huntr1
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It was the guy complaining about the guy butchering the deer that was complaining about the HOA, not the other way around.vraiblonde said:
Excerpts from the March '03 article:
Frederick County Maryland Hunter Becomes the Target in Neighborhood Dispute
John Ramboz is a Defense Department machinist and a sportsman who grew up in Maryland and lives in Lake Linganore, a rural subdivision near New Market in Frederick County. His house is filled with children, friends, two cats and, one day recently, a friend's dog. Hanging on the walls are the kids' artwork, along with artworks of taxidermy -- a wild turkey in flight, a nine-point buck's head, a bobcat in mid-pounce, and fat-bellied channel catfish his daughter caught.
John Zisk is an equine veterinarian, originally from Connecticut, who lives across the street. His house was decorated by his wife, a chef who teaches at a French-style cooking school. There are gold tassels on the lamps, lacquer coasters on the coffee table and white couches with pillows arranged by size. The only animals are a pedigreed Airedale named Cosmo Cutup, a Chinese ink drawing of a horse and the image of a duck knitted into Zisk's sweater.
They are two neighbors with different tastes, from different backgrounds. But that's not uncommon in Frederick, where an influx of refugees from cities and crowded suburbs has eroded the county's rural character. The lifestyles of longtime residents and newcomers sometimes clash, as they did on a chilly Saturday in January when Zisk and Ramboz had a conversation over the carcass of a deer that Ramboz was skinning in his front yard.
Ramboz, 45, had the hide off and was sawing through the ribs when Zisk and his wife, Catherine Brawn, drove past "with an astonished look on their faces," Ramboz recalls. "I thought, 'Uh-oh.' "
Zisk summarized those concerns as: "Who in their right mind wants to come into their community and see a hillbilly mentality skinning deer? What does that do to property values? What does that do to the social atmosphere?"
Ramboz, a taciturn fellow, said he told Zisk that day: "Give me 10 minutes. I'm almost done, and we'll talk."
Then later he told Zisk, "Go home."
The homeowners association board decided last month that deer-skinning does not constitute "noxious, dangerous, unsightly" behavior, and so is not prohibited by the group's bylaws.
But Zisk isn't giving up.
"These types of people are community Neanderthals," he said. "And it's just a matter of time before they're flushed out."
Ramboz's response: "Hillbilly? That is hilarious."
Several years ago, Ramboz's next-door neighbor, Rich Cramer, helped Ramboz erect a 10-foot hoist for skinning deer. Ramboz, who guts his kill in the field, said he usually skins in the early morning or at dusk. Though the hoist is outside her window, "never once have I seen him clean a deer," said Cramer's wife, Chandra.
That day in January, Ramboz dressed two deer. He finished one before dawn. But by the time he got to the second, it was midafternoon, and Zisk and his wife were passing by on their way home from Costco.
Zisk said he has nothing against hunting. All he wanted, he said, was for Ramboz to move his deer-cleaning operation to the back yard. But Ramboz said the wooded area behind the house is too steeply sloped. "I'd rather do this in my back yard for my own privacy, but it's not realistic," he said. After the homeowners association said it had received complaints, Ramboz offered to build a fence around the deer hoist. But to be useful, it would have to exceed the association's height limit for fences.
Same thing happened to me. Just one more neighbor that I don't have to worry about talking to me ever again. 
Though, I AM that neighbor with vehicles parked in the yard, now that I'm not worried about that tree falling on them any more. 
When you buy a property that has an HOA you should know what you're buying into. Be an informed consumer. If you are totally against HOA's then don't buy a anything in an area that has one. They are set up (for the most part) to help maintain a community, it's surrounding property, and to keep the value of the homes at their best. Can they be annoying...YES. I am on the board to ensure that I know what is going on and make sure I know where my dues are being spent. Playing an active role gives you a better understanding JMO. At least you're finding this out BEFORE you purchase. You'd be surprized at how many people have no clue what bylaws and covenants even mean 
Be thankkful you are wise enough to have the information you need to make your decision now. I would look somewhere else. Bylaws/covenants are NOT easy to change. Good Luck. 
Let me add, that no windows were broken in the process. I had no broken glass to pick up. I dunno what his problem is. :shrug: 
to these people who obviously have more important issues like the color of a street sign or the height of someones grass. Thanks for listening everyone!!!
