Shooting on own land! Should one feel guilty?

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dlawson

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I really need some help on this one. I am an avid outdoorsman and shooter as i'm sure most of us here are. I also reload my own ammo. I am fortunate and have my own personal shooting range on my property which is located out in the country, far away from any city limits, ordinances, etc... Should I feel guilty for shooting on my own land if it bothers the neighbors? I try to be respectful, but it is kind of hard when I want to shoot a couple hundred rounds of 9mm or 223 :confused:. Their home is a couple hundred yards away from my range and yes it is in the opposite direction. What would you guys do in my situation? Would you continue shooting on your own land and anger the neighbors or drive 25 miles to the closest public shooting range?
 
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Should I feel guilty for shooting on my own land
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I kind of think you should feel guilty. There's people living on tiny lots in big cities that CANNOT shoot on there own land. To feel better you should invite us all to your place to share.:D

Seriously though, do your neighbors complain or have you even talked to them about this? If they were nice folk I'd invite them over to shoot so they could see how safe you were being. I'm assuming you have a good back stop and really are being safe.

Again assuming you're being safe, I'd think shooting would be no more objectionable than having a loud trail bike or four wheeler, working on a muscle car or even having some patio speakers and a medium powered music system.
 
One other piece of advice is to keep your fingers on the pulse of local politics in your area.

At times there have been some pretty tricky zoning changes or regulations run in that prohibit shooting that leave a lot of folks saying 'well how did THAT happen???'
 
Safety First

Yes I absolutely have a backstop. Like I said I am very fortunate to be able to enjoy my hobby without the hassle of driving so far every time I want to test a load during the load development phase of reloading. I have talked to the neighbors about it, but they just don't understand the way you and I do. They actually called Andy and Barney once because i was "disturbing them". I would love to be able to invite some folks down to shoot with me as it would probably be even more enjoyable. I'm a self taught reloader. Never had anyone to help along the way except for you fellows on the forums.
 
Zoning. I have no idea what that means!

Yeah i'm way out in the sticks. Legally I can go out on the back deck and unload every clip I own at any hour of the night. Legality is a non issue. I'm trying to find a way to get along with these folks while still continuing and advancing my favorite past time.
 
its a personal thing. now if your going to say work up loads for your 45-70 and have 300 rounds ready to go,, expect neighbor issues.

Oddly enough in my area, the ones who complain are the ones who will burn a 500 round brick of 22s the minute they see you have company over on a holiday, or your birthday, and so forth. Those that complain are normally the ones who shoot their 308 off at 2 am.
 
I live in the sticks as well, and can shoot anything I want off my back porch or out in the yard, anytime I want.

I choose not to shoot at the house for two reasons. One, I dont want the attention it draws, and two, I dont want to hack off the couple of neighbors I do have.

Im lucky enough to have a real nice range literally two minutes and one "bump" over from my house. $25 a year, well maintained, and never anyone there, so, except for the couple of weeks before hunting season, its basically a private range. So I go there a couple of times a week, shoot more than most here shoot in a couple of years, in an hours time, and bother the neighbors there. :D
 
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Go talk to your neighbors, and ask if it bothers them. Maybe invite them over to do a little shooting with you.
 
"I want to shoot a couple hundred rounds of 9mm or 223"

I like to shoot 30 cal in my yard, but it is much louder than any pistol - just like 223 is very loud. I will shoot 10-20 rifle rounds to test a load - maybe a couple times a week - after that, I feel I am making too much noise.

I suggest you try to limit the rifle shooting.

And of course, you could put a wall of hay bales behind you, too.
 
Invite the neighbors over for a visit.

In casual conversation, tell them your wife wanted a pig farm or raise guineas and you wanted a shooting range.
 
I don't feel guilty a bit. But I did a bit of research before I bought this place.

When I retired, it was my main goal to find a place where I could set up my own range and be able to shoot when I wanted.

First off, I spent three days in the Court house researching the covenants, zoning, etc. There were none that prevented me from shooting.

Then I talked to the neighbors, those close enough to be bothered. I found they shoot also, maybe not as much, but my shooting wouldn't bother them.

So I bought the place, that was nearly 20 years ago. One neighbor sold out a few years ago, and the new neighbor called the sheriff on my. That didn't pan out. Sheriff told her I had been shooting for over 15 years and I was safe. (I shoot into a large ridge behind my house, behind that ridge is a taller ridge when is also on my property). He recommended that if the noise bothered her she should move back to town.

Anyway we learned to get along. She works at the coal mine, rotating shifts. She gives me her work schedule, when she's working nights and sleeping days. I work around that and wont shoot while she's napping.

I live 10 miles from town. There is little change development changes things here. Between me and town is a rather large range and some BLM land. Just isn't happening. So I figure I will keep shooting until I take the dirt nap.

I'm aware not all place are like this, with the same rules or lack there of, that's why we do research. That's why I bought this place 20 years ago, knowing it wont change.

It's what I do, its what I planned for, my dream, and I do not feel guilty.
 
Kraigwy has the right of it: talk to your neighbors and be as respectful of their schedule as you reasonably can.

Do not feel guilty, but also don't go out of your way to alienate them. They do vote, and you do have to live alongside them. Best to do that peaceably as much as you can. Getting along is the neighborly thing to do.

pax
 
I have a similar situation

We are outside the city limits but have one neighbor 100 yds to our west. No one other residences for at least half a mile any direction in very hilly country. When we bought our place an elderly couple lived next door. He has since passed.
I can easily see if my neighbor has company. And try not to shoot if she does. When I plan to do load development early in the morning or late in the evening I call the neighbor ahead of time and ask if she minds. She has never responded negativley and thanks me for letting her know ahead of time.
My pistol range is 200 yds away but my rifle bench is only 100 yds from the house. I shoot the rifle out of the door of my machine shed with the door facing away from the neighbors house. I think the building (non insulated) helps deaden the sound at least a little.
To the OP. I think being cordial and trying to cooperate works best, but it sounds like that bridge may have already been burnt. I would do my best to keep the peace with the neighbors. The situation could spiral out of control with more visits from the local LE or possibly legal action. Good luck.
 
Revoltella said:
Get a suppressor. Everyone's happy.
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This! This times a thousand!

Yeah, the OP's situations is a common one and a PERFECT example of why suppressors are so useful and important to our sport. And it's not just people shooting legally on their own land; there are so many cases across the country of outdoor ranges where neighbors complain about the noise and try to get them shut down. Many of these problems would go away if more people owned suppressors.

OP, suppressors are legal in Tennesee. The process for purchasing one can actually be quite simple if you go through a dealer who knows what they're doing. Sure, the wait for BATFE approval is long right now, but trust me, it's so very worth it to be able to shoot with no hearing protection and without bothering the neighbors.
 
Long ago in a magazine I saw an article about reducing the noise of a home range.

This man racked a row of tires.The tires stand vertical,sidewall to sidewall.

It makes a tunnel to shoot through.The tires absorb some sound energy.

There may be some other way to create an acoustic fence between you and your neighbor.

Perhaps negotiating schedule/times...as in Kraig's consideration of the night workers sleep schedule.

They may tolerate you if you meet them half way.
 
being a good neighbor isn't hard.

the gentleman's suggestion of speaking with the neighbor, inviting them over to shoot once in a while, and or considering their sleep schedule or family events... all this would just seem to be common place.

good luck.
 
I have a somewhat similar situation. I live on a huge lake and most of my neighbors are weekenders. Behind my home is over 700 acres of wooded property. Therefore, I shoot during the week when none of my neighbors are at the lake. Do your neighbors work? You might want to talk with them about when the best time for you to shoot. Also, let them know when you will be shooting. Do they have pets that run free? More reason to let them know when you will be shooting. Drop them off a little gift once in awhile like a cake, bottle of wine, etc. Thank them for putting up with your fun. As others have stated, see if they have an interest in shooting with you.
 
do you know it bugs them?
have you spoke to them?
have they approached you?

even if they are put off by the noise, talk with them and come to an understanding.
such as what hours and about how long the session will last..
if noise is the main issue, just by them knowing that you will be done in 1/2 an hour may yield acceptance.
where I am, friends with home ranges call the police dept to let them know start time and 2 hours is generally the duration.
 
I have a bullet trap out my back door. I find it easier to stay in practice if I don't have to go to so much effort to find a place to shoot. Sometimes if I only have a few minutes I can get a few rounds off on the busiest days. My nearest neighbor is the state park across the river and their hiking trial. Even though the sound of my shooting is a faint pop at a distance of over a half-mile away, it offends the sensibilities of everything some of the hikers hold right that a firearm can be discharged within their hearing. Some of them occasionally call the Sherriff's department who patiently explain that I'm doing nothing against the law.

I do understand that when I call attention to myself from a powerful entity like the state parks system by shooting that I take a risk. By law the only reason the state park system has to give if they decide to take my land is that they want it. I can argue price, but I can't argue their power to take anything I own.
 
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