diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index fed528d..0ea3e89 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 [build-system]
-requires = ["setuptools"]
+requires = ["setuptools","Shapely"]
 build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
diff --git a/requirements.test.txt b/requirements.test.txt
index b3eaa8c..407033e 100644
--- a/requirements.test.txt
+++ b/requirements.test.txt
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 pytest==3.2.5
 setuptools
+Shapely
diff --git a/shapefile.py b/shapefile.py
index 0cd8b9e..6ba074c 100644
--- a/shapefile.py
+++ b/shapefile.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 __version__ = "2.3.0"
 
+from pickle import NONE
 from struct import pack, unpack, calcsize, error, Struct
 import os
 import sys
@@ -18,6 +19,8 @@
 import io
 from datetime import date
 import zipfile
+from shapely.geometry import Point
+from shapely.geometry.polygon import Polygon
 
 # Create named logger
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -1296,7 +1299,7 @@ def __shpHeader(self):
             else:
                 self.mbox.append(None)
 
-    def __shape(self, oid=None, bbox=None):
+    def __shape(self, oid=None, bbox=None, pnt=None):
         """Returns the header info and geometry for a single shape."""
         f = self.__getFileObj(self.shp)
         record = Shape(oid=oid)
@@ -1334,6 +1337,12 @@ def __shape(self, oid=None, bbox=None):
         if nPoints:
             flat = unpack("<%sd" % (2 * nPoints), f.read(16*nPoints))
             record.points = list(izip(*(iter(flat),) * 2))
+
+            if pnt is not None and not (Polygon(record.points).contains(Point(pnt))):
+                # because we stop parsing this shape, skip to beginning of
+                # next shape before we return
+                f.seek(next)
+                return None
         # Read z extremes and values
         if shapeType in (13,15,18,31):
             (zmin, zmax) = unpack("<2d", f.read(16))
@@ -1456,7 +1465,7 @@ def shapes(self, bbox=None):
         shapes.extend(self.iterShapes(bbox=bbox))
         return shapes
 
-    def iterShapes(self, bbox=None):
+    def iterShapes(self, bbox=None, pnt=None):
         """Returns a generator of shapes in a shapefile. Useful
         for handling large shapefiles.
         To only read shapes within a given spatial region, specify the 'bbox'
@@ -1475,7 +1484,7 @@ def iterShapes(self, bbox=None):
             # Iterate exactly the number of shapes from shx header
             for i in xrange(self.numShapes):
                 # MAYBE: check if more left of file or exit early? 
-                shape = self.__shape(oid=i, bbox=bbox)
+                shape = self.__shape(oid=i, bbox=bbox, pnt=pnt)
                 if shape:
                     yield shape
         else:
@@ -1487,7 +1496,7 @@ def iterShapes(self, bbox=None):
             pos = shp.tell()
             while pos < shpLength:
                 offsets.append(pos)
-                shape = self.__shape(oid=i, bbox=bbox)
+                shape = self.__shape(oid=i, bbox=bbox, pnt=pnt)
                 pos = shp.tell()
                 if shape:
                     yield shape
@@ -1753,7 +1762,7 @@ def shapeRecords(self, fields=None, bbox=None):
         """
         return ShapeRecords(self.iterShapeRecords(fields=fields, bbox=bbox))
 
-    def iterShapeRecords(self, fields=None, bbox=None):
+    def iterShapeRecords(self, fields=None, bbox=None, pnt=None):
         """Returns a generator of combination geometry/attribute records for
         all records in a shapefile.
         To only read some of the fields, specify the 'fields' arg as a
@@ -1761,7 +1770,7 @@ def iterShapeRecords(self, fields=None, bbox=None):
         To only read entries within a given spatial region, specify the 'bbox'
         arg as a list or tuple of xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax. 
         """
-        if bbox is None:
+        if bbox is None and pnt is None:
             # iterate through all shapes and records
             for shape, record in izip(self.iterShapes(), self.iterRecords(fields=fields)):
                 yield ShapeRecord(shape=shape, record=record)
@@ -1771,7 +1780,7 @@ def iterShapeRecords(self, fields=None, bbox=None):
             # make sure to seek to correct file location... 
 
             #fieldTuples,recLookup,recStruct = self.__recordFields(fields)
-            for shape in self.iterShapes(bbox=bbox):
+            for shape in self.iterShapes(bbox=bbox, pnt=pnt):
                 if shape:
                     #record = self.__record(oid=i, fieldTuples=fieldTuples, recLookup=recLookup, recStruct=recStruct)
                     record = self.record(i=shape.oid, fields=fields) 
diff --git a/test_shapefile.py b/test_shapefile.py
index d1ac294..48162ed 100644
--- a/test_shapefile.py
+++ b/test_shapefile.py
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 import pytest
 import json
 import datetime
+from shapely.geometry import Point
+from shapely.geometry.polygon import Polygon
 if sys.version_info.major == 2:
     # required by pytest for python <36
     from pathlib2 import Path
@@ -1010,6 +1012,25 @@ def test_bboxfilter_itershaperecords():
             assert shaperec.record.oid == man.record.oid
             assert shaperec.record == man.record
 
+def test_point_in_poly():
+    """
+    
+    """
+    pnt = [-122.4, 37.8]
+    with shapefile.Reader("shapefiles/blockgroups") as sf:
+        # apply pnt filter
+        shapes = list(sf.iterShapes(pnt=pnt))
+        # manually check pnts
+        manual = shapefile.Shapes()
+        for shape in sf.iterShapes():
+            if Polygon(shape.points).contains(Point(pnt)):
+                manual.append(shape)
+        # compare
+        assert len(shapes) == len(manual)
+        # check that they line up
+        for shape,man in zip(shapes,manual):
+            assert shape.oid == man.oid
+            assert shape.__geo_interface__ == man.__geo_interface__
 
 def test_shaperecords_shaperecord():
     """