It happens every year. Someone gets injured while hunting. Often we hear of these incidents, mention and discuss them here with or without linking articles.

On Friday, an incident occurred a few miles from where I live while deer hunting. Since some have heard of it already and more are apt to hear of it, I thought I'd post related articles published in my local newspaper to get the facts out and raise awareness.

For the Reading Eagle articles, click on Hunter in critical condition after being accidentally shot at Blue Marsh in Lower Heidelberg Township (http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=162747&obref=obinsite) and Hunter wounded at Blue Marsh in Lower Heidelberg Township remains in critical condition (http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=162868).

Please remember when posting, it's possible people who read this thread may know individuals who have been affected by this incident.

http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.mqLTIYOwGlF/b.4805497/k.C545/Hunting_and_the_AT.htm (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.mqLTIYOwGlF/b.4805497/k.C545/Hunting_and_the_AT.htm)

http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.mqLTIYOwGlF/b.4805497/k.C545/Hunting_and_the_AT.htm (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.mqLTIYOwGlF/b.4805497/k.C545/Hunting_and_the_AT.htm)

not sure what kind of awareness you are trying to raise given the narrow scope of this situation--

don't drive deer thru heavy brush?
Hunters shoot each other, but hunting is not permitted on the AT corridor?
Hunters & guns are bad?

I'm sure this is an awful situation for all involved and I wish the injured parties a speedy recovery.

I believe the link in addition to my comments in my opening post and my posting history answers the question as to my objectives. Hunters are afield, this unfortunate incident happened near a multi-use trail and it's not just during the general firearms season when more hunters are afield with more powerful weapons when these incidents occur.

Hunting is permitted on much of the A.T. as the link indicates. A substantial portion of the A.T. in Pennsylvania traverses State Game Lands, a fact some new to the A.T. might not know.

Hunting is not permitted on Sundays in Pennsylvania. Some may prefer to hike then.

I spent this afternoon hiking near Womelsdorf with BMECC where we enjoyed beautiful views of Kittatinny Ridge. No one except me had ever eaten a pawpaw and every one who wanted to try one took one home. I saw quite a few trees without fruit not long after we began our hike and pointed them out.

On the way home, I stopped at a favorite place of mine where I met someone who knows the injured hunter. He told me his friend is looking at months of recovery, but he will live to hunt another day.

Condition upgraded to satisfactory Sunday according to Reading Eagle.

...
Hunters are afield, this unfortunate incident happened near a multi-use trail and it's not just during the general firearms season when more hunters are afield with more powerful weapons when these incidents occur.
...

I used to consider bow season and muzzle loader season (black powder?) to be pretty safe. That was based on the technology of the 1960s when my father and brother-in-law hunted a lot. From conversations with hunting store owners, bows and muzzle loaders have become much more powerful. So, there are usually fewer hunters than in rifle deer season, but the non-rifle weapons are still dangerous. So, I guess it's blaze orange from now till January.

Massachusetts and Connecticut also have a no Sunday hunting rule. Deer hunting in Mass. is shotgun only. But, if I take a wrong turn on the local trails I'm in NH. There is deer hunting in parts of NH from Sept. 15 to Dec. 15.http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_deer.htm

Please don't misconstrue my post here - this is truly tragic and it's good to hear that the hunter will recover, but...

one of the first things that they teach you in hunter safety courses is to identify your target before you shoot - and that means KNOWING BEYOND ALL DOUBT where your partners are located. If you don't know, you don't shoot - it's that simple.

My father used to tell me that "no trophy is worth a tragedy". Sometimes, I think that the hunter safety courses should have a mandatory refresher course every 5 to 10 years.

Already. :( Prayers to him for a good recovery. Thanks for the reminder. All the orange returns to my wardrobe tomorrow.

Most of my cooler/cold weather outerwear is blaze orange,because I do hike so much in Pa. Blaze orange is required on SGL but is just good sense anywhere in PA during any hunting season. I'd say that would go for any state. Besides when I take that horrendous, fatal fall everyone worries about it'll make the body easier to find.:D

Blaze orange is required on SGL but is just good sense anywhere in PA during any hunting season.

Required on SGL November 15 to December 15 excepting Sundays. See ATC's page linked in post #2 (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showpost.php?p=911376&postcount=2) of this thread for more information.

Yes, thank you, should have been more clear on the "requirement " part.

Did not mean to put a red thumbs down icon. don't know how that happen:confused:

Please don't misconstrue my post here - this is truly tragic and it's good to hear that the hunter will recover, but...

one of the first things that they teach you in hunter safety courses is to identify your target before you shoot - and that means KNOWING BEYOND ALL DOUBT where your partners are located. If you don't know, you don't shoot - it's that simple.

My father used to tell me that "no trophy is worth a tragedy". Sometimes, I think that the hunter safety courses should have a mandatory refresher course every 5 to 10 years.
well said.....

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showpost.php?p=915097&postcount=4 (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showpost.php?p=915097&postcount=4)

At SATC (http://www.satc-hike.org/) we typically boil down our advice on hiking in hunting seasons to this:

Orange hat - late April thru Memorial Day Monday (spring turkey season); 1st weekend of Oct thru week before MLK Day in January (small game, fall turkey, muzzleloader/bow deer, various overlaps), see below:

Full hunter orange hat and vest, or avoid the woods - 3 days before Thanksgiving (rifle bear), 2 weeks starting Monday after Thanksgiving (rifle deer, and now some bear overlap).

Note that an orange hat or vest is REQUIRED on STATE GAME LANDS (SGL) by regulation Nov 15-Dec 15 except Sundays. This time covers the bear and deer seasons where we typically recommend full avoidance or full orange. SGL is a minority of the public lands in PA where hunting is allowed, but the A.T. in PA from Carlisle north is largely on or very near SGL.

Orange means real orange, no fakey "bright colors" or a tiny handkerchief.

I saw 2 hikers heading south over the Clarks Ferry Bridge into Duncannon this morning. Both were dressed in dark colors with dark colored packs. No orange or bright colors anywhere. Perhaps they took their orange off before they headed for the bridge and town. Rifle deer season starts on monday. If you live in the country, no need to set your alarm that day, there will be a medley of high powered rifles at sunrise...

A very lightweight bright orange mesh "hunter's" vest that can be draped completely over your pack while hiking---then worn around camp---can be purchased for under $10.00. Check Walmart. (I keep one in my pack all seasons except summer.)

The plastic $1.00 vest work well for me they can be secured to most if not all packs thru the arm holes I wear a knit blaze orange hat this time of year I got for $2.00. I have a blaze orange fleece hoody and a fleece vest that is just what I wear no matter what state I'm in. Please note There will be hunters all over the state not just in the game lands. I believe the state forest may be more dangerous. I do not hike during deer rifle season in PA.

Is it allowed to carry a pellet pistol on the At in case of snakes?

Is it allowed to carry a pellet pistol on the At in case of snakes?

:eek: They live there. Leave them alone.:D

The A.T. in Pennsylvania is no place for people who are afraid of snakes.

Our 3-day statewide bear season has now ended. Bear hunting resumes December 2-5 in certain Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) including Dauphin, Lebanon, Berks and Schuylkill Counties. Preliminary data indicated the 2nd largest bear harvest on record after 2 days of hunting.

The general firearms deer season begins on November 30. For your own safety and to avoid unfortunate incidents when hiking on Pennsylvania State Game Lands, please respect Pennsylvania law by wearing at least a fluorescent orange hat visible 360 degrees until December 15, Sundays excepted. It's a wise practice elsewhere in Pennsylvania too.

Pennsylvania's 2009-2010 Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits (http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=460&q=161003)

Is it allowed to carry a pellet pistol on the At in case of snakes?

Why exactly do you feel the need to kill snakes you come across on the AT?

In Pennsylvania it is illegal to kill any wildlife with a pellet gun, with or without a hunting license, especially on public land.

Is it allowed to carry a pellet pistol on the At in case of snakes?
The short answer is, in PA, it is illegal to harm the snakes.

For information concerning the off-topic snake question, please refer to Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Reptile Pages (http://www.fish.state.pa.us/amp_rep.htm) and in particular their Non-game Species Regulations (http://www.fish.state.pa.us/fishpub/summary/repamp.html) where the quoted text which follows may be found under the heading Additional Restrictions.

Unless otherwise indicated, reptiles and amphibians may only be taken by hand, hook, snake tongs, turtle hooks, traps, and nets less than four feet square or four feet in diameter.

It is unlawful to take, catch, or kill a reptile or amphibian through the use of firearms, chemicals, explosives, winches, jacks, or other devices.

Any additional questions would be best answered by PFBC. Click here (http://www.fish.state.pa.us/promo/form/web_emails_amprep.htm) to email them a question.

Is it allowed to carry a pellet pistol on the At in case of snakes?

A long stick is sufficient if you wish to kill the hapless reptile. Please don't though. I have a feeling that folks kill non-venomous snakes as well as the poisonous ones when they're in the habit of doing so.

Preliminary data indicated the 2nd largest bear harvest on record after 2 days of hunting.



got a link? thanks.

I subscribe to PGC's press releases. It's how I find out about all kinds of things. Release #122-09 (http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=177621) includes results from the 3rd and final day of the statewide hunt.

As indicated earlier, bear hunting will reopen and continue through December 5 in some WMAs including some through which of the A.T. passes. For more information, click on the link to read the release.

The next post may refer and more likely refers to post #1 rather than post #26.

Really sorry to hear about this. Though not a hunter, I respect their sport/hobby as long as it is done safely.

Tons of hunters around the Long Path/Shawangunk Ridge Trail today near Wurtsboro. Started this morning with an older hunter telling me "there are people all around here" and that I'm gonna get shot wearing that (I had on yellow frog toggs pants, blue jacket and blue headand.

Doesn't help that some hunters are drinking while they're hunting.

That being said I've met many respectful responsible hunters.

I was up on the AT near Albert Mountain the weekend before Halloween. As I was driving up Albert Mountain on Forest Service road 67 I came across what looked like about two dozen hunters all wearing bright orange hats. Both the AT and the Forest Service road follow the same path up to Albert Mountain.

Point is, I never thought much about hunters until that day. The next day I made a special trip to Bass Pro Shop to find something orange. :eek: