shooting..and neighbors

lamoncha lover · #1 09/25/12, 08:51 PM

we have had our land probably over 6 yrs now. We have been building a pay as you go. We have used it for camping, horses, and target shooting. We did hunt deer one yr. We bought as much land as we could afford. Thats part of why our house has taken so long. In the meantime folks have built a bit around us.3 houses on 5 to 10 acre lots. Since we are building in the middle of our property..they don't affect us...much..or so i thought.
one of the families that spent minor on their 5 acre lot and major on their super nice house felt it was fine to use our 32 acres for 4 wheeling. I hate to be ugly but they should have bought more land. We have sacrificed to have our land. I don't want them on it.
the other neighbor called me today. What is all that shooting going on at your place?
um target shooting
why do you do that? um..because we all enjoy it...
It's scaring her goats....its close to her house (BS). Blah blah
I was very nice,,,but did not budge. We bought land to do the things we love. Ride horse, shoot *gasp* guns. Am I wrong?

Robotron · #2 09/25/12, 08:58 PM

Michigan has a 450 foot safety zone around buildings. Owner can shoot within safety zone but if it enters your property you can not. Sounds like you have the safety zone covered so she should accept it as it is part of country life. Keep shooting and enjoying it. Safely, of course.

Pearl B · #3 09/25/12, 09:02 PM

I dont think you are in the wrong at all.

lamoncha lover · #4 09/25/12, 09:08 PM

robotron..can you explain this to me. Owner can shoot within safety zone but if it enters your property you can not
How many feet is an 4 acre?

lamoncha lover · #5 09/25/12, 09:15 PM

hubby was in about the middle of an 8 acre pasture,,,,which is long and narrow,,and there's another neighbor with 10 acres between us and them. So there was plenty of space between us and them. Also he was shooting into our woods.
she just couldnt seem to get it that we like target shooting. Kept asking me well why? But i couldn't pretend like we were not going to shoot. Told her i hope her goats get used to it as we do shoot.It's what we do. I was calm. she was po'd. I did not like the call at all.

copperkid3 · #6 09/25/12, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamoncha lover

hubby was in about the middle of an 8 acre pasture,,,,which is long and narrow,,and there's another neighbor with 10 acres between us and them. So there was plenty of space between us and them. Also he was shooting into our woods.
she just couldnt seem to get it that we like target shooting. Kept asking me well why? But i couldn't pretend like we were not going to shoot. Told her i hope her goats get used to it as we do shoot.It's what we do. I was calm. she was po'd. I did not like the call at all.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ask her why she finds it necessary to keeping goats around a private shooting range?

They are smelly, loud and demanding critters that have no manners and take advantage
of whoever claims them. Why would she place herself in such a subservient position?
Has she no pride in how the neighbors see her being "used"?!!!

Maybe she'll get the hint that your business is just that. . . YOUR business; not hers.

texican · #7 09/25/12, 09:54 PM

I would have told em I was shooting zombies. What? You didn't know the Zombie Apocalypse had started... should I send them your way?

Pearl B · #8 09/25/12, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Have you considered going on the offensive?

I was thinking along those lines too.

Tell her being way out in the country, ask her if she would really like word getting out that she doesnt like firearms.

shooting..and neighbors - Homesteading Questions

||Downhome|| · #9 09/25/12, 10:15 PM

shootings no different then anything else that travels over the property line when you have neighbors.

If her livestock smells where drifting over and disturbing you, seems you would take some issue?

I have no issue with folks shooting as long as they use some discretion.

Much as you pointed out the 4 wheel folks should of bought more property seems you should of too.

would of saved all the neighbor issues you know 4 wheeler and goats.

lamoncha lover · #10 09/25/12, 10:26 PM

downhome.and what discretion would you advise?
the sound may have traveled to her property line..but no bullets crossed out of ours.Hubby took a total of 14 shots. It was not night, bedtime or ssiesta time.what do you think we could do to bebetter neighbors?

lamoncha lover · #11 09/25/12, 10:27 PM

they have put up a huge light on their property that has destroyed my view of the stars in the field. I do not like it but find i accept it as it is on their property

Big Dave · #12 09/25/12, 10:44 PM

The people that lived next to us Had one of those annoying city lights. He burned his own house down in January. The light still is on. By the way he loved his guns. Shot my house and several of the neighbors homes as well. No we do not live close to each other. If you know where your bullets go they should only deal with your noise.

lamoncha lover · #13 09/25/12, 10:50 PM

all 14 bullets were in the target on our property:>)

salmonslayer · #14 09/25/12, 10:58 PM

Tell her to move back to the city or that your husband is practicing for goat season.

||Downhome|| · #15 09/25/12, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamoncha lover

downhome.and what discretion would you advise?
the sound may have traveled to her property line..but no bullets crossed out of ours.Hubby took a total of 14 shots. It was not night, bedtime or ssiesta time.what do you think we could do to bebetter neighbors?

limited to certain days, just like loud parties.
after noon and before dark.
limited time period.

If you had animals that where spooked by gun shots how would you feel?

I have a few so I know the feeling.

I shoot too though but try and use discretion in the matter as I know neighbors also have gun shy critters.

it would be sweet if silencers where not controlled by the atf!

perhaps you could arrange shooting days and she can lock the goats in the barn with some treats and a radio.

I was trying to point out the sound does travel. and can cause issues.

I had to talk to the kids down the road cause they had no idea the havoc they where creating.

he understood she wanted to fight about it. I wasn't telling them not to just pointing out the problem it was causing and if they could use some discretion.

Once she got where I was coming from she was ok with what i was saying.

I've heard them a few times since but not like I had.

they where shooting at all hours and all day long.

that to me is unacceptable.

many neighbors around here shoot but not for extended period and normaly in the early afternoon.

lamoncha lover · #16 09/25/12, 11:46 PM

it was in fact late afternoon and 16 shots is not extended. There may be times when we MAY shoot for extended periods. Surely not early in the morning or after dark at night.
I do have horses, They do get scared with the first shots. They do become acclimated.they don't care for 4 wheelers..but do acclimate. they don't like the neighbors dogs in their pasture..but do get acclimated.
I personally feel she is being picky and unreasonable and I am starting to feel aggravated.
I do not want problems with neighbors. To me best neighbors are those you can wave at and then we just all leave each other alone. I do wish we had bought more land. That being said we do have 32 acres I am not sharing with folks that bought 5. BTW have you ever smelled a buck? the smell can waft for miles...I can..but it is not on my property so not my business.

rambler · #17 09/25/12, 11:57 PM

It's one of those 2 way deals....

I like the freedom of a land owner to own & use a gun.

But so many people are irrisponsible any more these days, I get kinda queezy when a neighbor starts shooting target practice - you just don't know if they know their beans or not, if they are responsible or not.

And it makes me a little nervious......

--->Paul

||Downhome|| · #18 09/25/12, 11:58 PM

it was just my two bits.

I don't have to live by her so...

you asked I shared.

did not say you did or did not, playing devils advocate a bit.

I wish ya luck.

Ultimately its up to you to figure out one way or the other.

Calhoon · #19 09/26/12, 12:15 AM

With all respect , to you and your neighbors , I've gone through the same thing myself . . .

I don't shoot all that much , but when I do , I shoot every gun I have , mainly on my b-day in August , , just to check the sights for accuracy , and because I just enjoy shooting my guns , and I've a few , and make a lot of noise . a .54 caliber black-powder rifle sounds like a cannon going off , and that's just one of my guns ... and I'll shoot all day long ....

I always call my neighbors and tell them I'll be shooting the next day , , they may not like the racket & loud noise , but they appreciate the courtesy of my phone call , so I'd try that approach , after all , y'all are neighbors , and need to get along , if ya can , , ya know ?

I don't know the laws in your state , but if your in a rural area , you most likely are not restricted by city law , shoot all you want , if your neighbors goats have an earache , that's your neighbors gripe , maybe you could give them some cotton ear plugs to put in their goats ears , but in my opinion , having gone through a similiar situation myself , what I did was to start shooting the loudest gun I have everyday , they'll get used to it , and so will their goats . .

Either way , it's your property , and if you feel like shooting your guns , then by Harry , shoot them . . .if you keep getting BS from your neighbors , then put up No-Trespassing signs , when your neighbors tresspass on your property , then file charges , when they can't ride their 4-wheelers on your property , maybe they'll start respecting your rights on your property ...

That's what I did , it worked for me , maybe it'll work for you as well . .

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamoncha lover

we have had our land probably over 6 yrs now. We have been building a pay as you go. We have used it for camping, horses, and target shooting. We did hunt deer one yr. We bought as much land as we could afford. Thats part of why our house has taken so long. In the meantime folks have built a bit around us.3 houses on 5 to 10 acre lots. Since we are building in the middle of our property..they don't affect us...much..or so i thought.
one of the families that spent minor on their 5 acre lot and major on their super nice house felt it was fine to use our 32 acres for 4 wheeling. I hate to be ugly but they should have bought more land. We have sacrificed to have our land. I don't want them on it.
the other neighbor called me today. What is all that shooting going on at your place?
um target shooting
why do you do that? um..because we all enjoy it...
It's scaring her goats....its close to her house (BS). Blah blah
I was very nice,,,but did not budge. We bought land to do the things we love. Ride horse, shoot *gasp* guns. Am I wrong?

indypartridge · #20 09/26/12, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamoncha lover

They do become acclimated.

That's what I thought too. So you need to shoot more often, to help the neighbor's goats get used to it.

When I moved to the country, I figured that's just what people do whenever it's nice out - shoot. One person limiting their time wouldn't make much difference, given all the folks around here that like to shoot.

My cousin is a Civil War re-enactor and has two massive cannons. I can see where maybe he should use some discretion when shoots.