MACON, Ga. —
Several Macon-Bibb County residents say they’ve had problems with hunters shooting in wooded areas near their homes, sometimes with high-powered rifles.
Now, local officials are looking into regulating hunting near homes.
Typically, Pinnacle Pointe is a quiet neighborhood that's right off Lake Tobesofkee, but during hunting season, residents say it's a different story.
"About two-and-half months ago, we started hearing gunshots," said James Majewski.
He and other residents say they hear high-powered hunting rifles. At first, they thought the noise was coming from across the lake.
“Then, I realized the gunshots were coming off in the back of the community,” Majewski, only a few hundred feet from the back of the neighborhood, he said.
“That’s when I called DNR, Department of Natural Resources, the sheriff, and found out it was perfectly legal in what they’re doing," Majewski said.
His concern is the proximity hunters are shooting near the neighborhood and the high-powered weapons they’re using.
“My neighbor next door is a hunter. I’ve done some hunting. When you realize the guns or the bullets that they’re carrying can cover up to 1,000 or 2,000 yards, kill a deer at 1,000 yards, and our community is 300 feet from their deer stands,” Majewski said.
Now, commissioners like Joe Allen are trying to regulate hunting near homes.
“I’ve heard from hundreds. People are scared. They’re scared of the bullets. They’re scared of what might happen,” Allen said.
The draft of the ordinance says hunters can’t shoot within 250 feet of a home, but some officials are looking to expand that more.
"I talked to the county attorney, and we’re going to try to get 1,000 yards, that they cannot hunt within 1,000 yards," Allen said.
1,000 yards is nearly two-thirds of a mile.
Hamp Dowling, owner of Eagle Gun Range, says 250 feet from a home is kind of short.
"Bullets can go a whole lot farther than that," Dowling said.
He says 1,000 yards is too much.
"I don’t think there’s a hunting spot in Macon-Bibb County that is within two-thirds of a mile from a home," Dowling said. "99.9 percent of hunters are responsible and care where their shots go."
Allen agrees that everyone has their second amendment right, but safety comes first.
Next Tuesday, a Bibb County committee may vote on the ordinance to prohibit hunters from shooting 250 feet from a home. If passed, it will go to the full commission for a vote.
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