Exotic ranch angers neighbors

Ranch Rumble/INDIANTOWN off thetop

Elisa Ackerly/ANGRY NEIGHBOR hits at :10

Joe O'Bannon/J & R OUTFITTERS hits at :41

Peter Schaller/PSCHALLER@CBS12.COM hits at 1:17

PKG IS FED

Exotic game for big bucks.  It's the formula used by Treasure Coast hunting ranch for decades but their next door neighbors are coming forward, they've have had enough.  The family, sharing a fence with the outfitter, is standing up to the big operation and Martin County's decision to allow the shooting to continue, for now.

"The dishes in my house would rattle," said Elisa Ackerly.

She says gunfire from the hunting ranch next door is so bad that now she's getting loud.

"I'm screaming as loud as I can to the commissioners to see the issues here," she said.

Worried about noise and the safety of their children, the Ackerly's tell us that they feel threatened.  Joe O'Bannon says his ranch is secure, far enough from homes and they're not going anywhere.

O'Bannon said, "It's almost the size of the city of Stuart."

J and R outfitters boasts a big game and wing shooters paradise.  Their priciest exotic game will cost you more than 5 thousand dollars.

He said, "We probably have stronger ethics, more control than most of your state and local management areas."

"It's an emotional issue," said county commissioner Ed Ciampi.

He says that the renewed controversy has revealed an oversight.  The ranch had been operating for 20 years under the wrong zoning, and the county is considering changing the law to allow the ranch to stay.

Commissioner Ciampi said, "We decided to leave the zoning in place and include a hunting camp designation to their fishing camp designation."

"This is a very serious issue, guns do kill," said Ackerly.

The Ackerly's worry a precedent is in the books.  They'll keep fighting the for their cause back here in town.  The ranch owner tells us he's just trying to make a living, but these neighbors say not in our backyard.  The next hearing on this issue is tentatively scheduled for November 3rd.  A time will be set later this month.  You will have a chance to have your say, if you wish.