Question about shooting on private land WV

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cwbys4evr

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I am looking into purchasing a 9 acre property in WV. This property is rectangle shaped and I would like to set up a small range at the end of it, which would be far away from any other house including my own. Can anyone tell me a bit about the legality of such?

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Probably should check local laws, and make sure it's not within any "city limits", and make sure it never will be. Don't want to buy it and get all set up, and then see the area get annexed and a bunch of houses built nearby. I've "heard" that here in CO you need 15 acres of private land to build a private range on, might want to check into such a requirement there.

Owning land with a private range is my dearest dream, but I'd have to win the Powerball first.
 
Something else to think about. I don't know your locale, or how close to other persons homes but you're most likely in hearing distance. And you will be advertising you have guns, the 'bOOm' effect says all. Now most ppl think that's a great thing and a deterrent, however, you are also 'advertising' yourself for a possible theft situation.
Think when you hear shots...that's a semi-auto pistol...that one sounds like a shotgun....22...etc.

Even though a sheriff friend looked over my area and said I was ok, I don't want such advertisement for a 1000 yards square+

Just a thought, good luck!!
 
'Something else to think about. I don't know your locale, or how close to other persons homes but you're most likely in hearing distance. And you will be advertising you have guns, the 'bOOm' effect says all. Now most ppl think that's a great thing and a deterrent, however, you are also 'advertising' yourself for a possible theft situation.'


Guess it depends on how gun friendly your area is, and I suspect most of WV is VERY gun friendly and that most rural residences contain guns. Where I live, I can step outside on any nice day and hear gun shots coming from almost every direction. No mystery here that almost every household contains guns. I certainly don't worry about the noise of my shooting, other than to avoid shooting when my neighbors are hosting outside events or I can hear them playing outside as a family (just to be polite).

One thing I find somewhat amusing is that when I begin to shoot (several times a week), the very act of my shooting seems to stimulate other area shooters to grab their guns and begin doing the same. Kind of like a lone coyote howling creating an entire chorus of coyote song.
 
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DoubleMag said:
Something else to think about. I don't know your locale, or how close to other persons homes but you're most likely in hearing distance. And you will be advertising you have guns, the 'bOOm' effect says all. Now most ppl think that's a great thing and a deterrent, however, you are also 'advertising' yourself for a possible theft situation.
Think when you hear shots...that's a semi-auto pistol...that one sounds like a shotgun....22...etc.

Even though a sheriff friend looked over my area and said I was ok, I don't want such advertisement for a 1000 yards square+

Just a thought, good luck!!
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life is so much fun when you live quivering in constant fear isn't it? I thought guns were supposed to deter crime. If a guy was looking to rob a house why would he go to one where people are wailing away with guns on their porch.
 
The property is 8 lots long in a more or less rectangle. Was thinking about a small testing range at the bottom of the property. I read something about 500 feet from a house, 400 feet from a church, but apparently DNR rules are different regarding forest area and hunting seasons, etc. Very strange rules they have. Was hoping a Mountaineer would speak up.

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I have been here a year and I'm extremely confident little to no developement in the area, maybe just survivalists and homesteaders who have a positive opinion on firearms.

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Well, I'm a Mountaineer. You really need to check with your local law enforcement since the laws (and tolerance for gunfire) depend on where you live in the state. Where I live (Eastern Panhandle), there's a lot of private hunting land so hearing gunshots is very common. Charleston, not so much.
 
How about that I live in the panhandle too :)

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Im a fellow Mountaineer that lives just outside a popular city. Have been shooting on private land, state property, and reclaimed mine property all my life with no problems, issues or concerns.

Spoke with a DNR officer regarding target shooting on state owned wildlife conservation property. They had no issue's and said no state laws against it. Their only comment was "don't litter"............however, you need to check the law in your area to make sure.

There is a new range in the eastern pan handle....supposed to be a really nice place.

http://peacemakernational.com/
 
How about that I live in the panhandle too
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Whereabouts? Though I have a Harpers Ferry mailing address, I'm all the way at the very tip of the Panhandle. Closer to Berryville, VA than anywhere else, but of course there's no bridge across the Shenandoah here. Well, there is an underwater bridge, but I'm not sure where it actually is.
 
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