Thread: Zeroing on public land?

This one comes up every so often.

Ultimately it comes down to the part of the act below. I am not even a bush lawyer let alone a real lawyer so take my opinion only as an opinion. But the way that I interpret that in practice is like the tree falling in the woods.
Most other users of public land might acknowledge the sound of one or two shots and then carry on as they were. 10 or 20 shots will probably draw attention. I have fired a shot to check zero after dropping my rifle and I don’t see a problem with doing that in a discreet way. Load development or first time zeroing is probably best done at the range. Laws aside it’s just more convenient.


Discharging firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon in or near dwellinghouse or public place
A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to a fine not exceeding $10,000, if the person, without reasonable excuse, discharges a firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon in or near a dwellinghouse or a public place so as to—
(a)
endanger property; or
(b)
endanger, annoy, or frighten any person.
Section 48: replaced, on 25 June 2020, by section 75 of the Arms Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 23).