Practice Shooting on Your Private Property

[spencerhut]

Was wondering if anyone ever had a situation where a neighbor complained about you shooting on your own property? My neighbors are complaining about me shooting. I have a range with proper backstops and am 100+ yards from either of their houses. We live in a rural county, Madera County, CA. I know if my neighbors don’t like it I’m kind of being a jerk shooting. But, I’m pretty sure I have a right to shoot on my own property. Anyone ever have this come up before?

 

[Tommygunn]

100 Yards???

You need to check your town's ordinances and see if it is legal. I don't know about California, but where I used to live when hunting you had to keep houses 500 ft away (166.6666yards).

There may also be noise ordinances to consider, too.

 

[Pilgrim]

CA Fish & Game code:
3004. It is unlawful for any person, other than the owner, person
in possession of the premises, or a person having the express
permission of the owner or person in possession of the premises, to
hunt or to discharge while hunting, any firearm or other deadly
weapon within 150 yards of any occupied dwelling house, residence, or
other building or any barn or other outbuilding used in connection
therewith. The 150-yard area is a "safety zone."

While the code says "while hunting", I suppose your neighbors could use the code to maintain that what you are doing is unsafe and obtain a court order to shut you down.

Pilgrim

 

[Creeping Incrementalism]

Sometimes, if the person complaining has more political sway, L.E. will just arrest the shooter for disturbing the peace, whatever the ordinaces are. This happened in a small mountain town in California that depends on tourists. A hillbilly was target shooting on his mining claim, an owner of cabins a few hundred yards away complained, and the shooter was cited for disturbing the peace.

 

[wdlsguy]

It's a shame mere citizens aren't allowed to own suppressors in California.

 

[Chipperman]

to hunt or to discharge while hunting

Looks like that rule applies specifically to hunting. It does not seem to address target shooting.

 

[deanf]

That CA Fish and Game Code exempts the owner of the property from the 150 minimum. It doesn't seem to apply in this situation anyway, since he's not huntin'.

 

[spencerhut]

I did some digging into the Madera county code and found out it's not illegal to shoot where I am. The noise or disturbing the peace thing kind of worries me.

I wonder how effectively it would suppress the noise if I built a small structure pointing down range?? Line the thing with foam panels.

 

[wdlsguy]

You didn't say what you were shooting, but a .22 with subsonic ammunition is fairly quiet.

 

[Devonai]

If I were you I wouldn't want bitter neighbors who might lie about me to get me in trouble.

Have you tried talking to your neighbors and proposing a compromise, say, only shooting during certain hours?

 

[justashooter]

or, you could take your tax dollars to another state.

 

[spencerhut]

We are shooting a range of weapons from .22 up to my wifes Garand. My M1A seems to be what brought this situation to head.

And yes, when the neighbors complained to me, in person, I did offer to make a comprimise of shooting at certain times and to not shoot at all during times when they had guests around. They were not flexible to say the least.

Neighbor #1 is 70'ish and lives in a modular home with some pretty thin walls. My bedroom is almost the exact same distance to my firing line as his. My wife and I are not bothered if the other is out shooting. Hell, I didn't think it was even loud. Just a mellow bam is heard when I'm inside. Not even a distraction when I'm watching TV.

Neighbor #2 is 60'ish and lives in a regular stick built house at least 250 yards from my firing line.

Everyone likes peace and quite. But damn. Can't a guy make a little noise once a week?

 

[wuchak]

Have you tried inviting them over to shoot with you?

Your idea for a sound proofed shooting booth might work to reduce the noise enough. The booth would probably have to extend close to 6 feet beyond the end of the muzzle to contain enough of the noise for it to work. If it was completly enclosed and sound proofed except for one end then a large fan should provide adequate ventilation and airflow.

Foam might work but you might also be able to use old carpeting which you can probably get for free from a place that installs it if you ask them about taking the old carpeting they remove when they put down new. It might take a few layers but the price would be right.

 

[Helstrm]

Our state offers a "Range protection act" Cost $200 for them to put 2 signs on the roads near our shop. So if a subdivision ever moves in they can not have my range closed. Current niehbors have 3 years to protest but they shoot as well and one of them is my shop partner's father in-law. EX-LEO

No worries.

 

[Lupinus]

try to compromise

If they are unwillling to be reasonable screw them. It is your land, you made the effort to be a good neighbor and compromise they wanted nothing of compromise it is their problem.

You should be able to do what you like on your own land. The noise bothers them? Not being able to enjoy yourself on your own land I am sure annoys you just as much if not more. So if they are unwilling to give a little and you give a little to it is their problem and their problem alone. Say for instance this- "I'll agree to only shoot between 9 am and 7 pm and will keep it to the quietier stuff after about five. I'll agree not to shoot if you let me know you plan on having company so I don't disturb them." If they don't like it shrug say your problem and keep to the terms you were willing to offer them in the first place.

 

[Art Eatman]

About all YOU can do is offer the courtesy of restricting your shooting to certain times. If you're legal at all, that's more than is required, but it's certainly neighborly.

On general principles, I'd have a brief talk with the sheriff, explaining the situation, and also that you already tried to get your neighbors' agreement as to some sort of days of the week and hours during the day.

Art

 

[RNB65]

I suggest taking the high road here. Instead of the "screw the neighbors it's my property" approach, I suggest the following:

Do whatever you can to limit the noise reaching your neighbors homes. Plywood walls and dirt mounds can help to shield and break-up the noise. An enclosed shooting station will be even better.

Be considerate. Shoot at a time of day when you're least likely to disturb someone.

Try to get local law enforcement on your side. Contact your local sheriff's office and discuss it with them. Ask them if you're breaking any laws or violating any noise ordinances. Invite them out and show them what you've done to build a safe shooting range and to shield the neighbors from noise.

Finally, be polite and respectuful of your neighbors and let them know that you appreciate their concerns and are trying to address them, but that you also have the right to use your property for your own enjoyment.

 

[KarlG]

I would certanly be bummed if I couldn't shoot on my own "shooting property". Property rights is part of what makes the USA great. I can sure see how somebody could get annoyed if the shooting is constant though. I like Lupinus's idea of offering a good faith compromise. Your idea of building a shed to muffle sound could be part of the compromise. That way you will have physical evidence of holding up your part of the bargain and have aplace to stor your targets and shooting bench out of the weather. Art's suggestion of talking the the Sheriff is also good, sort of head any problems off. It would also be a good idea to talk to a lawyer to get an opionion of your legal rights in your particular area. The sheriff may not be as versed on the civil aspects of the situation as a lawyer.

 

[Sergeant Bob]

I'd offer some kind of compromise. If that didn't work, I'd be buying my ammo by the thousands.

 

[solareclipse]

never complained.. have a few acres of a farm in a not so remote area at this point (basically you MUST shoot only in ONE direction to be safe from hitting something ) and never had any complaints.

 

[dfaugh]

If I were you I wouldn't want bitter neighbors who might lie about me to get me in trouble.

Been there, done that, got many T-Shirts.

Without getting into alot of detail, I quickly managed to make myself persona non grata when I moved in here. At one point they managed to have me cited for a whole slew of violations (they went through the town code book, and found anything that remotely applied, and a few things that didn't). Of course, once I got to court, all the charges were dropped (the judge was smart, and I had more witnesses, as well as a good lawyer). But it cost me some $$$$$ for a lawyer (needed him, to go though all the legalese, so we could rebut all the charges).
They did manage to get me fined $50, for a barking dog ordinance (this all stemmed from training dogs on my 10 acres of property). Even though we trained so far away from anyones house, you could barely hear them if you wer OUTSIDE. Inside my house (obviously the closest) you couldn't here them at all.

But anyway, if your neighbors refuse to compromise about shooting times etc. I would DEFINITELY try to build some kind of sound deadening structure to shoot from. Because, this shows that you made an effort to accomodate their complaints, and did what you could to alleviate the problem, even though you were not required in any way to do so. I would also constrain my shooting times to a few hours in the middle of the day. More CYA.

Now, also make ABSOLUTELY sure that your backstop is containing all the bullets, and any misses/ricochets could only go in a safe direction. Beacuse their next tactic might be to claim that they heard "bullets whizzing past" while they were out in their yard. Bad juju, and impossible to prove or disprove.

Surprisingly, I've not caught any flak from my neighbors, for shooting "out back" (but, again, I have 10 acres, so we get quite aways away)...I also only shoot there infrequently, and mostly with some of my less-loud guns.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I would certanly be bummed if I couldn't shoot on my own "shooting property". Property rights is part of what makes the USA great.

Right. This is why it is critical for folks to do their homework before sinking a goodly amount of money into a section of land to use as "shooting property." Actually, it is just smart personal business to do your homework to make sure that the land you buy is legally appropriate for whatever activity you propose to do on it. Depending on the area, local, state, and even federal laws may apply.

Property rights are part of what makes the USA great...and the neighbors have property and civil rights as well and one person's rights do not override the rights of another on their own property. Since things like noise, gas, smoke, etc. cross property lines, you can be on your own property and still violate the rights of your neighbors who would then may have a valid complaint.

 

[brerrabbit]

Not trying to be the jerk,,,

Ten acres is not much land. You are the one shooting 100 yards from other peoples houses, that is not very much distance. These people had a relatively quiet place until you showed up. Do you even live on the property, or do you just show up to annoy the neighbors?

I am going to guess there are no noise ordinances on this land. That being the case, If you were my neighbor I would break out my old civil defense motorized siren, point it at your house, and run it once every 20 minutes starting at 0000. Does my running a siren disturb you? I am sorry, I will try to restrict it to the hours of 0100 to 0400. I mean, it is my property, I should have the right to do with my property as I see fit. If it still bothers you after I have tried to be accomodating, well, its your problem, not mine.

Not trying to sound rude, but it very much sounds like you are the one being inconsiderate. Nor have you made any realistic attempts to be a good neighbor yet.

 

[StuckInMA]

Had the same problem myself a few years back. They blew in a housing development behind our property (family owned and lived on for over 50 years) and they all started complaining. A LEO actually made his way out to where I was shooting one day to tell me to stop. (That was an interesting conversation.)

Long story short the legal distance is 500' from any dwelling and the area I shoot in is more than 500' from the property line let alone their houses. Called the Chief to setup a meeting to go over the plot plans and he declined. He's familiar with the land and said the neighbors would have to deal with the noise. (I only shoot once or twice a month after noon time for an hour or so.)

Out of respect I call the station before I head out so they know it's me doing the shooting and don't have to waste time sending someone out when the complaints come in. Now I just pay attention to town meetings to make sure no one proposes any new town ordinances that will affect my ability to shoot.

The problem is our small, out of the way "country" town has turned into a commuters dream. Since it's close to major highways people who work in and around Boston have started to move in so they can "live out in the country." Problem is the majority of them don't like the things that come with "living out in the country." Like farm tractors driving down main roads, hunting, smells associated with farms, guns and so on and so forth.

 

[spencerhut]

Looks like I'm going to do a few things.
1. Limit shooting to between 10AM and 6PM
2. Talk to the county prosecutor, defense attorney and one of the Sheriffs – We have a run and gun match today and all three are usually there, so I’ll ask there opinion on the matter.
3. I’ll build something to try and baffle the sound to the neighbors. I’m thinking something resembling a cave lined with some sort of sound deadening material. I’ll extend it 6-8 feet past the muzzle blast area. That is going to be a bit of a project.

Thanks to everyone that responded with the helpful tips and information.