This morning I decided to go on quick bird hunt with my dog. I wanted to try this open area located next to some ranches. It is an open area with no fences or signs. The area is covered in desert scrub, no farming or other activity is obvious.
The shooting distance law here is five hundred feet minimum distance from dwellings with shotguns. One house is located near this piece of landed. I parked a good three hundred feet from it and used my GPS to walk off another five hundred feet to give myself a good legal cushion.
We did find some quail and were having a great time. Not only that, in one area I found empty shotshell hulls and broken clay targets strewn all over the ground. I figured that shooting here was kosher.
As I was walking around I noticed a gentleman standing by my vehicle looking at me. I decided to go see who it was. One thought that crossed my mind was that the landowner and he was going to kick me out. As I got closer I saw it was a deputy and I then spotted his truck.
At that point I unloaded my shotgun. I then proceeded towards him with gun held out at eye level, muzzle straight up and the open action facing the sheriff. He waved me over and asked me what I was shooting. I told him birdshot.
He said one of the home owners had called a complaint in because of my shooting. I explained to the deputy that I was aware of the legal shooting distance and pointed out the GPS around my neck I used to make sure I was a safe distance from any dwelling. I also him that even if I am at a safe distance, I won't shoot towards anyone's house.
He asked me for my gun and ID. He went and ran both and came. He handed my gun and license back. To his credit, he was pleasant and professional about the whole thing.
I did ask him if he knew who or what had jurisdiction over the property we were on. He said he didn't know, but decades ago it was a saw mill. It must of been a long time ago because there wasn't any evidence of one.
He told me to be careful and then he left. He didn't tell me to leave or cease shooting there. I did leave at that time. I left because the weather was turning and I was already near my car.
Sorry about the long rant, but it is the background for my question.
Should I go back to property to hunt in the future? Apparently I didn't violate any laws, but I don't want to bother who ever called me in or another deputy if they respond.
What would you do?
The shooting distance law here is five hundred feet minimum distance from dwellings with shotguns. One house is located near this piece of landed. I parked a good three hundred feet from it and used my GPS to walk off another five hundred feet to give myself a good legal cushion.
We did find some quail and were having a great time. Not only that, in one area I found empty shotshell hulls and broken clay targets strewn all over the ground. I figured that shooting here was kosher.
As I was walking around I noticed a gentleman standing by my vehicle looking at me. I decided to go see who it was. One thought that crossed my mind was that the landowner and he was going to kick me out. As I got closer I saw it was a deputy and I then spotted his truck.
At that point I unloaded my shotgun. I then proceeded towards him with gun held out at eye level, muzzle straight up and the open action facing the sheriff. He waved me over and asked me what I was shooting. I told him birdshot.
He said one of the home owners had called a complaint in because of my shooting. I explained to the deputy that I was aware of the legal shooting distance and pointed out the GPS around my neck I used to make sure I was a safe distance from any dwelling. I also him that even if I am at a safe distance, I won't shoot towards anyone's house.
He asked me for my gun and ID. He went and ran both and came. He handed my gun and license back. To his credit, he was pleasant and professional about the whole thing.
I did ask him if he knew who or what had jurisdiction over the property we were on. He said he didn't know, but decades ago it was a saw mill. It must of been a long time ago because there wasn't any evidence of one.
He told me to be careful and then he left. He didn't tell me to leave or cease shooting there. I did leave at that time. I left because the weather was turning and I was already near my car.
Sorry about the long rant, but it is the background for my question.
Should I go back to property to hunt in the future? Apparently I didn't violate any laws, but I don't want to bother who ever called me in or another deputy if they respond.
What would you do?