Built a few ranges so far in different counties, never had as many issues as I'm having now. 200 and 800 yarders I'm still using.
Hendricks County, just outside of Brownsburg. Hear people shooting all the time (love it), and the conservation club is less than 5 miles up the road through Pittsboro.
I own 23 acres, and built my original pistol >100 yard rifle range near the edge of my NW property about 60 yards away from the line. Before I started I called ahead to the Sheriff's Dept to ask if there were any special guidelines for this county, only thing I got was the basic not over a road not towards people etc. Then had a Sheriff come out once construction was done and inspect the range just to have it in the books I've called, someone has been out etc. Using the range I've had two other Sheriffs come out on shots fired calls and one BPD officer who stayed for a whopping 30 secs lol. All of them thought it was the neatest thing.
Neighbor complained about the possibility of stray rounds hitting the trees on his property and considering I had about 15$ into the whole project as the whole thing was made of old decking boards and dirt that was laying in ugly piles in random places on my property I obliged and started on the other range.
This was the first one (without the dirt behind yet obviously)
So this spring I used some connections and rented a backhoe, then using Google Maps planned the possible trajectories of any stray rounds and their possible points of impact in the event I decided to shoot at a 45 angle above the new range. Planned my whole area taking into account my neighbors property lines (using the survey of the whole property I had done and purchased two months before). New neighbors came out while we were digging (which was a Thursday-Sat affair) and on the last day took it upon themselves to yell at me asking if I had any actual plans for building it or if I was "just winging it". Among all the excuses I heard (property values lowering, the deer, she had planned on using that corner of property for something, the children, MY children, etc etc.) I didn't engage and just said it wasn't done, this wasn't my first one I've built, any other complaints you may have let me know when I'm not on borrowed time. (contracted a friend to run the backhoe)
Two days later I get a visit while I'm at work from the Capt. of the Sheriff's Dept wanting to ask questions about the range. Talk to him on the phone, informed him I had 3 of his officers stop by with the old one and gave it passing glances, am informed they are under almost all new management and staffing so all he'd need to come look at it himself. Asks if I'd rather him see it before or after I'm done, told him it'd make more sense to show him before so I don't waste anymore of my time. Sounded like a nice guy, completely understand his position and obliged to meet with him sometime next week.
Obviously I don't have any finished photos of the thing, just a bunch of measurements and sketches, and the only other ammo I have are aerial photos on Google Maps of all the structures in the immediate and possible trajectory path (which are none). Any advice?
On a related note, the neighbors who complained put up two Private Property signs and moved a park bench on the corner of their property line, I think as if to say "See we are out here all the time, here is our bench"
The before. The shed on top of the hill is the absolute corner of the complaining neighbors property, and the line of fire is not directed in any situation towards his property. The hill grade is pretty steep, and I would guess from the bottom of the range to the top of the hill (which would be the corner of his property) there is a 35ft+ height difference.
During:
Where I am now:
To give you an idea of where I'm coming from shooting wise, these are all angles of fire. There is nothing but open fields for another half mile past that over the hill.
I don't have an easy way of explaining the design so here is a super cool sketch I made on a note pad. The shaded areas above are 30 degree angled bullet catches built into the hillside.
It would look similar to this one, only the dirt on the back and sides would be flush or slightly above the top. Also imagine used touring car racing slicks along the whole top dirt line, as to show a clearly decipherable border between the regular dirt and what is obviously the range. Also I've found they help to keep the dirt from peaking and eroding as quickly on the top.
Any additions you may have let me know. I have plenty of dirt and plan on using a ridiculous amount, and then adding a 12 foot high fence on the property line for the length that I touch the two complaints to deter them from harassing me or messing with the range when I'm away. Trail cameras are already up just in case. Out of ideas past that point, I've been extremely passive considering the other calls and complaints I've had so far.
Hendricks County, just outside of Brownsburg. Hear people shooting all the time (love it), and the conservation club is less than 5 miles up the road through Pittsboro.
I own 23 acres, and built my original pistol >100 yard rifle range near the edge of my NW property about 60 yards away from the line. Before I started I called ahead to the Sheriff's Dept to ask if there were any special guidelines for this county, only thing I got was the basic not over a road not towards people etc. Then had a Sheriff come out once construction was done and inspect the range just to have it in the books I've called, someone has been out etc. Using the range I've had two other Sheriffs come out on shots fired calls and one BPD officer who stayed for a whopping 30 secs lol. All of them thought it was the neatest thing.
Neighbor complained about the possibility of stray rounds hitting the trees on his property and considering I had about 15$ into the whole project as the whole thing was made of old decking boards and dirt that was laying in ugly piles in random places on my property I obliged and started on the other range.
This was the first one (without the dirt behind yet obviously)
So this spring I used some connections and rented a backhoe, then using Google Maps planned the possible trajectories of any stray rounds and their possible points of impact in the event I decided to shoot at a 45 angle above the new range. Planned my whole area taking into account my neighbors property lines (using the survey of the whole property I had done and purchased two months before). New neighbors came out while we were digging (which was a Thursday-Sat affair) and on the last day took it upon themselves to yell at me asking if I had any actual plans for building it or if I was "just winging it". Among all the excuses I heard (property values lowering, the deer, she had planned on using that corner of property for something, the children, MY children, etc etc.) I didn't engage and just said it wasn't done, this wasn't my first one I've built, any other complaints you may have let me know when I'm not on borrowed time. (contracted a friend to run the backhoe)
Two days later I get a visit while I'm at work from the Capt. of the Sheriff's Dept wanting to ask questions about the range. Talk to him on the phone, informed him I had 3 of his officers stop by with the old one and gave it passing glances, am informed they are under almost all new management and staffing so all he'd need to come look at it himself. Asks if I'd rather him see it before or after I'm done, told him it'd make more sense to show him before so I don't waste anymore of my time. Sounded like a nice guy, completely understand his position and obliged to meet with him sometime next week.
Obviously I don't have any finished photos of the thing, just a bunch of measurements and sketches, and the only other ammo I have are aerial photos on Google Maps of all the structures in the immediate and possible trajectory path (which are none). Any advice?
On a related note, the neighbors who complained put up two Private Property signs and moved a park bench on the corner of their property line, I think as if to say "See we are out here all the time, here is our bench"
The before. The shed on top of the hill is the absolute corner of the complaining neighbors property, and the line of fire is not directed in any situation towards his property. The hill grade is pretty steep, and I would guess from the bottom of the range to the top of the hill (which would be the corner of his property) there is a 35ft+ height difference.
During:
Where I am now:
To give you an idea of where I'm coming from shooting wise, these are all angles of fire. There is nothing but open fields for another half mile past that over the hill.
I don't have an easy way of explaining the design so here is a super cool sketch I made on a note pad. The shaded areas above are 30 degree angled bullet catches built into the hillside.
It would look similar to this one, only the dirt on the back and sides would be flush or slightly above the top. Also imagine used touring car racing slicks along the whole top dirt line, as to show a clearly decipherable border between the regular dirt and what is obviously the range. Also I've found they help to keep the dirt from peaking and eroding as quickly on the top.
Any additions you may have let me know. I have plenty of dirt and plan on using a ridiculous amount, and then adding a 12 foot high fence on the property line for the length that I touch the two complaints to deter them from harassing me or messing with the range when I'm away. Trail cameras are already up just in case. Out of ideas past that point, I've been extremely passive considering the other calls and complaints I've had so far.
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