backyard plinking - some idiots ruin it for everyone

That really sucks. It just takes one jerk to ruin it for everybody. I love to shoot and I also love dogs. I really hope they catch the loser.

I hope they catch him/her, too. That's animal cruelty and the law ought to make a case against the moron. But that's not what I call "back-yard-plinking". Anyone with half a brain could have done that.

I "back-yard-plink" on a daily basis, and am sorry to hear of your fun being ruined.

Hard topic. Maybe you should ask your neighbor if he has any reason to believe you would do such a thing? That was obviously not a case of a freak accident, but a deranged, mean, or impaired person committing a terrible crime. With that said, maybe remind him that you will continue to enjoy your hobby in a responsible manner, and to let you know if he ever has concerns.

Invite the neighbor over to shoot with you

This behavior is nothing new! I know people that did have barking dogs all night long and they used a airguns because of the less noisy sounds. Sometimes I wonder who’s at fault the cruel behavior or the disrespectful a person in close proximity. No matter what I do nether!, just an observation of behavior of the human aspect! Sometimes doing the the right thing is subject to opinion, but not to me. Sometimes the right thing is overwhelming obviously over looked.

that sucks .. it would be great though just to see the reaction from someone like that to break out a full auto and burst off a couple clips out the window .. just be like i dont know what your talkin about lol ...

Hello I do not know your relationship with your neighbor who seems to be the problem but maybe have a really solid trap set up with a really ,really good back stop, no signs of debris, shot up cans, or lead . Have some nice targets and maybe so reactive targets and invite that neighbor over to shoot with you and maybe change his mind. ( I was not being a d### or condensing in any way by saying have a really squared away range area , I just know that with the amount of shooting I do that in a few days my area need a good cleaning(lot of steel) and those who are no on the same page my be turned off or get crazy over the lead. Hope this helps Eric

As long as you have a safe backstop and control your environment you're fine.

Yes a dog sometimes a dog suffers the poor decision of an owner or someone that lives nearby. Just to be very clear I do not justify any bad behavior. From owner or others that live nearby. That’s including shooting someone’ Pet 

"multiple times" either not 50ftlbf or, That (was?) one tough dog.

joking aside, lay low for a time and then resume YOUR safe practices.

good luck.

Kindness and respect for for all involved speaks for itself! Animals usually suffer from bad decisions! 

Hard topic. Maybe you should ask your neighbor if he has any reason to believe you would do such a thing? That was obviously not a case of a freak accident, but a deranged, mean, or impaired person committing a terrible crime. With that said, maybe remind him that you will continue to enjoy your hobby in a responsible manner, and to let you know if he ever has concerns.

Click to expand...

Great reply and 2nd it maybe inviting the neighbor over and show them or involve them may work. Especially if your only shooting paper or tin cans .army men. Something like that.good luck transparency is always best as is honesty makes for clean living HYNZIE 4s 

Check local ordinances and see if you allowed to discharge an airgun, many are specific. I always have checked that before moving into an area. I have had the police come to my home and check the backstop and shooting direction to confirm safety. In one case many years back I had a complaint from a new neighbor, the police were called and showed up to see my range. After looking things over the police called the neighbor over to show them everything was safe. Never had another issue with that neighbor. 

 I shoot at a little target in the evening lit up by a small led lamp that nobody would notice. I shoot from inside my garage so the sound of the shot could be me working on something. They don't know because I might work in my shop any time day or evening. Once in a while I run my compressor so maybe they think I'm using a nailer? Nothing would surprise them. I have a complete machine shop in there.

I don't shoot all the time but it's great for sighting in. Test shots. Or when I just can't help it.

Doesn't hurt that I am a kind and generous neighbor. You never hear a foul word from my mouth

If you are legally allowed to target practice in your backyard, your only responsibility is to take reasonable precautions to assure no projectile leaves your property. Which means a good backstop, and maybe a shooting bench. Unfortunately, the city I once lived in allowed no discharge of any type of weapon inside the city limits. I had a range in my basement, and was even a little nervous about that. It is a much better situation now that I live in the country, but I still try to be considerate of my neighbors and stick to airguns as much as possible.

I would want to first be certain I was in compliance with local ordinances. If so, showing the neighbor your setup and assuring them that you are doing everything required to abide by the law, would be the best you can do under the circumstances.

For the city of boise: 

"...WEAPON: Any instrument, device, article, item or thing capable of releasing, expelling, propelling or ejecting a projectile through the action or release of a spring, pressurized gas, compressed air, expanding gas, explosive, chemical reaction or other force producing means or method, including, but not limited to, objects commonly referred to as air guns, air pistols, air rifles, BB guns, pellet guns, blow guns, airsoft guns or paintball markers or paintball guns. (Ord. 40-15, 9-22-2015)

B. Prohibition; Exceptions: It is unlawful for any person to discharge a weapon or a firearm anywhere within the corporate limits of the City of Boise City, except:

1. At a shooting gallery, sport shooting range, or archery range operated in compliance with title 11 of this Code, as required by Idaho Code section 18-3302J(4)(b);

2. At, upon, or within a structure on private property specifically designed and constructed for the safe discharge of a weapon or firearm. Boise City Council reserves the right to approve, disapprove, revoke, or terminate the allowed use of such structure based on its assessment of whether such structure creates a hazard or is otherwise detrimental to the public safety or convenience;..."

https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/boiseid/latest/boise_id/0-0-0-5479

elh0102 - i think you gave some good advice on how to resolve the situation, but i'm playing it safe in hopes their attitude will change. i'm not sure if the neighbor previously understood that a pellet gun could injure something to that extent. they are pretty on edge, and have a dog and kids in the backyard often. they are worried about ricochets and accidents, and i am not going to press it until the mood has cleared a bit. the last thing i want is for them to complain to the police NOW that i wont stop shooting pellet guns in the back yard or bugging them about it.

i am fortunate enough to have a basement for some closer range practice. not the same as sunshine and clouds, but MUCH better than nothing

Click to expand...

Very wise. If it was that big of a story, even the cops will be less understanding if he calls them. As far as showing off all your stuff and how safe you are goes, you know your neighbor better than us. If he is the type that I think, he doesn’t want to see jack, his mind is pretty much made up. Play it cool for a while. After all, it’s just shooting a pellet gun. No need for it to put a lifetime rift between you and a neighbor. You’ll figure something out.