Some advice regarding noisy neighbors please

[Cathie123]

What is the name of your state? NY
I purchased my home in upstate NY in July 2005 and unbenounced to me there happens to be a "Sportsmans" club approx 1/2 mile from my home. I was never advised of this fact when I was making this purchase, and had I known then, I never would have moved in!
This club finds it to be appropriate to begin shooting there 12 gauge rifles at 6:00 a.m., not sure what they are shooting at during this time since it is pitch black outside and you can barely see your own hand in front of your face, and the shooting will go on all day long.
The noise of the gun shots literally rattles my windows and pictures on the walls and everyone in my home is woken up. I guess if I didn't need to get up everyday, Mon- Fri, for work at 4:00 a.m. I wouldn't seem to mind so much (?), but since the only days I get to sleep a little later is Saturday and Sunday, I have to admit, the noise insenses me to no end. I have considered to attempt to speak to someone there, possibily the President of their club, but in as many times as I've tried to find out exactly where they are, I can not locate them. It is an extremely wooded area with many dirt roads that lead to nowhere.
I've called the town and have been shuffled around from one person to the next and finally had the opportunity to speak with the building inspector (Not sure why I was sent to him), but in any case, he rudely advised me that there have been many people long before me with this complaint however, there isn't anything that anyone could do about it. There is apparently no noise restrictions and this particular "good ole boys" club was formed long before this area became residental so the current zoning ordinances would not apply.
I find this hard to believe. I'm not so much asking for these people to move out on the count of me (although it would be nice), I'm simply requesting that the shooting not begin until a reasonable hour, say 7:30 or 8:00 am instead of the 6:00 wake up call now.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I should take my complaint?
Thanking you in advance for your time and advise.What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?

 

[HappyHusband]

The noise of the gun shots literally rattles my windows and pictures on the walls

I find that hard to believe.
Maybe if they were firing artillery in your front yard, but not small arms fire at 1/2 mile.

As you have been informed, they were there first, and they are still not violating any law or ordinance.

 

[IndianaOwner]

Do they have a shooting ranges? There are environmental concerns with shooting ranges because the bullets have a lot of heavy metals in them, i.e. lead. That may not do much right now, but the land would be hard to sell.

 

[danno6925]

Caveat Emptor

Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I should take my complaint?

You were the buyer - should have been more aware. Wear earplugs to bed.

 

[danno6925]

Do they have a shooting ranges? There are environmental concerns with shooting ranges because the bullets have a lot of heavy metals in them, i.e. lead. That may not do much right now, but the land would be hard to sell.

Considering how hard it is to find an outdoor shooting range these days, I'm certain this poster can rest assured they're not selling that property any time soon.

 

[Cathie123]

Happy Husband:
Yes, at 6:00 am when everything is dark, still and you're rudely woken up by this obnoxious noise it DOES sound like an artillery in my front of my yard. I listed it as a 12 gauge, I am probably wrong. Not being an "authority in gun calibers", I'm sure I'm not correct in this assumption. For all I know they're shooting off .458 Magnums (or elephant guns), loaded with 500-grain, full patch, .45-caliber bullets. Whatever they're shooting, IT'S LOUD.

IndianaOwner:
Yes, I think it's a range but I'm not sure as I have never been able to locate them.

danno6925:
Your reply is useless, thank you anyway.

 

[IndianaOwner]

Considering how hard it is to find an outdoor shooting range these days, I'm certain this poster can rest assured they're not selling that property any time soon.

...and the property owners are probably well armed so no one is going to force them off!

 

[danno6925]

Your reply is useless, thank you anyway.

Much As your complaint is baseless. As you said yourself, they're breaking no laws or local ordinances, so law enforcement is not likely to be of any help to you. For all you know, the code enforcer is also a member himself! Maybe you could be able to find a sportsman who'd be in hog heaven if he were a 1/2 mile from a shooting range, and sell your place to him!

Granted, 6:00AM is a little early for shooting, but they probably have lighted ranges - unless they're using tracer rounds, but I doubt that. Try finding the club grounds and talking to the board of directors about a more sensible time to begin shooting. Just don't be suprised when they're as sympathetic as I've been. For example, at my range they won't even allow you on the firing line before 8:00 AM. You're trying to change the way of life of people who've been doing this for years. Even if they conceded to the earlier shooting time, they're not going away anytime soon.

It's not that I'm not symptathetic to your crusade to silence the gun range, but I but I just don't care for your argument that they should change their habits because you did poor research on the property, and never knew this range was there - which I still find exceedingly difficult to swallow. They were there first, so suck it up and deal, or sell the property to someone who'll appreciate this aspect of the place.

I encountered this same exact issue at my shooting range a few years back. Some people bought property directly adjacent to the sportsmen's assoc. shooting range (the firing line was clearly visible from the rear of the home, as were the targets) and then complained about the noise to the township at the rate of 20-30 times a day on weekends alone! They also started trying to distribute PETA literature at the entrance to our grounds and being general nuisances to members. Got ugly for quite a while. Live and let live, I say. If you cannot or will not - move into an area that suits you better.

 

[proeye]

What is the name of your state? NY
...but in as many times as I've tried to find out exactly where they are, I can not locate them. It is an extremely wooded area with many dirt roads that lead to nowhere.
...

Try http://maps.google.com and look up your address. Click on "satellite" in the upper right hand corner. Scroll around until you find it. I have a shooting range near my house and it is pretty obvious on the map. You gotta have a clearing to shoot!

Not that this is going to solve anything but you might find it this way...