Posted: 9/22/2013 2:40:53 PM EDT
| OK, here's a good one. I'm out this afternoon in the woods behind MY house. Easily 300 feet from my own house and 500 from any other - in New Hampshire. I am with 3 children and the father of two of the children (the third is my own 11 year old child who has shot before with me). I am giving instruction to a child (7ish) at my firing point after giving a 20 minute basic class on safety (in my garage - until he knows the 4 basic rules of firearm safety well) and sight picture to him. We are shooting a .22 bolt action children's stock rifle. Every round, we have reviewed the 4 basic rules and gone downrange to inspect the paper target. After the 3rd round, a voice comes from the approximate area (10 yards farther and 20 yards to the right - uncomfortably close) of our target. There was a man walking his dog in the woods (yes, there is a trail) who was none too happy about us having shot in his general direction. I shoot at this spot no less than twice a month and every time I do, before I pull the trigger the first time, I verify through sight and voice that there is nobody downrange. We had shot 2 rounds through a bolt action .22 (with approximately 3 minutes of instruction and inspection between), and after the third shot, encountered the man. Question - having made a concerted effort at demonstrating rule # 3 - always know your target and what is beyond it - before the child pulled the trigger - and nobody in my group having seen the man and his dog downrange after this - the shooter made an aimed shot. I obviously feel bad, but was I WRONG? (By the way, my house is in a cul-de-sac surrounded by 50 acres of woods that I have verified at the town hall, and through calling the PD numerous times, are legal to shoot and hunt in - and it is bow season) |
|
Quoted:
While it may be your "spot" this is clearly not a designated and marked shooting range. If a man is walking his dog in the woods , on a path, and bullets start coming his way, you screwed up. Other people are using this area and you need to be aware of them. This. While convenient, I don't think I'd be shooting there anymore. |
|
So, you're shooting on land you don't own "out in the woods behind your house". Who owns this land? Has this owner given you permission to shoot there?
Just because there's vacant land in your neighborhood doesn't mean you automatically get access rights or shooting rights |
|
Wrong.
You aren't shooting on a range and you're aware that there's a trail out there. If the land belongs to you, invest in some signs or something to let people know that they might be about to walk into your line of fire. If not, find somewhere to shoot that doesn't have a trail going through it. If that guy had been running out there, he could have easily jogged right into your impact area without ever having reason to suspect that he was in danger. |
|
Quoted:
Wrong. You aren't shooting on a range and you're aware that there's a trail out there. If the land belongs to you, invest in some signs or something to let people know that they might be about to walk into your line of fire. If not, find somewhere to shoot that doesn't have a trail going through it. If that guy had been running out there, he could have easily jogged right into your impact area without ever having reason to suspect that he was in danger. This. Luckily no one was hurt. Live and learn. |
|
Quoted:
So, you're shooting on land you don't own "out in the woods behind your house". Who owns this land? Has this owner given you permission to shoot there? Just because there's vacant land in your neighborhood doesn't mean you automatically get access rights or shooting rights --The area where I shoot is a large, heavily wooded tract of public land that directly abuts my land. I call the local PD to let them know when I'm shooting and call back to let them know when I'm done and have been doing so for months, and as I mentioned before - I verified that it was perfectly fine to shoot there with both the town hall and the PD long before I ever purchased my home to make sure that my hobbies were well within the limits of laws and regulations. It's currently bear hunting season and deer archery season here. I was obviously amazed to see anyone in the woods - especially walking his dog with no bright colors whatsoever during this time of year. Thanks to all for the responses. They were unfortunate circumstances and luckily it was only an "oh crap" situation. This is the first time I have ever seen anyone out there (and usually fire there once every couple weeks if not more often). The trail is most certainly not used often or very well traveled by anyone other than myself. There are MANY low wet swampy areas and a shallow stream that crosses it. In the future, I will most definitely put up caution tape and signs well in advance to prevent any confusion and ensure that anyone in the area doesn't end up in a dangerous situation. I guess when it comes down to it, I know that I should have been smarter. I can give reasons and justifications all day long but If I wasn't in the wrong, I wouldn't feel bad - and I do. I should have posted the trail to make sure that it didn't happen. Thanks again to all for the responses. |
|
It is worth noting that you did a very good job of being thorough, except perhaps for one miss which is the trail. Can you reorient your position so that anyone coming down the trail isn't downrange? Also since its a public area, perhaps the long time frame between first and third shot means you could clear downrange by voice also.
If he heard your first and second shots, why did he keep moving towards you I wonder? That being said, your approach actually taught me a few things and thanks for posting here as well. |
I think you are on the right track handling it. I have a buddy that built a nice dirt pile on his property to shoot at, then people next to him moved in a trailer about 100 yards down range. It was very convenient for him to shot at his house, bot much he can do about it now.  Good luck either making it safe or finding somewhere to shoot.
|
|
OP you didnt mention if:
1) you had a backstop that catches the rounds or if the rounds just continue out passed the target into the abyss. 2) is the woods/trail on your property or is it public land (I'm guess its public if the city says you can hunt and shoot there). Are you shooting from your property out into the public land? 3) Just because you checked the trail/area before the first round I'm sure you would concede that a person could be walking the trail and walk into the path of your rounds (just like it happened). Taking all of this and more you are in the wrong and quite frankly lucky you guys didnt hit anyone. Every round out of the gun is YOUR responsibility and no one elses. J- |
|
Quoted:
OP you didnt mention if: 1) you had a backstop that catches the rounds or if the rounds just continue out passed the target into the abyss. 2) is the woods/trail on your property or is it public land (I'm guess its public if the city says you can hunt and shoot there). Are you shooting from your property out into the public land? 3) Just because you checked the trail/area before the first round I'm sure you would concede that a person could be walking the trail and walk into the path of your rounds (just like it happened). Taking all of this and more you are in the wrong and quite frankly lucky you guys didnt hit anyone. Every round out of the gun is YOUR responsibility and no one elses. J- 1.) There is no backstop, but there is a legitimate mile of mature woods with no other linear danger areas besides the aforementioned trail. I do shoot into/through something that my friend got for me from his job at a recycling place that is called "ultra-high molecular density polyethelene" - which is about 18"x15"x2", so if and when a round exits - the danger from the velocity and energy or the round are tremendously lower than what would be expected otherwise. And it's also pretty cool stuff. You can learn more about it here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-high-molecular-weight_polyethylene 2.) Trail / shooting lane are entirely on public land, but do not be mistaken - this is not a recreation area or a commonly used "walking trail" by any means. Again, this is the first time in what is easily 100 hours of use that I have seen ANYONE other than those who have been with me. 3.) I have conceded that I did not do ALL that I could have to be 100% sure that there was no danger to others - so with that I was wrong. I am planning on looking at an area on the other side of the trail before I venture out again, in addition to marking the trail with caution tape and signs when I am active in the vicinity. |
|
Quoted:
1.) There is no backstop, but there is a legitimate mile of mature woods with no other linear danger areas besides the aforementioned trail. I do shoot into/through something that my friend got for me from his job at a recycling place that is called "ultra-high molecular density polyethelene" - which is about 18"x15"x2", so if and when a round exits - the danger from the velocity and energy or the round are tremendously lower than what would be expected otherwise. And it's also pretty cool stuff. You can learn more about it here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-high-molecular-weight_polyethylene 2.) Trail / shooting lane are entirely on public land, but do not be mistaken - this is not a recreation area or a commonly used "walking trail" by any means. Again, this is the first time in what is easily 100 hours of use that I have seen ANYONE other than those who have been with me. 3.) I have conceded that I did not do ALL that I could have to be 100% sure that there was no danger to others - so with that I was wrong. I am planning on looking at an area on the other side of the trail before I venture out again, in addition to marking the trail with caution tape and signs when I am active in the vicinity. Quoted:
Quoted:
OP you didnt mention if: 1) you had a backstop that catches the rounds or if the rounds just continue out passed the target into the abyss. 2) is the woods/trail on your property or is it public land (I'm guess its public if the city says you can hunt and shoot there). Are you shooting from your property out into the public land? 3) Just because you checked the trail/area before the first round I'm sure you would concede that a person could be walking the trail and walk into the path of your rounds (just like it happened). Taking all of this and more you are in the wrong and quite frankly lucky you guys didnt hit anyone. Every round out of the gun is YOUR responsibility and no one elses. J- 1.) There is no backstop, but there is a legitimate mile of mature woods with no other linear danger areas besides the aforementioned trail. I do shoot into/through something that my friend got for me from his job at a recycling place that is called "ultra-high molecular density polyethelene" - which is about 18"x15"x2", so if and when a round exits - the danger from the velocity and energy or the round are tremendously lower than what would be expected otherwise. And it's also pretty cool stuff. You can learn more about it here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-high-molecular-weight_polyethylene 2.) Trail / shooting lane are entirely on public land, but do not be mistaken - this is not a recreation area or a commonly used "walking trail" by any means. Again, this is the first time in what is easily 100 hours of use that I have seen ANYONE other than those who have been with me. 3.) I have conceded that I did not do ALL that I could have to be 100% sure that there was no danger to others - so with that I was wrong. I am planning on looking at an area on the other side of the trail before I venture out again, in addition to marking the trail with caution tape and signs when I am active in the vicinity. No backstop? All you know is that your bullets are going into the woods? Stop shooting without a backstop! |