Usage of owner is for server executed scripting. The server is the only one that can return a proper owner id for the player (s). Try it in a server executed script and add a diag_log line to produce good working result

This invisible TEXTURE situation at a distance has been here since arma 2.
I agree with it needs to be fixed for realism, but I don't think a fix is the right word. Maybe a modification of the lowest setting to be 1600m since most servers use this server side setting as default view distance.