Who here shoots on their own property?

[John Browning]

Those of you who shoot on your own property, can you talk a little about it? What county are you in, what size parcel, how you set it up, etc?

I'm thinking of buying 5-20 acres in Calaveras or Amador County. It looks like you're good to go as long as you are more than 500 feet from any other building.

[Canucky]

Those of you who shoot on your own property, can you talk a little about it? What county are you in, what size parcel, how you set it up, etc?

I'm thinking of buying 5-20 acres in Calaveras or Amador County. It looks like you're good to go as long as you are more than 500 feet from any other building.

Careful where you purchase. Not all neighbors like having gunfire interrupt their way of life. They can real pissy about it.

[Guns and guitars]

Im in calaveras. Good luck finding property the growers haven't either already purchased or driven the prices up to insanity.

I shoot on my property, but Im lucky. Most people will not be that happy with it. You will need at least 20 acres usually where Im at least.
Then you will still be harassed by bay area people who "came here for peace and quiet"

[John Browning]

Careful where you purchase. Not all neighbors like having gunfire interrupt their way of life. They can real pissy about it.

As long as I'm legal, I have no problem being courteous. I'm not planning 2am mag dumps. Safety and being courteous and a good ambassador is important. If they can't get over it and just hate guns because they're from San Fran, well, too bad.

[Jimmy's]

I can but I don't.

[kmas]

Other concerns

Those of you who shoot on your own property, can you talk a little about it? What county are you in, what size parcel, how you set it up, etc?

I'm thinking of buying 5-20 acres in Calaveras or Amador County. It looks like you're good to go as long as you are more than 500 feet from any other building.

Just to be aware, if a neighbor complains that he can hear the gunshots, the cops WILL come talk with you.

My friend not only owns acreage but also shoots targets against a large hill (you'd have to shoot to your left 90 degrees or right, to miss the hill - and still have acres on either side)

Yet the cops came when a neighbor complained.
2nd time it happened, although cops sympathized with my friend, they said he could be cited for "disturbing the peace"

[Canucky]

As long as I'm legal, I have no problem being courteous. I'm not planning 2am mag dumps. Safety and being courteous and a good ambassador is important. If they can't get over it and just hate guns because they're from San Fran, well, too bad.

That's the spirit! Let us know how it goes for you.

[L84CABO]

There is no set rule on size. It's more about the layout, the backstop, what's beyond it, etc. Do consider that even if you have a really good backstop, if there is life downrange, you absolutely can't let a round escape the berm/backstop. Consider that liability with new shooters or really anybody that you let shoot on your property.

As far a buying land for this purpose, you absolutely want to understand who owns the adjacent/downrange parcels, which parcels are empty but could be purchased in the future, etc. It would really suck if your "downrange" is clear today but somebody buys it tomorrow and puts a house in the middle of your "flightpath."

I'm stating the obvious but make absolutely sure on the legalities of shooting on the property you are intending to purchase before you buy it. And trying to get the lay of the land on the neighbor situation is critical. Give careful consideration to your, "...if they can't get over it, too bad," attitude. Sure it's legal and you can tell your complaining neighbor to go pound sand. But honestly man, nobody wins in a feud with a neighbor. It can be both draining and expensive if they decide to pursue legal action. Yea, you may be in the right but you still may have to defend that right. And who needs all that aggravation if you can avoid it at all.

[Canucky]

Just to be aware, if a neighbor complains that he can hear the gunshots, the cops WILL come talk with you.

My friend not only owns acreage but also shoots targets against a large hill (you'd have to shoot to your left 90 degrees or right, to miss the hill - and still have acres on either side)

Yet the cops came when a neighbor complained.
2nd time it happened, although cops sympathized with my friend, they said he could be cited for "disturbing the peace"

Have 160 acres by Auburn. Been in the wife's family for generations, the last time we went up there we had people with cameras following us around. Like I was trespassing on my land. Then the call to the sheriffs "someone shot a hole in my barn"

[John Browning]

Just to be aware, if a neighbor complains that he can hear the gunshots, the cops WILL come talk with you.

My friend not only owns acreage but also shoots targets against a large hill (you'd have to shoot to your left 90 degrees or right, to miss the hill - and still have acres on either side)

Yet the cops came when a neighbor complained.
2nd time it happened, although cops sympathized with my friend, they said he could be cited for "disturbing the peace"

It sounds like your friend needs a lawyer. There are multiple elements to disturbing the peace, and on private property you fail to even meet the first one (it must be a public place). Those cops can't cite him for that. He should have asked them to stay and shoot awhile.

I'm going into this hoping that a thoughtful approach to safe range set up, noise abatement, etc. will solve most of these problems. I'm even thinking of sinking a HUGE culvert into the ground with a covered but well ventilated below grade shooting station. That would capture the bullets, capture some of the noise, and let me run targets out to at least 100 yards.

It wouldn't be California if some busy body leftist didn't complain. However, as long as I'm within the law, their lamentations only serve to make me smile.

[cvigue]

Those of you who shoot on your own property, can you talk a little about it? What county are you in, what size parcel, how you set it up, etc?

I'm thinking of buying 5-20 acres in Calaveras or Amador County. It looks like you're good to go as long as you are more than 500 feet from any other building.

I used to, lived in Douglas County ..... Oregon. Where people still mostly believe in leaving each other alone. Except the Californians who've just moved in and are busy trying to screw it up for everyone, like the place they just left.

[kmas]

Have 160 acres by Auburn. Been in the wife's family for generations, the last time we went up there we had people with cameras following us around. Like I was trespassing on my land. Then the call to the sheriffs "someone shot a hole in my barn"

Yes, that's the problem!
Very frustrating.

[John Browning]

There is no set rule on size. It's more about the layout, the backstop, what's beyond it, etc. Do consider that even if you have a really good backstop, if there is life downrange, you absolutely can't let a round escape the berm/backstop. Consider that liability with new shooters or really anybody that you let shoot on your property.

As far a buying land for this purpose, you absolutely want to understand who owns the adjacent/downrange parcels, which parcels are empty but could be purchased in the future, etc. It would really suck if your "downrange" is clear today but somebody buys it tomorrow and puts a house in the middle of your "flightpath."

I'm stating the obvious but make absolutely sure on the legalities of shooting on the property you are intending to purchase before you buy it. And trying to get the lay of the land on the neighbor situation is critical. Give careful consideration to your, "...if they can't get over it, too bad," attitude. Sure it's legal and you can tell your complaining neighbor to go pound sand. But honestly man, nobody wins in a feud with a neighbor. It can be both draining and expensive if they decide to pursue legal action. Yea, you may be in the right but you still may have to defend that right. And who needs all that aggravation if you can avoid it at all.

Good points.

I'm hoping to have something that backs up to National Forest. As to my attitude, I really am super easy to get along with. I'm not looking to make waves and generally just want to be left alone. I'm hoping to find somewhere that has neighbors who have their own range. However, the one thing I cannot stand is the denial of rightful activity because some leftist doesn't think it jives with their world view. If my neighbor asked me over for a beer and not to shoot on Sunday after 11am because they do XY and Z but that I can come over and join them, then I'm going to not shoot on Sunday. If my neighbor wants to call the Sheriff because "muh gun violence is disturbin' their feelz!" then game on. If it means that I have to retain a lawyer and drive them away, well then, so be it. Some things are worth spending money on.

Have 160 acres by Auburn. Been in the wife's family for generations, the last time we went up there we had people with cameras following us around. Like I was trespassing on my land. Then the call to the sheriffs "someone shot a hole in my barn"

Why not have them trespassed? Is this typical?

[AceGirlsHusband]

Have 160 acres by Auburn. Been in the wife's family for generations, the last time we went up there we had people with cameras following us around. Like I was trespassing on my land. Then the call to the sheriffs "someone shot a hole in my barn"

Next time, why don't you politely tell the camera/cell phone hounds to "get the hell off my property." Then call the Sheriff on them if they don't.

[Croweman08]

i live in san benito county and shoot on my buddy's private land all the time. His ranch backs up to million dollar homes in a subdivision. Every year on the opening day of dove season we shoot. And every year the sheriff's come out. We tell them to tell the people to pound sand! We are in the county, have land owners permission, and its dove season. The sheriffs just laugh and tell us to have a good hunt!