuse of accidental or unintended damage or harm, as the law applies the maxim: "intent follows the projectile". Meaning, howsoever the harm or injury or damage occurs, through every possible misfortune (ricochets, equipment failure, accident), you are deemed to have accepted all the consequences of having care &control of the projectile prior to its discharge to the termination of its' flight.
NOTE: Two areas of concern: public access - such as parking lots, and including the front sidewalk; and easements. The front sidewalk is considered an invitation to those having some form of business or relation to the resident to enter private property and announce themselves at the front door. Public access either as a license or an easement is a troubling concept that may drift into being categorized as "public property". Best to avoid.
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