NEW YORK MILLS, Minn. -- In the heart of Otter Tail County's lakes country, a group of property and homeowners is afraid somebody will be injured or killed if something is not done about a shooting range in rural New York Mills.
It opened in 2016.
The neighbors, who say they all hunt and own guns, say they are finding bullets in their trees and window frames and put up with noise coming from the range at all hours.
"Come on in and you can see what it looks like," Susan Van Watermulen said as she brought people into the summer cabin.
The Van Watermulens have been coming to their cozy family cabin in the woods for decades. In true Finnish fashion, there's even a sauna. But bringing children here likely won't happen anymore.
"Bullets keep escaping the rifle range property and whizzing over or landing on our property," Jay Van Watermulen, property owner, said.
The Van Watermulens came to the cabin over the 4th of July when they made the discovery.
"Right there it went through the screen and hit the first pane," Van Watermulen said.
"We got back from boating and Lori said, what happened to the window? And I looked and said it is that bullet inside there," Van Watermulen said.
And it wasn't the first time they've had a problem.
"Over MEA weekend, the boys and I were trying to get the 4-wheeler started and we heard a whiz and a thud and we looked over and the ground was disturbed and I saw the dirt falling to the ground, we dug up a bullet from the shooting range," Van Watermulen said.
The Van Watermulens and a handful of neighbors are upset the county won't do more about complaints against the Rush Lake Range. A popular spot known for its long 1250 yd range.
"They are shooting 1,200 yards, shooting 3/4 mile and it is a 1/4 mile between that backstop and my property," Van Watermulen said.
Dave Bernu shows just how close:
"That is the backside of the 1,000 yard berm and this is my property line, 80-90 yards away," Bernu said.
He's had several close calls too.
"One time me and my Dad were on deer stand and a bullet left the property (rifle range) smacked a tree between us I also had several come over smack a tree while cutting wood," Bernu said.
Jerry Guck said people are shooting daily at the range.
"It is not a 2nd Amendment issue, it is a safety issue as well as a noise issue," Guck said.
And on competition day:
"They will shoot between four and 5,000 rounds in a day, multiple calibers, pretty big guns the way it sounds," Guck said.
We talked to the owner of the range. While he would not go on camera, he did tell us there is nothing illegal about his rifle range, which he says meets the NRA recommended specs for berms and backstops.
"I do not think the range is built up to NRA specs, which is required by law," Van Watermulen said.
And so if no laws are being broken, what can county officials do? These neighbors are getting frustrated.
"The DNR, sheriff, township, county attorney, anyone you can think of, they've all passed the buck," Guck said of the response he and others have received following their complaints.
Otter Tail County authorities say the latest incident is under investigation. Meantime neighbors hope something gets done before there is a headline making tragedy out here.
"We had a piece of land here where we intended to build a retirement home on, which we won't anymore," Guck said.
Another issue surrounding the rifle range controversy; there is no Zoning in Otter Tail County. Also, no permit is needed to put up a range.