Down River From Campbell St

[smbasser]

I just wanted to post my frustration to some individuals on this site. I have floated the james river from below the Springfield dam to shelvin rock, not in one day, many times over the last few years and have caught some nice fish but have come into some sticky situations. Last year we were floating from below the dam to rivercut golf course and about a mile above the rivercut area there is a stretch where a cleared out section of power lines crosses the road and the were a group of people that were in that clearing shooting rifles and handguns. I was floating with a guy and I could tell he was kinda nervous with how close the shots were and we tried yelling and letting them know we were floating and on the river but it didn't seem to make a difference. When we rounded a horseshoe section of the river the gun shots started again and that is when we heard the "zing" that a bullet makes go by us and hit into the mudbank directly behind us. We began yelling, more out of fear and the people said sorry. I floated on 4-1-12 in the same stretch and the same thing was happened again. It's made me and the group of guys I fish with not want to go down there anymore due to the fact of how close the bullets really were. I just don't understand how people can shoot and just a reckless level especially at a public waterway. Hell, they could kill someone. I called a friend that is an agent of greene cty and he said there is nothing they can do and I also spoke with the greene cty sheriff to try to let them know how dangerous it is and they said the same thing. I'm just letting people know that if you float that stretch be careful. I actually looked up on google maps today where the house or land is there shooting from so if it ever happens again, were gonna have words. I hope no one has experienced the same situation and if you have be careful and good fishing

[hog_wild]

thank you for the heads up...I was planing on floating that stretch, 1)for fishing then 2)to gather golf balls...looks like I may think twice...

[Wayne SW/MO]

I believe that is illeagal and I would call the MDC and the sheriff. I'm going from memory, but I believe it ties in with no shooting across a road, I.E a public access.

[smbasser]

Both the MDC and Sheriffs Dept said there was nothing they can do bc it was on private land. They said they could show up and tell the people that there bullets are traveling across a waterway and they could pretty much tell the sheriff to piss off. So I was told about the only time they could stop them is if they shot someone or caused damage.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Unbelievable! I wonder what they would say if someone on private land was shooting across 65?

[smbasser]

Probably say alot more to someone shooting over 65 as compared to us little old river fishermen in our canoes

[Craig C]

the private land excuse should only hold water if the bullets stay on that private land which they are not. sounds like l.e.o. need to relook at this one.

[smbasser]

I agree that the private land excuse it kinda bs. One of those issues where nothing will change until someone gets hurt and I hate to see it that way. If i float again on that stretch i'm just gonna call the sheriff when/if I hear them shooting and they can go down and at least talk to them. All i know to do............

[RSBreth]

Random drunken folks on the river and at the access, folks who can't walk but can tube, and random gunfire - isn't the James wonderful?