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Oct 23, 2007 7:51 pm US/Central
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Allen Residents Fired Up Over Urban Hunting
by Brooke Richie
ALLEN (CBS 11 News) ―
Hunting brings more than a billion dollars into Texas every year, but for some North Texans it brings lead and feathers into their backyards.
One neighborhood, near Highway 121 and Stacy Road in Allen, is fired up about urban hunting.
Shooting a firearm is illegal in Allen unless you look at a loophole in state law. The law says hunting may be allowed... even just feet away from a neighborhood.
Allen resident Van Orr says, "My concern is that a stray bullet is going to fly through my bedroom window, quite frankly."
It is a yearly ritual these neighbors have come to dread. "They come and park their vehicles here and get out and stomp around and shoot," resident Teresa Johnson explains. "It starts early in the morning and it goes till late in the evening."
The residents are concerned about bird hunting right in the middle of Collin County. State lawmakers made it legal two years ago on land larger than 10 acres that was annexed into the city after 1981.
Game Warden Gary Miller says that the hunting is legal, "As long as you're more than 150 feet from any occupied building or residence."
Miller says the law was passed to allow more hunting opportunities in urban areas.
"Now you can actually get off work and head on out and shoot till dark," hunter Jeff King said.
But the hunters' happiness, neighbors say, is at the expense of their suburban reverie. "I'm like, surely they're kidding. They can't let these people shoot this close to the house, and children are walking," Orr said.
According to the game warden it's the hunter's responsibility to stay back and stay safe. Experts also say that birdshot is harmless from long range.
Despite the assurances some residents are still on edge. "I always jump, always hesitate a little bit, when I hear it [gunshots]," Johnson says.
According to the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife there have been no hunting accidents since the 10-acre law was passed.
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