Who do I call to verify if hunting is allowed on property?

[Justincase]

We put an offer in on a house that has 8 acres. The homeowner was definitely a hunter, but i don't know if he hunted ON the property. It appears there's well over 500' from all dwellings, but i want to be absolutely sure. It's in Boston, NY or Hamburg depending on which realty company listed it. Should I call the sheriff's department in Boston, or the Hamburg police, or the DEC? Our realtor did talk to the DEC and they just said the 500' thing, but i exact sure how else you can verify this. I'd have our realtor ask the owner, but they lied and said they had another offer on the house when they didn't, so I don't trust them.

 

[hooked]

The local town office, to see if they have discharge ordinance or not..

 

[Justincase]

I tried calling. Closed for the holiday I'm sure.

Is it safe to say that if you can hunt on the land you can target practice on it?

 

[stokes]

If there is no "discharge ordinance" in effect,the only thing you are going to get is the 500' rule.500' is not all that far,be aware that even if its over 500' to your neighbors house,if you are shooting in his direction..............

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

So which town is it? I'm in Derby. If you're beyond 500' what other restrictions could there be? Nearby schools, commercial properties, etc.?

 

[hooked]

Also depends how gun friendly your neighbors are, even if you build a an underground range and they hear shots they will call the sheriff every time you are having fun.

 

[Justincase]

If there is no "discharge ordinance" in effect,the only thing you are going to get is the 500' rule.500' is not all that far,be aware that even if its over 500' to your neighbors house,if you are shooting in his direction..............

There's tons of space away from all dwellings, so no need to shoot in anyone's direction.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

Also depends how gun friendly your neighbors are, even if you build a an underground range and they hear shots they will call the sheriff every time you are having fun.

For what?

 

[Justincase]

Also depends how gun friendly your neighbors are, even if you build a an underground range and they hear shots they will call the sheriff every time you are having fun.

It's a pretty rural area. Most everybody hunts out there. But you're right. There's always that 'one'

 

[stokes]

There's tons of space away from all dwellings, so no need to shoot in anyone's direction.

I'm just pointing out that neighbors can get "funny" when they hear shots going off nearby.And 500' is nearby.Even tho you may not be shooting in their direction,it may sound that way to them.If your neighbors are that close,I'd talk to them and let them know your plans to avoid any problems.

 

[stokes]

For what?

Sound of gun shots.Even if the sheriff knows its legit,he still has to respond.Used to happen a lot when we would shoot on sundays at my place in Dutchess county.

 

[Justincase]

Sound of gun shots.Even if the sheriff knows its legit,he still has to respond.Used to happen a lot when we would shoot on sundays at my place in Dutchess county.

Also depends how gun friendly your neighbors are, even if you build a an underground range and they hear shots they will call the sheriff every time you are having fun.

You guys are exactly right. I stopped at the Hamburg PD and they said if they get a call (and they do) they have to respond, but if there's no issues there's nothing they will do since you're not breaking any laws.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

You guys are exactly right. I stopped at the Hamburg PD and they said if they get a call (and they do) they have to respond, but if there's no issues there's nothing they will do since you're not breaking any laws.

Ultimately I guess that's what I was getting at. So your new spread is in the Boston Hamburg area?

 

[Redshirt]

Just get an aerial photo from google and figure it out yourself.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

Just get an aerial photo from google and figure it out yourself.

Erie County Mapping System. Parcel boundaries, arial overlays, measuring tools, parcel owner identification, etc.

 

[Justincase]

Ultimately I guess that's what I was getting at. So your new spread is in the Boston Hamburg area?

It is. Right off the 219 near Rice Road

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

Nice area. I snowmobile out there from time to time. Welcome to the Southtowns.

 

[Saltwater60]

You can hunt in Hamburg? I’d have guessed no. Boston yes. I know my town has no firearms discharge ordinance, but you can hunt geese and suck on the Niagara river as long as your in the water.

 

[Justincase]

It's technically Boston, but with the Hamburg zip code

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

You can hunt in Hamburg? I’d have guessed no. Boston yes. I know my town has no firearms discharge ordinance, but you can hunt geese and suck on the Niagara river as long as your in the water.

Wow. I guess I haven't been to the Niagara in awhile. Things have changed.

 

[stokes]

Is it necessary to suck on the Niagara river when you hunt geese?

 

[MuttCat]

Are you familiar with GIS? You could try Google Earth, or your county online mapper...planning dept. parcel info. From anMeasure off the 500

Erie County Mapping System. Parcel boundaries, arial overlays, measuring tools, parcel owner identification, etc.

This is a good approach. Draw the 500 radius out from any neighboring structure as a buffer. Decks and porches do not count. Print your map and have it handy. I've supplied my neighbor with a copy of his land and now he knows where he can legally discharge firearms.

 

[tony]

My neighbors ( anti-gun) would complain to the sheriff regularly when we were shooting. The sheriff would come out to " investigate ", never tell me who complained and then say " have fun " and leave. After a few years the neighbors stopped calling. I suppose they figured out I wasn't going away...
My advice is to have a nice tall berm to shoot into, even if it cost you a little $$. IMO about 8 ft. tall is the minimum. You don't want the sheriff to shut you down because he thinks your not safe. My berm is at least 10ft. tall.

The law is 500' from an OCCUPIED dwelling.

 

[nortatoga]

First I would find out about any town ordinances as posted above. Then stop and get a copy of the tax map with your property in the center. Then call and see if your local DEC officer would stop bye and look at the property and map and sign off on it? (For both hunting and target shooting) I think they may rather come out for a call from someone wanting to do the right thing then answer a call from a complaining neighbor! And if they get a call they won't need to waste much of your's and their time!

 

[camper4lyfe]

Keep in mind, the 500' rule is for firearms. For bows/archery, it's something like 150'.

One thing to keep in mind is backstop and what's beyond your property.

 

[stokes]

And if they get a call they won't need to waste much of your's and their time!

Wouldnt do any good to have the DEC "sign off" on anything,even if they would.If your neighbor calls and reports gun shots,someone has to respond.As long as everything is legit you have no problems,except for an annoyed LEO after he has to respond a couple times.In our case,I knew the trooper who responded every Sunday,he used to work with me before he became a trooper.This was a seasonal,mostly weekend place I have.He asked us to do our shooting on Saturday to shut the neighbor up,seems his complaint was that it was Sunday.Oh,and he wasn't "next door",he was across the lake from us,about 3/4 mile away.

 

[nortatoga]

Wouldnt do any good to have the DEC "sign off" on anything,even if they would.If your neighbor calls and reports gun shots,someone has to respond.As long as everything is legit you have no problems,except for an annoyed LEO after he has to respond a couple times.In our case,I knew the trooper who responded every Sunday,he used to work with me before he became a trooper.This was a seasonal,mostly weekend place I have.He asked us to do our shooting on Saturday to shut the neighbor up,seems his complaint was that it was Sunday.Oh,and he wasn't "next door",he was across the lake from us,about 3/4 mile away.

Yes I understand that they would still have to respond to a call! And if DEC won't sign off get the officer card then the LEO can call him that he has been to the property in question and that it is GTG! Better to have the proof before the fact then have to get it after NO?

 

[stokes]

Yes I understand that they would still have to respond to a call! And if DEC won't sign off get the officer card then the LEO can call him that he has been to the property in question and that it is GTG! Better to have the proof before the fact then have to get it after NO?

I'm pretty sure no officer is going to "sign off" on a property being "GTG".Nor is he going to attest over the phone that anything is "GTG" if he isnt there to witness what is going on.Any responding officer can see for himself if its "GTG" so the likelihood of him calling another LEO to ask is nil.Not saying that the OP shouldnt shoot on his own property,just that you gotta play nice with neighbors sometimes.

 

[nortatoga]

I'm pretty sure no officer is going to "sign off" on a property being "GTG".Nor is he going to attest over the phone that anything is "GTG" if he isnt there to witness what is going on.Any responding officer can see for himself if its "GTG" so the likelihood of him calling another LEO to ask is nil.Not saying that the OP shouldnt shoot on his own property,just that you gotta play nice with neighbors sometimes.

Fine! You don't seem to be getting what I am suggesting about being pro-active! Maybe or maybe not the DEC will sign off. but they will familiar with your lay out when they respond to a call. It is always better to be the first one to call!

 

[Criticalt]

My neighbor comes over to "borrow" some 9mm cartridges for his old ass Zastava pistol when he hears me shooting.
Hes the only guy I know that apparently has ZERO rounds for his gun in his home.