Shooting on own land! Should one feel guilty?

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Sorry, I misread it - thought it said the range was "a couple yards away" - missed the "hundred", which lead me to believe that it was right next to the property line. Still at 200 yards, its a little close for 5.56, unless just occasionally. Just my opinion. I enjoy the country because its quiet, but I don't mind hearing some gunshots every now and then, and actually like it. As long as it sounds distant and isn't all the time.

Plus, a gunshot a day keeps the antis away!:D
 
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I honestly wouldn't care. You moved out into to the country so you could do what you loved, on your land, without anyone bothering you. Yes, this might sound like an immature mindset, but it's why my parents moved out into the countryside. And what did they get? A neighbor who called the cops on us for being too loud during a family party (we were lighting fireworks on the 4th of July) and another who calls our house and demands that we put OUR dog inside, because HIS dogs can see ours and won't stop barking.
Maybe your neighbors aren't [insert any expletive you see fit] and deserve some respect. Mine can get annoyed with my shooting as much as they like, I'm not going to stop.
 
Thanks for the help

We'll I still haven't came to a conclusion about what I'm going to do. When I talk to these people they act like everything's ok, but when I shoot they get mad for whatever reason. I have tried to be reasonable but some folks just don't understand that sort of thing. I guess that's why we have cities! And this is why we have country! If guns bothered me the country is the last place I'd want to live.
 
I'm just like that. If they wanted to stand out on their porch and scream obscenities all day so be it, shoot in the air go ahead. They have that right when they're on their property! Even though I may not like it or agree with it, they have the right.
 
Interesting thread.

My wife and I just bought 3 acres in rural Polk County, IA and the closest neighbor is less than 200yds from where we'll build our home, though I can get over 200 yards away and still shoot 100 yards+ once I get a backstop up. I spoke to the guy and look forward to having him for a neighbor. He does hunt some, though his wife is not real excited about guns. I assured him that if I do go out and shoot, it will not be all weekend or even often. I may shoot occasionally, may bring a few friends out occasionally, but generally will get it done and not drag it out all day.

He was real cool with that. Even better, when we were standing on the lot and discussing it, another neighbor 1/2 mile south was plinking and another guy just north shoots, too, so its not like we'll be moving in and ruining the neighborhood since shooters are already around.
 
Not sure if this has been brought up- Maybe build a shooting house so to say. With ear protection and all, you could capture most of the noise inside the house. Sound barrier insulation is not to costly.
 
I was thinking about suggesting one of those little sheds you can get and add some insulation. Not only would it cut down the noise, but would also make a warm and dry place to shoot all year. It depends on whether or not you have the $2-3,000 one of those would cost.
 
It's not only shooting that riles up the neighbors.

I live on the river. There is a dam which creates quite a reservoir behind it. The expensive houses behind the dam love water skiing. About a mile above the damn there is a boat launch. People use to take their motor boats up behind the dam and fish. Well the people in the expensive houses behind the dam found that they're water skiing was being interrupted by those fishing with their motor boats. So they got the county to pass an ordinance allowing only NON-POWERED boats to be launched from the boat ramp. That took care of the nuisance motor boaters.
 
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Shooting on own land! Should one feel guilty?
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There is (no) mention of how much land is owned by this OP? or whether its treed or open ground towards his neighbors home? Knowing that info would be beneficial to us all and would more than likely influence (my) answer concerning his question.
 
So they got the county to pass an ordinance allowing only NON-POWERED boats to be launched from the board ramp.
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Everybody shooting legally should take note that this is the kind of thing that might happen if they don't take an interest in their local government. And, of course, we all should take an interest in our local government anyway for many, many reasons.

Sevens -
Does massive amounts of recreational shooting through dang near all of the non-frozen months not scare deer away,
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I don't think it does. It's not that uncommon to see deer in the tree line a few hundred yards from a local trap shooting club. The deer appear unconcerned even while the trap shooting is going on in full force.
 
Sure Shot -
Their home is a couple hundred yards away from my range and yes it is in the opposite direction.
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Maybe I should not have assused this but I took the above quote to mean he was a couple hundred yards away from his neighbor and they would be to his back as he was shooting.

All the suggestions of building a shooting shed to cut down on the noise and provide a sheltered spot to shoot from sound like great ideas that would really help solve the problem. Unless of course the neighbors are totoally unreasonable then nothing is going to help.
 
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Does massive amounts of recreational shooting through dang near all of the non-frozen months not scare deer away,
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Sevens,

Agree with DaleA.

What spooks deer is something they are not accustomed to hearing,smelling or seeing on a regular basis. You are probably familiar with 'Hidden Haven' gun club located on the back side of Sugar Grove. It's not uncommon to see deer grazing in one field while there are hunters sweeping the field next to it bird hunting and all the sporting clay stages operating at full swing.
But these deer have been around shooting probably all their lives and shooting at them is strictly forbidden while on the property. They don't feel threatened.

Deer are not afraid of tractors working fields in farm country either. Have been very close to deer around here while operating the tractor. Let me stop and get off the tractor and the deer tend to spook.

Deer in most woods are not accustomed to hearing that much shooting and will spook hearing gunshots. They may only run over a hill or run till they feel safe but spook just the same. Too, in time, if shooting ceases and they are not further bothered they will eventually filter back in the area.
 
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Unfortunately for a lot of us in the country, folks from the city often move 'out to the country' onto their new 3 or 5 acre plot and decide to 'build' a shooting range - at their property line.... with a pile of stones or dirt or tree limbs - 3 foot high and 5 foot wide. So they think they can sit at the picnic table 200 yards away and shoot away. We have had 2 neighbors do this in the last year. One's backstop was a 24" dia x 1 foot thick log on end - at our property line - shooting toward one of our barns I work in. Other just built the 3 ft hi pile of ruble at their property line also - and is using the other neighbors property as the area for the bullets go into. It does not help our situation. Eventually these NRA sticker macho idiots will force our township rules to change to protect the rest of the country folk. We shoot, but into a 40 foot steep hill with 2 miles of OUR corn field behind it. About 3 tho rounds of 380 & 45 handgun ammo a year.
 
Heck no do not feel guilty.
I tried before to be considerate to my Chicago-Carpet Bagger neighbors up at my families WI property, always told them, they had a special event or something going on give me a ring and I will knock it off. Enough of them still call the police every time I shoot, even though it is 100% legal and I shoot in a safe manner. One neighbor has taken to telling the cops my father and I shoot at his horses, even though our backstop does not face that direction. Another neighbor demanded we never burn brush again because the ash and ends up in his Olympic sized swimming pool......consideration only goes so far, at some point you need to say screw it and just do what you gotta do.


And I have to defend the 5 acre plot people here because that is what my family has, we still shoot in a safe manner with an adequate backstop that is about 100 yards from the property line.

My project for next season if the divorce pans out not costing me too much more $$$ is the upgrade the backstop we have so that I can shoot from a good 100-200 yards away.
 
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dlawson said:
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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I shoot at home. I don't shoot at night, or early in the morning. Most importantly, I make sure no slugs ever leave my property.
 
dlawson said:
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.
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As long as you aren't breaking laws, and are being reasonable about the times of day you are making noise, then your neighbors need to learn to be better neighbors.
 
?..my Brother-in-law is a few hundred feet away but he loves to shoot and joins me frequently. The problem is they are selling their house, I hope they sell to someone who appreciates what I do.
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Make sure you're shooting when the realtor brings people around.
 
Nah, don't feel guilty at all.

You're in your own land and not breaking any laws, not destroying other's property, and not causing any trouble. I shoot at a buddy's backyard and his neighbors are only about 100yards away. As long as you are in your own land and not breaking the law, there's nothing to feel guilty about.

So blast away!:D
 
I was shooting my .17 HMR when my neighbor started yelling something about having no respect , threatened to "call the law". I yelled back something about the 2nd amendment and that I would save him the trouble and call them myself, called the local police department and a officer came to the house, and she told me that as long as I am being safe and not firing in their direction I am breaking no laws. And that city folk move out to the country not expecting there to be hearing gunshots frequently and get all uppity about it.

While I could let loose the 7mm mag or other large calibers in my front yard if I was so inclined I respect the sort of noise larger calibers make and will go farther out into the woods to shoot them.

I was always sort of discouraged from shooting on sundays. If it's night time I won't let off anything louder than .22 LR or rat shot. I try to avoid waking up the neighbors too often with the .17 hmr early in the morning. But if the sun is out I shoot all I want.

I think rather than feeling guilty, just try to be considerate of your neighbors. It sucks if they don't like it, your doing nothing against the law and there is nothing they can do about it.
 
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