What’s everyone’s thoughts about hiking during the first weekend of archery season, particularly in the mid-Atlantic states. I’ve hiked in October previously, but never the first hunting weekend when the hunting zeal, no doubt and understandably so, is at a high. What’s everyone’s thoughts?
Suvid
I am more familiar with hunting seasons here in Colorado, but I generally don’t worry too much during bow and black powder seasons. Those hunters usually are wearing camoflauge so are on the look out for other hunters. They have to be closer to their prey before they shoot so they can see that I am not a deer or elk.
I don’t hike during rifle season.
Turtle Walking
I have to agree with Turtle Walking. Bow and Black Powder hunters are not the inexperienced yahoos you can run into during rifle season. I would wear some hunter orange but not worry too much during this part of the season. I am always on alert during the rifle season and stick to well used hiking trails away from areas heavily used by hunters. Just in case you think I’m some tree hugger I both hunt and hike and have seen some of the lunacy that goes on during the rifle season. Having said that the percent of dangerous hunters is very low and I cannot recall any incidents where they have shot hikers. They are usually busy shooting each other.
Big B
:lol :lol :lol :lol
It’s been a while since I hunted, but last time I was in Grayling, Michigan area, and sitting on private property. I could see the public lands only abot 100’ off, and into a small valley area. I think at any given time there must have been 40-50 dots of orange walking about within maybe a 3-4 square mile area that day, like watching a Brownian random/non-random movement of dust in the air.
If I were a deer in there, I would be hunkered down and staying put all day and evening, no matter what. One deer running through would have elicited a response similar to jumpy, over-caffienated reservist infantry on patrol, with gunshots erupting everywhere and in numerous directions. (and before any reservists out there trip out, I actually say this happen on the Kuwait/Iraq border while standing on a ridge with a night scope, where a single gunshot caused a night patrol to circle up and lay down fire in all directions, wasting nearly 5000 rounds of ammunition, before they figured out it was not enemy fire (I think some NG were having fun with them). Or maybe they ran out of bullets… Either way…)
-xtn, living in Detroit, where it is hunting season year round :cheers
airferret
I live in rural Maine. Our land has a beautiful pond, prime drinking and bathing for moose and deer. We put up “posted signs” but they are rarely respected…by rifle hunters. I agree that the bow hunters and musket hunters are generally less of a worry, especially when every shot counts. I rarely venture into the woods on our own property during rifle season, even wearing ridiculous amounts of blaze orange, it’s just not worth it, I guess the same applies to used hiking trails. Hunters usually know where heavily used trails are located , but like the others said, there’s always the guys who pack in more bud than bullets.
Cheers - living in maine where there are more hunters than non.
Cheers
Just wanted to comment on that NG/Reservist comment. Nice Cover. I have heard of covering ones butt but, wow thats a professional there 
Also I am planning my thru hike for early to Mid April, and am looking for others that are going around that time that i could meet up with.
Happy trails:)
Stan
Actually, I was RA. I was never arrogant against the NG or reservists, save a few of the reservist officers, who more then deserved it. If anything, I think NG taunted them more then anybody. And some of those reserve units were pretty bad when they first got there, many of whose training consisted of weekend BBQ and camping trips (I know, I actually went on one of these BBQ trips as a civi post-duty). The important thing is we all served. I assume you served in reserves, you have to admit, some of those individuals are more like oversized cub scouts (or brownies???) then soldiers. Then again, I can remember a few RA’s that should never have been 11 series either…
Best to you,
-xtn, 3/75th
airferret
We are leaving in early March, and plan on having a lot of orange stuff. I’m going to make a blaze orange pack cover. The more I think about it, I’ll probably line Ed’s vest in Kevlar, too ($1.33/inch), or have it in the mail drop around hunting areas.
I wonder if a hunter has ever become the hunted, by an angry-almost-victim-backpacker.
frieden
