Shooting on my property. Is it legal?

[JeepCrasher]

I've got a couple of acres in Hancock county, well into the country area, with my nearest neighbor being approx 1/4 mile away. I've been teaching my 2 daughters gun safety and shooting with a small savage 64 and have never had any complaints. BUT..I want to start putting a few larger handgun rounds down range (.40,9,.357,.38 etc). I'm not worried about the neighbors to much, but I am worried about my local DNR and LEO. I've searched and can't find specific laws to protect myself if Barny Fife shows up on my front porch.

COuld someone point me in the right direction.


Thanks

 

[Love the 1911]

Look up any county ordinances (there usually are not any outside of incorporated cities/towns) that deal with shooting. Build a good backstop.

Then...call the Sheriff. Not a deputy. Go to the courthouse or jail and meet the Sheriff in his office and ask for clarification. Let him know the steps you have taken and invite him or his deputies out to check the backstop.

Then...call your neighbors. Invite them to shoot and welcome their input on what would be acceptable to them in reference to times that you shoot. You do not have to do this as long as the law is on your side but it makes things go much smoother as they can call at any time and you could get any one of 50 deputies, they can call DNR, or they can try calling ISP.

Enjoy your land and, if one of the neighbors says that it is never acceptable, remind them that you are welcoming input as a favor but that the law is on your side and there is nothing they can do to stop you from enjoying your property as you see fit.

 

[JoshuaRWhite]

Gotta agree, call the sheriff. Get it straight. We built a backstop, neighbors caled county 3 times. County DEPUTIES lied 3 times. We called sheriff, someone got a foot up the a**. Since then no cops have showed up.

 

[eldirector]

Well, here are your ordinances:
Hancock Co.

130.01 DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS PROHIBITED.

(A) Outside the corporate limits of cities or towns, no person, other than a law enforcement officer, shall discharge a firearm or pellet gun within 300 feet of a residence, except when the discharge is permitted by law in the prevention of a crime or the apprehension of a criminal.

(B) Any person found to be in violation of this section shall be fined.

That's all I saw off-hand.

 

[Outlaw]

Well, here are your ordinances:
Hancock Co.



That's all I saw off-hand.

That's where I saw that! Thanks for the info I've been looking for that in writing for a while now.

To the OP; as long as your neighbors are ok with it and you are being safe, i've found the hancock county mountys are pretty friendly.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Well, here are your ordinances:
Hancock Co.

130.01 DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS PROHIBITED.

(A) Outside the corporate limits of cities or towns, no person, other than a law enforcement officer, shall discharge a firearm or pellet gun within 300 feet of a residence, except when the discharge is permitted by law in the prevention of a crime or the apprehension of a criminal.

(B) Any person found to be in violation of this section shall be fined.



That's all I saw off-hand.

Am I misunderstanding? This seems counter-intuitive to me. Seems like it would be INSIDE the corporate limits of cities or towns where shooting would be prohibited or restricted.

 

[patience0830]

Am I misunderstanding? This seems counter-intuitive to me. Seems like it would be INSIDE the corporate limits of cities or towns where shooting would be prohibited or restricted.

Inside, its probably completely prohibited. Outside you have to be 300' from a building in this county.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Inside city/town limits is most likely prohibited. I wouldn't fire the pellet rifle where I am except with an adequate backstop and the fact it's a .22 with a suppressor, so nobody would notice. I wouldn't try to demise anything outside the inside of the house with anything bigger. I've used .45ACP and 5.56x44 inside, but that's what I had. Probably use something else now.

 

[troycowan]

I would ask the sheriff before shooting, just went through a big ordeal about shooting on my property because the neighbors called local sheriff dept, and it turned into a huge situation. good luck!!