Hiking during hunting season.

[chilln]

Well its shotgun season here in Massachusetts. This is the most popular part of the hunting season. Yesterday I went for a nice 6 mile stroll and came across 2 older guys set up right along the trail. Then I ran into 3 more guys who were heading in. One said "you do know its hunting season?" I said yes and continued on my way. Other than maybe wearing bright clothing I do not plan on changing anything or staying out of the woods nor do I have a problem with sharing the woods although I don't think hunters should set up along a trail. I thought I would throw it out there and see what you all think. Do you change your hiking habits? Do you stick to areas that don't allow hunting (ie. watersheds, parks)? Or do you just stay out of the woods? If you are a hunter what are your thoughts?

[kayak karl]

i wear orange hat and my dog an orange coat. i don't hike opening day for shotgun in NJ.

[perrymk]

My feeling is that if they're on the trail, they're shooting away from the trail. Better for me. I have a blaze orange pack cover that is usually on my pack these days. I also have a blaze orange boonie hat and blaze orange beanie, depending on the weather. I often wear a blaze orange t-shirt as well. I just about glow in the dark.

[susiecruise]

My feeling is that if they're on the trail, they're shooting away from the trail. Better for me. I have a blaze orange pack cover that is usually on my pack these days. I also have a blaze orange boonie hat and blaze orange beanie, depending on the weather. I often wear a blaze orange t-shirt as well. I just about glow in the dark.

This time of year I always wear my blaze orange hoodie, even if I end up tieing it around my waist. I also carefully consider which trails to use. I stick to the more popular well hiked trails that are alittle more steep and perhaps not so hunter-hangout-friendly. The only one I encountered yesterday was Hikerboy57!

[susiecruise]

I once had a bullet whiz through the woods where I was hiking. It was on a friends property, I had on my orange hoodie and I heard the gunshot in the distance and then a high pitch whistling object whizzed by in a flash. I stayed out of the woods during hunting season for a few years but now I just can't.

[fins1838]

Shotgun season=Yes.........................If rifles are being used=NO. A little buck shot never hurt nobody, well maybe a few people ;-)

[Malto]

In PA it is required by law to wear something like 250 square inches of blaze orange if you hike on state game lands which is a good part of the AT. While this may not be a requirement where you are, it will be your body that pays the price. I solved this problem by buying a blaze orange wind shirt.

[Tuckahoe]

Just use common sense, wear your blaze orange and be mindful about suddenly standing up out of the under brush when answering the call of nature or getting in and out of your shelter. Remember that most hunters are more active early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

I once had a bullet whiz through the woods where I was hiking. It was on a friends property, I had on my orange hoodie and I heard the gunshot in the distance and then a high pitch whistling object whizzed by in a flash. I stayed out of the woods during hunting season for a few years but now I just can't.

Not to be overly technical... well I guess I am... the speed of sound is usually 1126 fps. Popular hunting cartridges usually are reaching 2000 to 2800 fps, even .22lr is 1200 to 1800 fps. Its the bullet you'd hear first then the gunshot report.

[Seatbelt]

Remember also that not all hunters will abide by the rules--some will go out a day or two early to get he "jump" on the others. I've come across several "out-of-season" hunters.
One thing that happened to my wife a couple years ago on a day hike in southern Indiana: I tend to hike a little faster and try to "attack" the hills for cardio training, then wait on her when I get to the top. I was waiting at the top of a hill for her and when she came up, there was a fully camo'd hunter right on her heels following her up the trail--scared her to death. We both grew up in hunting families, so hunters in general do not frighten her, but this one was different. We no longer hike separated, to say the least. Just sayin to be alert and watchful, wear your orange and you should be ok.

[Sarcasm the elf]

Shotgun season=Yes.........................If rifles are being used=NO. A little buck shot never hurt nobody, well maybe a few people ;-)

Buck shot isn't legal for deer in many states and rifle/shotgun is often the same season. Of course regulations vary from State to State.

[Sarcasm the elf]

This type of thread pops up every fall and just like bears and banjo playing locals, hunting is one of the most overhyped concerns that people have about being on the trail.

Personally i stay out of state game lands and popular huntng grounds during deer season, but that's out of respect for the hunters, not out of fear or safety concerns. Most hunters only have a coule of days in the short seasons that they can actually get out into the field and i'm not going to ruin it for them.

It is also important to understand that large parts of the trail have been funded by hunters and fisherman. The excise tax placed on hunting and fishing licenses and equipment are the single largest source of conservation funds in US and are used for conservation and wildlife restoration of all species. More can be read about it here: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittm...estoration_Act

[fiddlehead]

Share the trail.
They are allowed to be there (here in PA anyway) and have been hunting along the Appalacian trail for longer than you have been hiking it.
(don't forget to pickup their garbage. LOL)

[Tri-Pod Bob]

I was out all week so far & if not for an 11am doctor appt, I'd be out there today. I've been hunting here in Mass. since I was 16. Also Vt & NH for many of them. I find that the 1st 2 days of the season have the most hunter activity, as well as the weekends. During these peak days, there's also a much higher % of people who do not hunt on a regular basis year round, such as turkey, rabbit, squirrel, water fowl, upland game, etc. I also know that many, especially city/suburb dwellers, often don't go to shooting ranges or belong to sportsman/shooting clubs. Many don't take the time to do any pre-season scouting, either. That's why certain areas, such as state forests & WMAs have vehicles lined up on the roads or parking areas full. These are the folks that concern me the most. Also, as a whole, hunter safety & proper hunting ethics are not followed as they should be by some. During shotgun season, I go to areas that are more remote, have difficult terrain, require landowner permission, etc. I'm just not comfortable having someone posting up 50 to 100 yds away from me or busting through the bush at any given time. While shooting accidents are few, thankfully, they do happen every year. I make sure that I'm not a part of one. Mass. requires a minimum of 500 square inches of blaze orange covering chest, back & head. My opinion is that hikers should too during gun season. Bow & primitive arms seasons, which occur before & after the 2 week shotgun season, are much safer for hikers. I would still recommend a piece of blaze orange head gear though. BTW, I have a 4 pointer in the freezer, harvested on Wed morning about 1/4 mile behind my home. Will be out every day, including primitive season with a bow, for the 10 pointer that has been eating from my garden & the apple trees since mid July, now that he's been able to pass on his genes.

[perdidochas]

Having deer hunted in the past in a group of people (deer drives with a hunting club), I can say that blaze orange works wonders. Even just a hat (Alabama law requires a blaze orange hat or 144 square inches of blaze orange) makes an enormous difference in visibility. It's interesting that you could almost tell the educational level of the people in the hunting club. The more educated people were, the more blaze orange we wore :-)

[DandT40]

I do nothing different. I don't own anything orange blazed and I don't plan on buying anything just to protect myself from some drunk hunter. As a gun owner myself I've always learned to know what you are shooting at and know whats behind what you are shooting at. If someone drunk idiot shoots at me he better 1. Be prepared for return fire. or 2. Be a damn good shot. What pisses me off - besides closed sections of trail - is hunters using blazes for target practice. There were many I passed a couple weeks ago that were nearly shot of trees. Other than that everyone should be able to share the woods and be mindful of one another and there shouldn't be any problems.

[Seatbelt]

I do nothing different. I don't own anything orange blazed and I don't plan on buying anything just to protect myself from some drunk hunter. As a gun owner myself I've always learned to know what you are shooting at and know whats behind what you are shooting at. .

Don't assume that everyone is as cautious. I have two friends I have known(who are now dead as a result) who have been killed while hunting. they were not wearing orange or a very minimal amount. Why risk your life at someone else's hands needlessly??

[Tuckahoe]

To wear blaze orange during hunting season is merely being respectful to the hunters who have no desire to shoot at anyone. It's not drunk hunters being dumbasses, it's as much the hunter who genuinely can not see an obscured individual down range. Hunters have every obligation to know what is down range. But non-hunters have every obligation to make themselves visible. Otherwise you're a dumbass.

[Snowleopard]

Wear blaze orange hat, vest, if your pack is not a bright color put some blaze orange on it. Don't hike opening and closing day of gun deer season in areas that get a lot of hunting. Avoid hiking at dawn and dusk (hunting in Mass. lasts till from30 minutes before sunrise to 30 min after sunset and it's pretty dark by then).

I think most deer hunters here use slugs not buck shot in shotguns.
Mass. shotgun season this year is Dec.2 to Dec. 14, with no hunting on Sundays. Primitive firearm season is Dec. 16 - 31. I've been told these primitive firearms (muzzle loaders) are now almost as powerful as regular rifles, but there are many fewer hunters out in that season. I generally wear orange all of Nov. and Dec. because I don't always pay attention to when the seasons are.

[Malto]

I do nothing different. I don't own anything orange blazed and I don't plan on buying anything just to protect myself from some drunk hunter. As a gun owner myself I've always learned to know what you are shooting at and know whats behind what you are shooting at. If someone drunk idiot shoots at me he better 1. Be prepared for return fire. or 2. Be a damn good shot. What pisses me off - besides closed sections of trail - is hunters using blazes for target practice. There were many I passed a couple weeks ago that were nearly shot of trees. Other than that everyone should be able to share the woods and be mindful of one another and there shouldn't be any problems.

i hope that you are not dead right someday.

[Bronk]

I decided to stop hiking for the 10 days of firearms deer season here when I met a guy carrying a rifle who was so drunk he could hardly stand up. I just don't want to be in the woods with people like that around. And its only for 10 days. Its amazing to me how many hunters see movement and shoot without knowing what they are shooting at.