Plinking on private property in Ontario

[kawartha]

I'm new to the sport and I've been reading thread after thread for the past 2 months on CGN. Tons of great info.

I'm looking to get a .22 for plinking to get familiar with the sport and because they seem like they will be cheap fun.

Now my dilemma is that I have a bush lot in Manvers in the Kawarthas Lakes. We are a 100 acres and so are all the adjacent properties. The closest neighbour's house is close to 1km away. My neighbours to 1 side hunt on their lot and on the other side he rips on his quad all the time so I know they aren't too "sensitive" about noise. I want to make a small plinking range on my lot.

1. I read http://www.city.kawarthalakes.on.ca...Consolidated_Discharge_of_Firearms_By-law.pdf but I don't understand if this means that I can shoot for leisure or not. From what I understand I can shoot if it is in order to deter an animal from doing bodily harm. Can I set up a little plinking area on my lot? (obviously backing onto a hillside)

2. What time is a reasonable time to start shooting? We don't get out very often and I don't want to shoot while the kids are on the lot, so I would most likely be shooting in the early mornings.

3. Will a .22cal be loud enough for them to complain? How about a 12 gauge shotgun (friends)?

Thanks in advance for your time!

 

[Whiskywizard]

You're OK to shoot where you live. I'm in CKL too. The bylaws are pretty clearly written, as bylaws go.

Part 3.01 tells you where folks can't shoot at all. You're not listed there. 4.01a gives you the exemption needed to legally plink on your property.

I don't know what you mean by "early morning". I wouldn't start cracking away before 8 on Saturday or weekdays and not before 9 or even 10 on a Sunday. You could run a test. Send one of your friends or family over near the neighbour's house while you shoot at a pre-set time. See how much the neighbour can hear.

Based on how you describe the neighbours, I don't think you have any issues. What I've found here is that people are generally accepting of sustained .22 fire. The occasional shotgun blast goes without concern. Sustained shotguns or centre fire rifles attract a bit more attention and interest and might get you a visit by the OPP or CKL cops. But I wouldn't fear or avoid that - just be ready for it.

Don't make your range look too permanent. Keep it looking simple and temporary.

 

[CPitre]

Your question is well answered by the poster above, but just to be clear you are talking about .22 non-restricted? This would not apply to .22 pistols or AR platform rifles. Otherwise, have fun and enjoy the sport!

 

[kawartha]

Thank you both for the info. Yes, I'm referring to a .22 non-restricted rifle. I'll most likely end up getting a rugger 10/22. Seems like a good first one to get familiar with firearms and the sport.

 

[Otto V]

Will a .22cal be loud enough for them to complain? How about a 12 gauge shotgun (friends)?

I don't have any scientific explanation for this, but sound can carry differently on some days. Sometimes even a .22lr could be a nuisance to a sensitive neighbour, on other days they might not even hear it. Just something else to keep in mind.

 

[kawartha]

I don't have any scientific explanation for this, but sound can carry differently on some days. Sometimes even a .22lr could be a nuisance to a sensitive neighbour, on other days they might not even hear it. Just something else to keep in mind.

I know what you mean. Before I had any interest in shooting I could hear my neighbours shooting. Some days, I could barely hear while on other days it was louder. Personally, I didn't mind. I was just wondering if it was any particular etiquette or rules that I should abide by.

 

[bubbakaloosh]

I just got a .22 today as well. Was going to go with the one your getting but I settled for the mossberg 715 tactical instead. I'm curious to see how loud it is. I live in whitby so I'm hoping it's quiet enough I can drive to the boonies or port perry or scugog and shoot some little targets.

 

[kawartha]

I just got a .22 today as well. Was going to go with the one your getting but I settled for the mossberg 715 tactical instead. I'm curious to see how loud it is. I live in whitby so I'm hoping it's quiet enough I can drive to the boonies or port perry or scugog and shoot some little targets.

I know there is a club up on Simcoe North. I haven't been there or know anything about them. In terms of finding somewhere to plink in Scugog or Port Perry, I think it's going to be difficult. You might need to go further out.

 

[bubbakaloosh]

I know there is a club up on Simcoe North. I haven't been there or know anything about them. In terms of finding somewhere to plink in Scugog or Port Perry, I think it's going to be difficult. You might need to go further out.

I just go to the raglan pits...everyone sais cops are there and stuff...but every time i've been its been dead...and there are always guys shooting there because I can hear the shot guns in the background. We always use a safe backstop too so it's fair game.

 

[kawartha]

I just go to the raglan pits...everyone sais cops are there and stuff...but every time i've been its been dead...and there are always guys shooting there because I can hear the shot guns in the background. We always use a safe backstop too so it's fair game.

Well, I don't know if it is fair game, per se. Raglan is a grey zone. I've been stopped on my quad, asked for my registration and asked to leave. I don't go back anymore on the quad.

As well, they may be shooting on private property. There is tons of private property around there.

Just something to keep in mind.

 

[Harleyguy]

I recently found that you can buy .22lr quiet, low velocity round (780FPS IIRC). They may help you avoid any unwanted attention in the first place.

 

[kawartha]

I recently found that you can buy .22lr quiet, low velocity round (780FPS IIRC). They may help you avoid any unwanted attention in the first place.

As you can tell, I'm a newbie. I haven't even considered that. I guess the velocity is proportionate to the amount of sound produced. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[bubbakaloosh]

the company who owns the land...blocked off all the ways into the pits...i heard they do this every year but they put a ton of signs up on the trees..guess there goes that place. lol

Well, I don't know if it is fair game, per se. Raglan is a grey zone. I've been stopped on my quad, asked for my registration and asked to leave. I don't go back anymore on the quad.

As well, they may be shooting on private property. There is tons of private property around there.

Just something to keep in mind.

 

[kawartha]

the company who owns the land...blocked off all the ways into the pits...i heard they do this every year but they put a ton of signs up on the trees..guess there goes that place. lol

Yes. They generally put up big boulders at the trail heads but that doesn't stop people.

But in any case, back on track, I set up a little area to plink. It backs onto a hill. Now I just need to find the time to clear all the shrubs and grass. We set up our halloween pumpkins and shot at them already.

 

[LeverActionBandit]

Thank you both for the info. Yes, I'm referring to a .22 non-restricted rifle. I'll most likely end up getting a rugger 10/22. Seems like a good first one to get familiar with firearms and the sport.

Good choice getting the ruger for your first rifle. They are not very loud, are fun to shoot and have lots of room to customize. One other rifle i would recommend to you is a Marlin Model 39A, its a .22 lever action thats even easier to clean. Its the first rifle in history to use the .22 cartridge and is the longest running production gun (that is unchanged) on the market. Thats some bad ass history. Also interesting fact is Anny Oakley used that rifle to shoot 25 round into the Ace on a ace of spades playing card in 23 sec. from 12ft offhand in the late 1800's (look it up, you can find a picture of that very playing card)