Marking A Private Range

[The Night Rider]

Okay first of all you have to understand that I am that guy. If somebody's going to get in trouble for something, even if everybody else in the world gets away with it, I'm going to be the one that gets in trouble

The place that my wife and I are moving to has a private shooting range on it. It's in a dry wash in the middle of the property.

The previous owner put berms all the way around it and when you're standing on the firing line which I guess is wherever I want it to be on all four sides around you the ground level is higher than the targets.

In order to get to the range on all four sides you have to cross a fence. You have to pass multiple no trespassing signs and you have to walk all the way to the middle of somebody else's property.

I'm considering getting four of these signs and posting them north south east and west of the firing line.


I'm talking about posting them on the edges of the wash and Beyond the firing line and Beyond the target line. I'm not talking about hanging them on my fence. So by the time you get to the signs you already are someplace you're not supposed to be


Also the property we're going to be living on is bounded on the North and South by a fenced in cow pasture. On the East by someone else's ranch. So before you even get to my property you already trespassing on someone else's land
Those of you who have firing ranges on your property what do you do to signify the range is in use?

 

[PapaG]

Go for it. I’m thinking about how to make my camp a little more inaccessible

 

[dogtown tom]

Why do you think more "No Trespassing" signs are needed? If there are already NT signs on the property, more NT signs aren't going to help. If they walk past the first one, the second ain't gonna matter either.

"Caution Biohazard" or "Anthrax Spores May Be Present" or something like these:

My favorite:

 

[The Night Rider]

Why do you think more "No Trespassing" signs are needed? If there are already NT signs on the property, more NT signs aren't going to help. If they walk past the first one, the second ain't gonna matter either.

The trespassing isn't the issue. I want to be able to say that I did everything I could to warn anybody that walks in there that they're walking into a shooting range

 

[CapnMac]

Check your State laws on property marking.

Texas recommends a marking every 250 yards. This can be a sign, or an 8x10" patch of purple paint at least 33" to 54" above ground. NT signage is required to be 33-55" above grade as well.

 

[dogtown tom]

The trespassing isn't the issue. I want to be able to say that I did everything I could to warn anybody that walks in there that they're walking into a shooting range

Well, if people are walking anywhere on property that already has No Trespassing signage, trespassing most definitely IS the issue. IMO additional signage saying "gun range" isn't going to deter anyone, it just advertises that you have a really cool gun range.

How far from public access is the range?

 

[Pudge]

The trespassing isn't the issue. I want to be able to say that I did everything I could to warn anybody that walks in there that they're walking into a shooting range

Either your backstop is sufficient or not. If it is, you're worried about someone walking onto your range between you and your target, while you're shooting?

Be real careful with your first shot. After that, if there is someone who will walk out between you and your target, honestly, what sign would deter them?

 

[dh1633pm]

My land is off grid. I have my own range with a proper backstop. I worry about trespassers for safety reasons. I keep cameras at entrances and posted signs. Not sure what more one could do except add a few of these.

 

[The Night Rider]

Well, if people are walking anywhere on property that already has No Trespassing signage, trespassing most definitely IS the issue. IMO additional signage saying "gun range" isn't going to deter anyone, it just advertises that you have a really cool gun range.

How far from public access is the range?

Half a mile. and you have to drive right past a no trespassing sign to get there.

 

[The Night Rider]

Let me say it this way

The place we're moving to has a small range on it. I'm not planning on opening it to the public but I'm afraid that someone (a family member not some random person trespassing on "my" land) might walk up while I'm(or some other person authorized to be there) shooting and walk into the path of fire without even knowing they're doing it. I'm considering putting up a couple signs in the immediate vicinity of where I'm shooting as a safety warning.

It was suggested that I post a sign every 50 feet along the perimeter fence. But three sides of the property abutt other properties.

imagine putting "No Trespassing." all along the fence between you and your next door neighbor. Think that might go over like a fart in church?

Given that the perimeter of this property is surrounded by other people's property that's also fenced in and probably posted no trespassing I think putting a sign every 50 feet or so on somebody else's shared fence is Overkill. I also think that it's communicating to the neighbors that I'm planning to open a public range.

I just want a few signs around the immediate vicinity of the range, really in case someone from the family is walking back there and doesn't realize there's a range there.

 

[dogtown tom]

Just how big is this small range?

The place we're moving to has a small range on it.

How small?
If its 500yds, yes some signage down range might stop a wanderer, but if it 50-100 I would just yell.

....I'm afraid that someone (a family member not some random person trespassing on "my" land) might walk up while I'm(or some other person authorized to be there) shooting and walk into the path of fire without even knowing they're doing it.

But isn't it the shooters responsibility to not fire unless its safe?
I have family land in Arkansas where we shot for generations, no berms, no backstops, no signage. No one ever absentmindedly walked across that field while we were blazing away. Not even a cow. And there wasn't a No Trespassing sign anywhere. May be because gunfire is a warning itself.

imagine putting "No Trespassing." all along the fence between you and your next door neighbor. Think that might go over like a fart in church?

Your OP said there were already multiple NT signs. If there is already a fence, putting your NT next to their isn't rude in the least.

I just want a few signs around the immediate vicinity of the range, really in case someone from the family is walking back there and doesn't realize there's a range there.

Your family?
If no one is shooting, there isn't a safety issue.
If you are shooting, stop when someone tops that berm.

 

[Roverguy]

I think it’s an excellent precaution. Belts and braces never hurt. They have been warned against trespass and then specifically warned of the dangers of firearms in use. Makes good sense in the event there’s any actual trouble and in the event the powers that be seek to mess with you. As CapnMac’s suggestion above, I too counsel checking your state law to see if it provides statutory language or signage requirements. If not, your proposal above looks good.

 

[Steve in NC]

If your just wanting to warn family members the range is hot, simply install a flag of some sort. Red flag = hot range. Tell them to only approach from the south or something predetermined if the flag is flying. No flag = cold range.

As far as general trespassing, I think that is pretty well advised above.

 

[MikeInOr]

The trespassing isn't the issue. I want to be able to say that I did everything I could to warn anybody that walks in there that they're walking into a shooting range

I think your plan qualifies as making every possible reasonable effort to inform people of the danger of live shooting. I commend you for going the extra step to do so even though it should not be necessary.

 

[Soonerpesek]

Those of you who have firing ranges on your property what do you do to signify the range is in use?

Would a flag pole with a red flag that is raised when the range is in use be sufficient signage for peeps to get what’s going on…?

EDIT:
Somehow I did not see @Steve in NC had posted this already….

 

[The Night Rider]

Someone on another forum suggested an internal fence around just the range. I think I'm going to do that

 

[The Night Rider]

Would a flag pole with a red flag that is raised when the range is in use be sufficient signage for peeps to get what’s going on…?

I mean, that's the accepted signal on every range I've ever been to. I'm just not sure if the other people on the property are familiar with that.

So, this is the situation my wife and I are moving on to a 40-acre property in eastern El Paso County. I have no idea why, but the property has two homes on it.

We'll be living in one, our granddaughter and her family, and apparently her mother-in-law will be living in the other.

We really don't know that much about their family dynamics. In fact, our daughter was aware that the range was there, and apparently, the granddaughter was asking mom if I would object to them shooting on the property.

My biggest concern is that her children, who are, I'm pretty sure, less than five or five at the most, have absolutely no boundaries. And I don't know if they've been taught that guns aren't toys. Given that they can't read all the signs in the world, they are not going to stop them.

The second concern is that this (Living Someplace With A Range On The Property) is a new experience for my wife and I both. I really believe that if I'm going to be shooting a firearm, it is incumbent upon me not to needlessly endanger anybody around me.

The property has been vacant for two or three years and I don't know if people that live in that area aren't used to walking through there because nobody livesd there anyway.

I mean, when you walk to the front gate and noticed her cars there now and people moving around it should be obvious that there are people living there but you never know with people.

So I think I'm going to err on the side of caution I am going to mark off the area with some t-posts and run some bailing twine and hang a couple of signs

 

[nettlle]

Too many "If's" here. I hope it works out.

 

[MikeInOr]

Someone on another forum suggested an internal fence around just the range. I think I'm going to do that

A fence / walls made out of old tires packed with dirt would be a pretty ominous looking structure as well as stopping all the bullets from most common rifle/pistol calibers. It might also mitigate some of the sound. Just a thought.

Dirt packed in tires can be considered a great home construction technique... if you smoke enough weed! Here in Oregon they are called Hippy Houses.

 

[230RN]

Check your State laws on property marking.

Texas recommends a marking every 250 yards. This can be a sign, or an 8x10" patch of purple paint at least 33" to 54" above ground. NT signage is required to be 33-55" above grade as well.

Indeed. I was surprised that NT signs in Colorado have to be pretty specific as to size, verbiage, color, placement, distances between them, and IIRC, local enforcement should be advised of the restrictions. Been a while since I needed to know and I may have forgot some details, but I was surprised by the details.

And your emark:
"...I'm going to be the one that gets in trouble

The place that my wife and I are moving to has a private shooting range on it. It's in a dry wash in the middle of the property."

Prompts me to ask why the previous owner is moving out. Were there complaints about shooting from the neighbors that prompted a closure of his range? Did you check that out?

"...I'm going to be the one that gets in trouble..."[/i]

What's your name... Terry?

 

[Armored farmer]

I have a spot that I shoot that is private property....but along the river....folks seem to think it's public .....its not.

 

[bangswitch]

I'm considering getting four of these signs and posting them north south east and west of the firing line.

I'm talking about posting them on the edges of the wash and Beyond the firing line and Beyond the target line. I'm not talking about hanging them on my fence. So by the time you get to the signs you already are someplace you're not supposed to be

Also the property we're going to be living on is bounded on the North and South by a fenced in cow pasture. On the East by someone else's ranch. So before you even get to my property you already trespassing on someone else's land
Those of you who have firing ranges on your property what do you do to signify the range is in use?

To be as safe as possible, the signs should be posted every so often around the shooting area, close enough to see another sign down the line from the one you're standing at. That way, the trespasser can't say he didn't see a sign. IDK if there's any regulation that dictates a specified distance, or a law that would absolve you if someone wandered into live fire. Logic might say that if you hear gunfire don't go in that direction, but then common sense isn't all that common. Frequent warning signs are common on energized fencing, I can't see it being a bad idea for a shooting range boundary.

I sure wish I could put a shooting range on my property, I have a perfect area for up to 250 yards, but I'm inside a city limit where any firearms discharge is verboten.

 

[buck460XVR]

Check your State laws on property marking.

I'm lucky......in my state you do not have to post signs unless you border public land. Folks need to know who's land it is and have permission to enter it, or they are trespassing. I also have a private range and having others walk into it while shooting is not as much worry to me as is somehow a bullet getting out. Even being virtually impossible in my scenario, there is always a freak accident.

 

[SterlingBullet]

How about a wire fence along the top of the berms. Signs every ten feet. Maybe a warning siren as well.

 

[jmorris]

Those of you who have firing ranges on your property what do you do to signify the range is in use?

Not sure I would like a range where stuff could sneak up on me. We often have to pause, when animals come out onto the range and they can't read anything.