Land Owner and Duck Hunters Clash
July 6, 2006
Pamlico County Commissioners heard a request to put stricter requirements on hunters and how close they can discharge a weapon to an occupied building. The concern is over a waterfowl impoundment that is within 400ft of this individual’s house.
Commissioners listened Monday night to complaints by Hobucken resident Nelson Lee about what he called annoying and dangerous duck impoundments built near residential areas on Goose Creek Island.
Lee said the duck hunting grounds bring hunters, who begin a thunderous barrage of gunshots as early as daylight off Lowland Road.
He brought a map that showed a 10-acre impoundment within 400 feet of the closest of eight homes. He claimed that another impoundment — about 500 acres — was in the works.
As a waterfowl hunter I’ve had law enforcement called on my party for “shooting to close to a house” as well as “hunting on private property with out permission” Neither of these were true and once the deputy sheriff in one case and a wildlife officer in the other checked us out they left us alone. I believe the issue is that unlike other forms of hunting, waterfowl involves a lot more shots and happens most often at sunrise and the noise is very disturbing to many non hunters. People move to rural areas to escape the issues of the city but want rural activities like hunting, shooting and farming to cease around their “little piece of heaven”. Educating non hunters on what you are doing and being careful not to sprinkle their homes with shot should go a long way to keeping the peace.
He asked commissioners to impose an ordinance that would limit such impoundments to a half mile from homes.
We have seen efforts by anti hunters in the past to increase safety zones around occupied buildings that would basically outlaw hunting. We want to be safe but 100 yards is ample distance in my opinion to be safe. Additionally Pamlico is for the most part a rural community and the sound of gunshots is something one should expect to hear.
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