WILTON – The Wilton Fish & Game Club received a permit to surround a shooting range with earthen berms Thursday evening, following a public hearing at which several residents complained about the noise.
WF&G, a non-profit club located on Route 2 in Wilton, intends to use Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and federal grant money, augmented by funds raised by the club, to construct an outdoor shooting range on its property. The range, 144 feet in width by 190 feet in length, would be surrounded by three earthen berms approximately 12 feet in height. The horseshoe arrangement of the berms, according to club members, is designed to make shooting at the small caliber range more safe.
In its current iteration, the project is more than two years in the making. The club was able to secure a Maine Department of Environmental Protection permit last year, relating to the moving of earth in the vicinity of a vernal pool. The club was seeking a permit from the Planning Board to move ahead with the moving of earth around the range.
Following a Jan. 5 meeting on the issue, which saw significant turnout, the board held Thursday’s meeting at the Academy Hill School cafeteria. More than 60 people attended the hearing, which lasted approximately an hour and 20 minutes.
Many of those addressing the board spoke to the issue of noise, which they said made it difficult to enjoy their own properties.
“It’s terrible,” resident Betty Shibles told the board. “You can’t do anything if they’re shooting.”
Concerns about the noise and the regulation of the club’s hours of operations formed the central point of most of the speakers’ arguments against expansion permit. While club members pointed out that they maintained hours of operation, cameras and a gate locked by a keypad mechanism, other residents said that people were still able to enter the range after-hours and shoot.
Club President Phillip Maurais said that not all gunshots heard in the region were originating at the range. In addition to people shooting on their own property, some use gravel pits and other areas to target shoot. The Board of Selectmen recently took complaints about people shooting appliances and exploding targets in a privately-owned pit. That situation was rectified by alerting the out-of-state property owner, who was unaware of the activity.
“Our range becomes a giant target because it’s labeled a shooting range,” Maurais said.
Club members recommended that those hearing gunshots from the range off its posted hours contact the police. Some residents balked at this, calling it a club issue rather than one for the police force.
“I shouldn’t have to call the police department to babysit Wilton Fish & Game,” resident Patty Woods said.
Police Chief Heidi Wilcox, who was in attendance, said that residents should call the police.
Some residents called for the permit to be cancelled or delayed, in favor of having the club improve its soundproofing. Others, however, noted that the Planning Board was only considering a permit to allow for the expansion, not the issue of sound or range regulation. The berms, they said, would improve safety, not contribute to extra noise.
“This is not going to increase the amount of noise echoing off the lake,” Russell Black, a WF&G member said. “This [project] is a win-win for Wilton.”
Planning Board members noted that they had no control over the regulation of sound coming out of the range. In addition to being an issue that lay beyond the scope of the permit, state law actually prohibits noise ordinances from limiting shooting activity at ranges that were in existence prior to the creation of the ordinance. The WF&G range has been in existence since the 1930s.
“We can’t use that [the noise] as a reason to say ‘no’,” Planning Board Member Angela Werner said.
Following the conclusion of the public hearing, the board voted unanimously to grant the club a permit. That motion included, among other notes about the project, that the board “strongly suggest[ed]” that the club consider addressing the issues raised at the public hearing.
Meeting with Shibles and other residents to describe the project with the assistance of a map, Maurais said he would look into whether a sound wall of some kind could be effective. Shibles thanked the club president for his consideration.
Nice work, Wilton Fish and Game. I can’t wait to see and use the new range. Congratulations!
I agree with Mrs. Shibles. The noise has ruined many of my paddles in my kayak on Wilson Lake and going for a walk on the Lake Rd. I sometimes turn around early due to the annoying blasts. The blasting echoes across the valley and the percussion of some of the larger caliber weapons is deafening. I once was walking past the Lake side Inn and a wedding ceremony was being held there. Low and behold a powerful rifle pounded the range with shots being fired every 5-10 seconds and this went on for hours. I cant say that these people were annoyed but I can only imagine that it wasnt pleasant. Yes I understand nothing can be done because this range is grandfathered. It is just sad that the consideration of other Wilton residents isn’t taken into account when it comes to little permits like this. With the use of larger caliber weapons and high powered rounds, more focus should be placed on moving this nuisance.
Congrats to the WF&G for their accomplishments. I have been a member for over 40 years. They have a nice indoor shooting range which I use frequently. Occasionally I use the outdoor range during the allotted time frame. The WF&G also has a group of young teenage members who have done very well for themselves and the club. The club gives them a place to go for instruction and practice their shooting abilities. Some of them have won in competition shoots. Hats off to them for doing it in a safe manner and a safe place to do it in. The WF&G deserves to be able to make their site a better and safer place to shoot.
Thank you, Town of Wilton for your support of this valuable resource. There are not many places where one can safely learn to handle a gun anymore. We have a great hunting tradition here in Maine and it’s wonderful to know that it will continue!
First of all, I want to thank all of the residents and members who came out to show their support for the fish and game. Many valid points were brought up last night that will help us in the future. However, what seriously upsets me is that so many people are concerned with the noise of the gun shots and not the safety of adding the barriers. Noise doesn’t hurt anyone, although being a common complaint we will continue to work on this, however a stray bullet can. This permit was only to increase the safety of the outdoor range.
Dear Jasper, The last time I checked the First Ammendment was still in effect. Ever heard of ear plugs? Stop your whinning!
Awesome!!! WF&G
I didn’t say anything last night but would like all to know that my Company contributed to the funding for this project through the Pitman/Rodman Act. A percentage of my sales goes to the Federal Government to fund projects like this.Not only here in Maine but across the USA. I also did not hear any complaints about the Duck Hunters out early in the AM shooting or the Deer Hunters out shooting during their legal seasons. Those shots that people hear could be coming from Beisaw Mtn, Gammon Ridge, Mayo Hill, etc. Sounds play funny things to the ear. It doesn’t always come from where you think. Congratulations Wilton Fish & Game. I love to shoot.
Ashlee
I have an idea. How about an 8 or 10 foot tall pine wall (fence) around the perimeter of the entire shooting range? I figure 6500-7000 board feet of 1×12″ or 1×10″ wide pine will do that project and I will sell you all the
KD pine at my wholesale cost. If you can find another lumber company to supply the 2×4 cross members and
4×4 Pt posts at their cost I think the total expense for these materials will be about $5000. If some generous members of the community make donations and you have a few fundraisers, you might be able to get it done
this summer. Just a crazy idea!! Anyhow, contact me at my mill in Wilton, Creative Wood Products of Maine,
anytime if you have any interest.
Jasper if noise suppression was no so prohibitive the shooting sports would not interfere with the paddling sports, and hearing would be better protected.
Woodwise… good idea. I will donate hemlock logs for posts. Email me at mvctoby@gmail.com
next they will want to stop trucks going on rt 2 because they make to much noise
The second amendment is a right, peace and quiet is not.
This shooting range has been in operation for a long time, however not at the high level of use that it sees now.
In days of old it was utilized for people mainly to sight in their guns before hunting season and range rule limited it to one shell in a gun at any one time, not a magazine or clip full.Also magnum shells weren’t even available in the 1930’s.People now have the privilege of using the range 365 days a year with some people using 30 round clips loaded with high powered shells and some people are shooting combat style rapid fire.I can hear these shots, and yes the shots are coming from the Fish & Game, inside of my well insulated house with my doors and windows closed and even when I am in my basement.I can not enjoy my property inside or out !!!!! This noise is louder than any other sound like traffic, lawn mowers, chain saws, etc and it echos and resonates throughout the entire lake valley.
This prevents me from enjoying my property outside or inside, partly what my tax dollars should be providing and I cannot even think of having a outdoor cookout with friends over as the shooting can happen any time from 9:00 A.M.to 7:00 P.M.
Please help !!!!!!!!!!!!
Ashlee,
This permit is for the construction of a new 50 yard outdoor range in addition to the 100 yard outdoor range already there.
It another case of, ” Not in my backyard!”
Many of the more obnoxious land uses are commonplace and historically accepted in rural areas: borrow pits, pig farms, sawmills, wood processing yards, etc. Many of these are agricultural in nature, but some like shooting ranges are not. Moving into a rural area does not by any means ensure an escape from noise pollution, or visual pollution, or noxious odors. If the adjacent property was zoned for a shooting range, then you know that noise would be a byproduct of its operations, is it not? “… it was there when I moved in…I hear the shooting all day…” The sound you hear is of someone exercising their 2’nd amendment right, and practicing in a lawful safe manner, isn’t that what both sides is always calling for or in some cases screaming for??? Give it a chance and stop this nonsense of removing more law abiding resources and good American businesses from our landscape. Remember the constitution gives him/her rights to the right to own and operate a business and expand?
And if the land was zoned for that use when you moved in, maybe you should have looked somewhere else…Check out zoning before you move in?
Nuff Said…
If my neighbour makes a tan-yard, so as to annoy and render less salubrious the air of my house or gardens, the law will furnish me with a remedy; but if he is first in possession of the air, and I fix my habitation near him, the nuisance is of my own seeking, and must continue.— (Blackstone 1766: 402-403)
NuffSaid…
@long time resident. I am very aware of what the construction will be. It is simply to add safety. Yes in doing so it is adding a second range. For small calibers and archery. By adding this smaller range it will not be adding any new noise. The same amount of people will be using the range. And this will be a great place for those who shoot archery to also have a safe place to shoot as wel.
Yo go, WF&G!
Haha Bruce, the first Amendment….? “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Your tough love statement supports Jasper’s right to speak his mind, respectfully, it also supports yours. We need to approach the use of firearms with intelligent and safe design in mind. Spouting out tough guy talk and “alternative facts” at anyone who has something constructive to say just reduces your point. That said, people need a place to shoot their toys and tools, either is fine with me. I hope that this improvement at the WFG does just that. Enjoy your freedom of speech and our right to “A well regulated Militia”, we all have rights. This sounds like a good place to safely practice shooting and teach others the proper methods of gun safety.
JL, let’s move it to your neighborhood !!!
The land that the new 50 yard range will be built on was just purchased by the WF&G six years ago.
How does this fall under a grandfather law ?
This reminds me of when the US Military was doing training overhead and the SAME people complained. The same people would complain if they needed help from fire, police or rescue and they took ten minutes to arrive. These people can not be happy.
Rights are a precious thing but they do not allow one a free reign to impose on anothers’ pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.
Having said that, for years, most people in America have worked together so the rights of all can be respected. Certainly, the long standing survival of the first and second amendments are an example of this.
We saw a good example of this type of respectful discourse on this board by the folks who talked about how to build a fence and address some safety concerns. I am sure a similar collaboration can be found for the noise concerns without the need for insulting people with different views. In the process, we can continue to preserve the first and second amendments. After all, this is what makes America the greatest country ever.