Neighbor situation. (What to do)

[Ben.MN/WI]

Is there an exception as a landowner? In Minnesota the setback requirement doesn’t apply if you own the land.

A landowner can shoot as close as they want to a neighbor, but anyone else requires permission from the homeowner.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

The 5 acre lots are just a pain in the ass. I have a friend in MN, that borders a couple 5 acre parcels. He used to have some quality bucks, but the neighbors started hunting a lot and he hasn’t seen many deer at all this yr …

Tough situation.

He tried to talk strategy & it went downhill fast ! He’s thinking about selling, unless he can buy their land . Nothing trying to be a Debbie Downer , but its not great for management!

Not at all! I knew what I was getting into. The upside is, he won’t get far with the other owners around. Once there’s enough saying no, he’ll have to pack and stack.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

Honestly if I had a neighbor who never asked but killed a deer shooting in a safe direction, I wouldn’t really care.

I could put a tower blind up and shoot to the edge of 8 properties if I had permission on this one field. I could ask and get it as they were previous tenants but i won’t out of consideration for everyone else. He’s doing it without permission and not giving a shit about anyone just hoping we’re all stupid enough to let it go.

 

[Turkey Creek]

Is there a minimum acreage you have to own to discharge a firearm on your property? I was told in KS that at least in our county you have to own 10 acres or more. The number of city dwellers who move to the countryside and believe since they live there that they can do as they see fit is out of control IMO in terms of a whole lot of issues. Makes me want to move way out in the middle of nowhere a lot of days.

 

[Mortenson]

Illinois loves criminals more than law abiding tax payers.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

Illinois loves criminals more than law abiding tax payers.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

I spoke with him. He said he got permission from the farmer who owns the big field. Said he only hunts behind his house a couple times a year. I still don’t know what that means as far as how close he is to his neighbors and I told him the law. He could sit on a bucket in the middle of a chisel plowed field to make 300 yards .

Whatever. Either way, glad I chose to speak to him instead of going the other route.

 

[Foggy47]

I cannot imagine trying to hunt a 3 acre property with lots of neighbors. Argh! I think I would quit hunting.

 

[Westwind]

Cool Hand it’s good you talked to him.

I was going to say that the neighbors whose houses he is hunting that close to probably don’t care for having their windows rattled. (I would say probably don’t like flinging slugs all over but now that we shoot rifles here…) Some people agree to let guys hunt in tight spots even though they don’t really like it. Most of these type guys don’t really ask.

Aren’t many CPO’s around anymore. Was outside last night 10-15 minutes after shooting time and someone opened up pretty near the house. Could have been waxing a cripple from earlier but don’t really know.

I’ve been thinking about this lately, firearms season used to be a free for all all around me but it’s been really quiet for several years. Starting to amp up again.

 

[Whang_Bang]

You’re over thinking it and it isn’t worth your trouble. Do you know the land owner he’s intending to hunt on? If so, maybe start there and just tip him off and let him deal with it. Planting a screen of conifers just off the fence line is really the best solution here. Don’t let big bucks destroy relationships or create drama that ruins the overall enjoyment you experience from being a landowner. The good Lord grows new bucks every year.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

I disagree. Why is it always on the responsible party to be the bigger man. Why isn’t this guy supposed to do the right and legal thing but pine is supposed to roll over and take it so he doesn’t causes drama. That’s pandering to the wrong party. And it’s not about the big buck. It’s about preserving what he has worked so hard for. I’m sure if the guy had 30 acres next to him and shot a big deer in the middle of the property pine would be like oh well what can you do.
I’m so sick of people telling others to just let things be when there’s clearly a right and wrong in most of the scenarios.
What if the rolls were reversed and pine was the one hunting a postage stamp next to houses on the line. Would yall just be like oh man life’s short buddy you do you and do worry about your neighbor who did all the work and better yet the law?

 

[BenA]

If I couldn't hunt within 300 yards of a dwelling on my 50 acres, I would have maybe 5 acres to hunt on.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

I disagree. Why is it always on the responsible party to be the bigger man. Why isn’t this guy supposed to do the right and legal thing but pine is supposed to roll over and take it so he doesn’t causes drama. That’s pandering to the wrong party. And it’s not about the big buck. It’s about preserving what he has worked so hard for. I’m sure if the guy had 30 acres next to him and shot a big deer in the middle of the property pine would be like oh well what can you do.
I’m so sick of people telling others to just let things be when there’s clearly a right and wrong in most of the scenarios.
What if the rolls were reversed and pine was the one hunting a postage stamp next to houses on the line. Would yall just be like oh man life’s short buddy you do you and do worry about your neighbor who did all the work and better yet the law?

I agree with you too man. There’s some sound advice here from a lot of you. I don’t know what common place is for landowners anymore. At some point people with small parcels have to learn how to establish relationships with larger neighbors who are holding wildlife. It is America and we all have rights on our land but there’s some instances when just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should. If you want to buy hunting land, you don’t buy 4 acres with a house and garage on it next to 3 others and call that hunting land. It’s not. It’s a residential lot and you know in doing that, you’re going to be relying heavily on not upsetting your neighbors. If your plan is to hunt in your yard, knowing your hard working land managers surrounding are the ones providing means for the local wildlife survival, you better be going out of your way to communicate and offer up anything you can to be neighborly.

Since we moved here last year, I have introduced myself to every neighbor I’ve had an opportunity to meet and offered help if needed. I looked for my neighbors dog late one night after It ran off. Helped him find it and they were so grateful. I don’t know exactly what I’m gettin’ at but I hope you guys get it.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

If I couldn't hunt within 300 yards of a dwelling on my 50 acres, I would have maybe 5 acres to hunt on.

The law applies to 300yds from a house and it only applies to firearm hunting.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

That’s all true but also the second it crosses the line to illegal I don’t give a damn what you bought the land for. If I bought an acre lot in a neighborhood and put up a strip club im pretty sure that would get shut down asap because it’s illegal. Regardless of what neighbors think or want, the law takes precedent.
The other issue is, on 4 acres what are the chances a deer shot even stays on that property. Unless you drop it, it’s close to zero. So now you’re begging for permission or trespassing.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

Cool Hand it’s good you talked to him.

I was going to say that the neighbors whose houses he is hunting that close to probably don’t care for having their windows rattled. (I would say probably don’t like flinging slugs all over but now that we shoot rifles here…) Some people agree to let guys hunt in tight spots even though they don’t really like it. Most of these type guys don’t really ask.

Aren’t many CPO’s around anymore. Was outside last night 10-15 minutes after shooting time and someone opened up pretty near the house. Could have been waxing a cripple from earlier but don’t really know.

I’ve been thinking about this lately, firearms season used to be a free for all all around me but it’s been really quiet for several years. Starting to amp up again.

Appreciate your take. I also saw a lot of guys out down the road around the corner. Counted at least 5 in our block. Last year only saw one.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

That’s all true but also the second it crosses the line to illegal I don’t give a damn what you bought the land for. If I bought an acre lot in a neighborhood and put up a strip club im pretty sure that would get shut down asap because it’s illegal. Regardless of what neighbors think or want, the law takes precedent.
The other issue is, on 4 acres what are the chances a deer shot even stays on that property. Unless you drop it, it’s close to zero. So now you’re begging for permission or trespassing.

Haha!!!
Right, which is why I’m saying, you have to go out of your way to establish a relationship first. I did that with him already and if for whatever reason I shot one and it dies in his yard, I wouldn’t have a problem asking because I’ve already been neighborly and offered help. But when you haven’t shown that gesture in return with the people around you, I’m not sure what you should be expecting.

 

[bwoods11]

I think your situation is what many hunters will face in the future . Metro areas are expanding, big parcels are getting split up !

It’s the future.

 

[Westwind]

Appreciate your take. I also saw a lot of guys out down the road around the corner. Counted at least 5 in our block. Last year only saw one.

Today I was all over my area and didn’t see any orange!

 

[H20fwler]

It’s 100 yards from occupied dwelling here for firearms hunting too, most hunters don’t even know it. It’s almost hard to find even searching the net for it.

Same here as many other states, can’t pursue wounded or dead deer on another’s property without permission from the landowner.