Confronted While Shooting, What To Do?

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FFMedic

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For the past 2 months myself ands 2 friends have been shooting 3 or 4 times a month at a new location. The location is private property owned by a radio station, there are transmtter towers there. A relative of mine is the site operator and gave us permission to shoot there, as well as a key to the gate and the transmiter bldg. if we need to use the restroom.

The area is about 60 acres in a rural part of a suburban township. There are no other houses within at least 1500 feet of where we shoot. There is a near vertical dirt hill, 30' or so high and at leasy 50 yards high on ose side of the property we use as a backstop. The public road is also nearly 1500' away and the other 2 sides are cornfield, also owned by the radio station.

Yesterday we are out shooting bolt guns and an AK at 150 yards and an unknown vehicle pulls up the long private road. At the same time a pickup truck comes down an oil well road to the north and stops about 200 yds. away from us. We stop shooting, truck stops, tall, odd looking guy comes out and starts walking to us. I can't see any weapons but tell him when he is about 25' away "that's close enough". Conversation ensues;

Me: What can I do for you?
Him: You have permission to be here?
Me: Yes, do you?
Him: Can I see it?
Me: Nope
Him: I own land over there over the hill, 2 acres, I hunt deer on it, you are gonna scare them all away, you ruined my hunting season last fall.
Me: We didn't even start shooting here till it was closed.
Him: I can here you over at the cement factory I work at over yonder.
Me: I can here the cement factory here, and a lot of other things.
Him: It was bad enough you were shooting handguns, but high-powered rifles!?! (EVERY GUN WE HAD WAS A 7.62X39 OR RIMFIRE)
Me: Not sure what you want me to say...
Him: I shoot at Camp Perry, 600 yards!
Me: I would like to do that someday too.
Him: Why don't you go to a certified range!?!
Me: For the same reasons you dont go to a game ranch probably.
Him: So what are you "kids" gonna do.
Me: I understand your viewpoint, but we are allowd to be here and within our rights to shhoot here, I'm not sure I'm willing to give up my hobby here because you claim it hinders yours over there. How would you feel if a neighbor asked you to stop hunting because they were afraid you would hurt a child or animal?
Him: So you don't care about deer hunting?
Me: I'm not prepared to do everything neighbors want when legally I don't have to.
Him: Well don't be supprised if next time you are here the police show up.
Me: It's your right to call the police if you feel a crime is being committed.
Him: Blank stare...

Then he mumbled and drove off, his boss in the other truck left, we continued shooting and cleane dup and locked up when we were done.

Am I being a jerk? I don't think so. Short of him buying cans for all our guns is there a middle ground? Any other thoughts? Of all the people that live within earshot of the "range" he is the only to complain, odd since he calims to be a marksman himself.

FFMedic
 
You have permission to be there and shoot there, he doesn't.

I'd suggest .50 BMGs for next time.

In seriousness, though, the worst that guy can do is complain about the noise, and given how loud cement factories are, he likely doesn't have a leg to stand on.
 
As far as I am concerned, he was tresspassing.

He should have called the police if he thought there was a problem...

He hunts deer on 2 acres?

In CT that isn't legal, maybe it is wherever he comes from..
 
Sir, please sign this petition to move suppressors to Title I with federal preemption that way we won't bother you in the future."
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well said, love it :D


you have the right to be there....the deer will come back..:neener: lol
 
I would say if you have permission from the owners of the property, then you are in your right. What time of the day are you guys going, and how does the owner of the property feel about it? Were they reluctant to give you permission? I ask because most likely this guy is going to go to them and complain about you. While you may be right, he could put enough pressure on the owner to revoke your permission.
 
I ask because most likely this guy is going to go to them and complain about you.
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Good point. Perhaps you should go to the owner and let him know exactly what happened. That way when the jerk neighbor goes and complains the owner will already know what's up.
 
You handled it perfectly! And you are not being a jerk.

But, I would have my friend from the radio station contact the people from the cement company and the land owner to explain that you have permission to be and shoot on the properity, as well as remind them that they were trespassing. If there is any problems after that, call the authorities and let them handle it.
 
I would say if you have permission from the owners of the property, then you are in your right. What time of the day are you guys going, and how does the owner of the property feel about it? Were they reluctant to give you permission? I ask because most likely this guy is going to go to them and complain about you. While you may be right, he could put enough pressure on the owner to revoke your permission.
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What's he gonna do, get the media to badmouth him? Its a radio station! Have fun while you still can, FFMedic. But bring a Mosin next time.
 
you handled yourself very well.

also, deer that are not bothered by a cement plant wont likely be bothered by target practice. I have seen deer wander onto the range at the gun club I used to shoot at, and it was a busy place.
 
Well, the property manager happens to be a close relative, my Dad.

He knows what goes on, he has come with us a few times and even asked us to leave some shot targets up as a deterent to possible copper thieves.

We normally shoot from about 2 to 5 PM, 3 or 4 times a month.

There is a gate but I didn't lock it behind me, next time I will.

FFMedic
 
Well if its your dad, just continue to do what you are doing.

And colinthepilot, no they would not complain to the media. They would complain to the owner of the property saying they were causing problems. Put enough pressure on someone for something that isn't popular everywhere and you may get results. Its very plausible for this to happen were it not for the OP's dad being the property owner.
 
He was the one trespassing and I would have pointed that out, but it sounds like the situation was handled fine.

I shoot on 70 acres of prime deer and turkey hunting land. They don't pay you no attention until the season starts and people are actively shooting at them. I remember one day we shot at least 500 rounds, and then, not 30 minutes later while walking over the property to check things out I flushed two turkeys from their roost not 50yds from where we were shooting. I've seen deer just as indifferent. That guy just didn't want you shooting.
 
Sounds like he didn't like your guns. Probly the AK didn't sit too well with him. Try taking an AK hunting and see the looks of disdain you get from fellow hunters.
 
OP's dad isn't the property owner, just the "property manager". Definately get written permission to be there, explain why to the Property Owner. When the police show up, you will have to leave, without written permission.

If he will let you shoot as a certified range for free, by all means, go there. Until then, I'd use the free range, too.

I can't imagine that if the guy hunts two (2) acres that the deer just didn't go around the 2 acres, instead of through it. Probably his fault he didn't see deer. Probably ran them off with too much pressure or bad smells (lack of cover scent, whatever)
 
^ Ah, I misread about his dad. Definatly talk to the OWNER of prop then. While you can legally be there with permission, enough pressure put on the owner could cause a problem. How does the actual owner of the prop feel about it? And get it in writing, as without writing it means nothing.
 
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