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Firearms Legal Protection

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  1. #1
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    Gun Friendly Counties near Grand Rapids?

    Hey there, I'm in the midst of house hunting various counties within an hour or so of Grand Rapids. One of the things I'm hoping to figure out is which counties are more gun friendly; especially pertaining to the ability/restrictions to build a little shooting range on my own property or dispatch critters messing with my chickens.

    I've been aiming at 5 acres as a baseline for what I'm looking for if that factors into any relevant laws. I've seen similar threads (it's how I found this website actually!) asking about firearm discharge on your own property; I've looked through the state's firearm manual/laws; and it seems that the main thing to watch out for is the 150 yards dwelling law and county ordinances and then to make sure to avoid the negligent discharge laws (which I'm hoping can be done by building a proper backstop and working with the county or something.)

    My hope is to get an idea of if any of you varmint hunt on your property, target shoot on your property, and/or what you've done to stay this side of the law so that I can factor that into said house-hunting.

    Many thanks!

  2. #2
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    An hour out from Grand Rapids gets you a long ways in any direction, the possibilities are endless. Lots and lots of options and price ranges. Closer to Grand Rapids, you probably want to be looking north/northwest (Rockford, Sparta, northern Walker, etc). I'm partial to the lakeshore if you can deal with a 45 minute commute. I guess it depends on what side of Grand Rapids your job location will be, because once you're out of the city, you can fly down the highways, but you don't want to make a habit of criss crossing Grand Rapids every day if you can avoid it.

    The 150 yard zone you've read about is a hunting law, not a target shooting law. Don't get confused on that one. Specifically, you can't hunt within 450 feet of an occupied structure unless you have that owner's permission.

    If you are narrowing down on a certain house or area, you want to contact the township or village, not the county, to ask about any specific discharge laws. Provided that you have a safe backstop to make the police who might show up to check happy, there aren't really any other regulations other than the local ones to be aware of.

    https://www.petoskeynews.com/gaylord...dc574af10.html

    Welcome and happy house hunting.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by mtnbikinbryno View Post
    An hour out from Grand Rapids gets you a long ways in any direction, the possibilities are endless. Lots and lots of options and price ranges. Closer to Grand Rapids, you probably want to be looking north/northwest (Rockford, Sparta, northern Walker, etc). I'm partial to the lakeshore if you can deal with a 45 minute commute.
    Yeah most of the places we've seen that we like are in the Rockford/Ceder Springs area, or closer to Muskegon. I've been overlaying weather maps (for plant zones) and looking at 2a sanctuary counties and whatnot; but figured if certain counties were especially good or bad they might get pointed out. Closer to the lake you get about a full plant zone warmer (or however you say that) which definitely makes it pretty attractive.

    I'm not sure we'll actually work in Grand Rapids at all, but it's a decent safety net to be within a reasonable enough commute distance. Thanks for chimin' in

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Dootler View Post
    Yeah most of the places we've seen that we like are in the Rockford/Ceder Springs area, or closer to Muskegon. I've been overlaying weather maps (for plant zones) and looking at 2a sanctuary counties and whatnot; but figured if certain counties were especially good or bad they might get pointed out. Closer to the lake you get about a full plant zone warmer (or however you say that) which definitely makes it pretty attractive.

    I'm not sure we'll actually work in Grand Rapids at all, but it's a decent safety net to be within a reasonable enough commute distance. Thanks for chimin' in
    I'm not north of gr, about 30mins up m37.
    I've had 5-6 people at once in my back range shooting like ammo was free(felt like it 2 summers ago) without issue or concern, from my experience, anything north or west is pretty 2a friendly, well anywhere you'll find 5 acres in one plot at least.

  5. #5
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    I raised my family just a few minutes north of Ravenna on acreage that bordered State Land. I successfully hunted deer (bow/gun) and small game, trout fished, rode dirt bikes/quads/snowmobiles and could sit on my deck and shoot everything from clays to high powered rifles as much as I and/or my friends/family wanted to. Michigan State Land "living" is nothing but the finest for doing what you are inquiring about and the options of ownership are plentiful. Our home was located just inside of Newago County (look at a map, follow Mooreland Rd. out of Coopersville which is located right on I-96 just west of GR. Follow Mooreland until it dead ends at Baily Rd, east on Baily to Mason, Mason to its Dead end and Newaygo county begins) which has the most reasonable property taxes you can imagine. I managed a company in GR for many years and also worked in factories in GR, Muskegon, Holland/Zeeland while living there. My kids went to college in Muskegon and had a daughter do her pre-Med at GVSU all out of our location there. All TOTALLY doable too.

    Puc

  6. #6
    MGO Member Mkc451's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Dootler View Post
    Hey there, I'm in the midst of house hunting various counties within an hour or so of Grand Rapids. One of the things I'm hoping to figure out is which counties are more gun friendly; especially pertaining to the ability/restrictions to build a little shooting range on my own property or dispatch critters messing with my chickens.

    I've been aiming at 5 acres as a baseline for what I'm looking for if that factors into any relevant laws. I've seen similar threads (it's how I found this website actually!) asking about firearm discharge on your own property; I've looked through the state's firearm manual/laws; and it seems that the main thing to watch out for is the 150 yards dwelling law and county ordinances and then to make sure to avoid the negligent discharge laws (which I'm hoping can be done by building a proper backstop and working with the county or something.)

    My hope is to get an idea of if any of you varmint hunt on your property, target shoot on your property, and/or what you've done to stay this side of the law so that I can factor that into said house-hunting.

    Many thanks!
    Checkout out south side -- Middleville, Hastings, etc.. It's Barry County, lots of open land, Yankee Springs Recreation Area, and until they find a way to get him - a sheriff who understands 2A ... walk in the office open carry and you most likely get asked if you like the pistol and can they look at it if it's new or less seen. Best part is the cheapest FFL xfers in the area in Middleville and Coctailer (a member here) with his shop in Hasting w/SilencerShop Kiosk.

    Allegan County is west of Barry - still south of GR. It would do -- say Wayland, Dorr. Great shooting range near by South Kent SportsMan Club. ... supergood AR parts guy in Dorr. 2A friendly (not as much as Barry though). Still lots of great open land, an Indian Casino, good fishing, one of the biggest Fairs in MI.

    Ottawa County is 2A sanctuary county and it's due west of GR, it's more pricey, not as much open land. Good place, lots to do and Lake MI & great big lake fishing is minutes away.

    Ionia County is due east - Wittmer the gov hates them, first thing she did was kill about 600 jobs there after the state closed the prison a 10-15 years ago, it was going to reopened as a illegal Immigrant detention center. Wittmer is a Democrat 'nuff said. Otherwise lots of wide open areas, land prices (if it's not good farm land) is probably reasonable.

    Lastly you can go north but it's still kent country, land is high, not so much open, lots of rural mansions... Kent is ok, but not real 2A friendly. 131 S from that area is the worst part of the 131 entrance to GR. Depends on where you are going. But you are closer to runs to Northern Michigan, which chops 1-2 hrs off the trip to the UP from south side areas like Kalamazoo, which isn't all bad, or makes a place in central northern michigan a good easy 1-2 hr drive.

    That is from a guy who grew up in Battle Creek, and lives north of Kalamazoo and east of Plainwell ... been a michigan boy all my life, lived in Port Huron for 10 years, don't miss the East side of state at all.

  7. #7
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    Ionia County here. Outside of a city you have lots of opportunities. My township zoning guy is a retired deputy from sheriff dept. He loves to see what your caring when you stop at the office. We target shoot in backyard when we want. As mentioned; no hunting within 450 of occupied dwelling, but target practice is good to go. Our county has LOTS of opportunities with state land and private property.

    We are 1 to 1/2 hour to Lansing; 30 minutes to Grand Rapids; 2 hours to Detroit; 3.5 hours to Mackinaw and 1.5 to Lake Michigan.

    I tell my wife we are just civilized rednecks. Hunt, fish, shoot, and defend our property from coyotes and all 2 legged varmints when needed. Home prices are a little pricey due to lack of supply but lots of land opportunities if you want to build.

    Welcome to Michigan and hope to run into you someday!

  8. #8
    MGO Member Coctailer's Avatar
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    Barry County is probably the most liberty friendly county in the state. Our sheriff is always being attacked in the news. Thats how you know its good. LOL

  9. #9
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    We love Ottawa County. Very family friendly, much to see and do in Grand Haven and Holland. Politically pretty conservative. A great County park system with nature trails and beaches.You can get within a half hour of Lake Michigan without breaking the bank.
    You have been infected by the Amish Virus. Since the Amish have neither electricity nor computers, you are on the honor system. Please format your hard drive. Thank you

  10. #10
    MGO Member Coctailer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by wombat12 View Post
    We love Ottawa County. Very family friendly, much to see and do in Grand Haven and Holland. Politically pretty conservative. A great County park system with nature trails and beaches.You can get within a half hour of Lake Michigan without breaking the bank.
    I LOVE that area.

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