Distance From Homes

[auggie78]

This weekend I was hunting on a lake that I live on. We found a great spot. A point that is on the end of a narrow part that leads to two bigger parts on the lake. The ducks were bottle necking right down this and over our decoys. There is one home about 150-200 yards to our left. We were shooting out into the main part of the lake away from his home, so I know we didn't bounce any bb's his way.

He started yelling that we were too close and was going to get his range finder and call the sheriff. We didn't want to deal with it so just packed up and moved. Didn't pick up any ducks at the new spot.

I called the local CO who told me there is no distance requirement from homes and as long as you arn't bouncing pellets off there home there isnt anything he can do about it.

I'm sure he was just annoyed that we woke him up. I plan on being there again next weekend. Anyone else encountered a similar situation?

Thanks

[strait-meat]

Yes there are a lot of rules that people don't know, maybe you can approach him before the hunt and let him know what the laws are and supply him with the CO's number for him to check it out himself--the only thing you have to check is local/city laws--they can have something that supersedes state law. But if you were up in DL I am going to guess they don't have anything like this but city hall would be the one that knows.

[Cheetah]

Your neighbor clearly doesn't want the shooting so close to his house. I would set up on your own shore and hunt there. Or maybe take some time to talk with your neighbor and ask permission to do what you did, even though technically you don't need it.

[cutter08]

Run into this allot down here in the cities. If i were you i would just tell the guy you are going to be out there in the morning and it is not illegal. If he doesn't like it, to darn bad. that's one of the joys of living on a lake during hunting season.

[Stringerless!]

Had a similar thing happen Saturday morning. Minus the yelling. Guy came down and asked me if I thought I was trespassing on his land and i said no and rocked the canoe so he could see ripples from the water. " Ok , I guess you are legal there " he said. Asked me if I had to trespass across his land to get where I was and I said no . I put in at the culvert and paddled the whole way. I had to get out of the canoe and push it one length that i could not paddle but it was still floating and I had to have waders on. again , "Ok do you think you are over 500 feet from a house and I said yes."Well a frind is on the planning commision and he has a map with 500 foot circles drawn around the houses and I think you may be in one of them". So I gave him my phone number and told him I will check with the local authorities for that area and to call me if I was in one of the circles. Never heard a peep. Called the Co for that area and left a message saying I need clarification on the 500 foot rule over water and Emailed the police to see if there is a local ordinance. Have not heard from anyone yet. Will keep you posted.We were both completly cordial.

[auggie78]

I hate to be the jerk who does something just because there is no rule against it but when the wind is coming from the W this is by far the best spot on the lake. There are plenty of spots that cause no problems when wind is coming from the N, E, or S so hopefully it ceases to be an issue.

Until then just start asking around to see who he is and maybe talk to him. Don't want to be a bad neighbor.

[shortfatguy]

If you don't want people hunting ducks near your house or fishing near your dock you shouldn't buy land on a public waterway. The lakes and rivers are there for everyone's enjoyment. Not just for the people who are fortunate enough to own land that butts up to the water. Call the CO and tell him about the encounter and that you felt harassed. If the guy does it again press charges for hunter harassment. (so long as you are truly legal)

[Tom7227]

There is a 500 foot rule -

Minn. Stat. §97B.001 TRESPASS.

Subd. 7.Taking with firearms in certain areas.

(a) A person may not take a wild animal with a firearm within 500 feet of a building occupied by a human or livestock without the written permission of the owner, occupant, or lessee:

(1) on another person's private land; or

(2) on a public right-of-way.

( A person may not take a wild animal with a firearm without the permission of the owner, occupant, or lessee, within 500 feet of a stockade or corral containing livestock.

© A person may not take a wild animal on any land where the person is prohibited from entering by this section.

[Tom7227]

You can go on Google Earth and download the program. It allows you to zero in on a property and then measure distances. Fairly simple to use. I used it to get a case dismissed against a friend for a wetlands violation.

[auggie78]

I did the google earth range finder. 890 feet conservatively. In my opinion thats plenty of distance.

[Superduty]

There is a 500 foot rule -

Minn. Stat. §97B.001 TRESPASS.

Subd. 7.Taking with firearms in certain areas.

(a) A person may not take a wild animal with a firearm within 500 feet of a building occupied by a human or livestock without the written permission of the owner, occupant, or lessee:

(1) on another person's private land; or

(2) on a public right-of-way.

( A person may not take a wild animal with a firearm without the permission of the owner, occupant, or lessee, within 500 feet of a stockade or corral containing livestock.

© A person may not take a wild animal on any land where the person is prohibited from entering by this section.

This does not apply when hunting from water!

[auggie78]

"This does not apply when hunting from water!"

That's the impression I got from the CO. 890 feet away from the homes and firing in the opposite direction is reasonable if you ask me. Talked to some other neighbors who didn't have any problem with it.

[Finlander]

The problems stems from the noise level that makes it seem like your shooting in there yard, from inside the house even though your plenty far away from any building. My lake lot is a good 3/4 mile away from where most people hunt and early in the morning it sound real loud. It also has alot to do with the wind direction. I once had permission to hunt a corn field and we shot alot in the morning and talking to the landowner I asked if the shooting awoke them and they said they didn't hear anything. The house was about 300 yards away and we were shooting downwind away from the house which makes a big difference in the shot noise! No matter, people love to complain and give them any reason, they will!

[Stringerless!]

Still not a peep from either the CO or the police.

[gurkster]

The 500' rule only applies when hunting on land. If you are in the water, there is no distance limit. On water you need to be in some vegitation that can partially conceal you though.

IMO I would talk to the neighbor and let him know you want to hunt there and when. Technically you can do it without his permission, but to be neighborly I would at least let him know your intent, and that you are legal. Good Luck!

[Tom7227]

Be sure that there's no sheds for animals w/i 500 feet. Had a case last fall where the house was far enough but a small shed for horses was w/i the 500 feet. Hunter had been shooting and spooked the horses and the got hurt on fences to the tune of big bucks for the owner. Not a good deal for anyone involved.

[Stringerless!]

CO returned my call today " There is no minnesota state statute (sp?) that says you must be 500 feet from an occupied building when hunting on public waters. " " You will however have to check city and county ordinances as they may have different rules for each. "

[RumRiverRat]

This does not apply when hunting from water!

Why do we have to repeat this every year?

THE 500 FOOT RULE DOES NOT APPLY WHEN HUNTING FROM WATER!!

[Stringerless!]

Had to hear it from Co myself. Lord knows we can't believe everything we read on the internet.

[RumRiverRat]

Had to hear it from Co myself. Lord knows we can't believe everything we read on the internet.

Check the regs, it clearly states the rule!

[TooTallTom]

Hey guys, just for clarification, if I'm hunting in the water how far do I need to be from a building? What if there's no vegetation?

Seriously though, I do appreciate Stringerless!'s (I have no idea what the grammar rule is on that one...) general caution about legal advice from the internets. I'm the same way, and I think people believe take that advice without verification at their peril. And there are lots of "easily answered by the poster" questions on this forum. (So I really don't hold that against him either.) The people here are amazingly tolerant of that type of post...

[Stringerless!]

What page and which book RRR ? I cannot find it. Maybe it is right in front of my eyes.

[sdsufowler]

If the site has no vegetation to hide in find trees, brush to tie up too. As for no vegetation at all you better get permission so you can hunt from shore in layout blinds.

As for another note, just found out by the CO out of Mankato today that Le Sueur County has their own rules for public waterway and ditches accessing from the County or State road right of ways. Apparently the County Sheriff will issue a tresspassing ticket if they catch you accessing land that is off the ROW without permission. The CO said that Le Sueur County is the only one in our area that has this rule. State law states that all waters are waters of the state. Which under normal cirmustances allows for you to access any body of water within the ROW easement area.

Bummed out in Le Sueur County,

Mike