Hunting season and hiking/backpacking

[Neil]

While bushwhacking in hunting season I have carried an FRS family radio and left it open on channel 5, which is what most people use. I was on my way out of the Sawtooth Range a couple hours before sunset with about a mile of whacking to go. (near Alford Mtn.)
I heard two hunters talking softly. Something like this: "I'm going to circle around the big spruce and come towards you on the west slope."

I realized they were coming in crystal-clear so I keyed my mic: "hiker coming through, what is your position"?
Hunter:"Are you in need of assistance?" Then, "see any deer?" Me: no but I heard a bear higher up on Sawtooth 2".

Once we all knew where everyone was I felt safe to continue. I was wearing blaze orange.

Earlier that same morning the Averyville parking lot was full of pickups. I headed out pre-dawn and wore two headlamps. The one facing backwards I set to blinking and as I walked down the Pine Pond Road I turned my head slowly side to side like a lighthouse beacon.

[Wldrns]

My father always cautioned against wearing white and brown, and especially not ever to flip out a white handkerchief, as it looks very much like the tail of a departing white tail deer. blaze orange was not commonly worn in the 60's, so it was always something red, like my red wool jacket (that I still have, though it fits tight now).
I had an uncle who wore a full blaze orange jump suit, something we had never seen before (or since). We thought he looked ridiculous, but he was certainly very visible from a long way off.

[Mallard1100]

It was already stated above but statistics do show you have a higher chance of getting killed or injured in a car wreck driving to your hiking location then being shot by a hunter. I am a hunter and not a hiker although much of what I have done in the Adks is more “hiking” with a Rifle then hunting at times. Haha. No need to worry about us we are sharing and enjoying the resource just like you. Both sides have something to offer. I met a hiker years ago deep in the Siamese wilderness who was a wealth of information and extremely friendly. He told me so much about game in the area that to this day I regret not writing down his contact information. He could not believe we were at this location and the feeling was mutual. It felt good to see a friendly face. Where some blaze orange and have at it. We are all not as different as you may believe. We all strongly believe that preserving the land and resource is paramount. The only difference is you carry trekking poles while I may carry a rifle. Enjoy the season.

[Buckladd]

While bushwhacking in hunting season I have carried an FRS family radio and left it open on channel 5, which is what most people use.

If you have a scan function on your radio you can hear all channels. However, there are sub channels too, and that is what we use.

[Woodly]

Deer are wearing orange now?
Nice young buck.

[JimVroman]

Hikers generally stay on the trails, unless they're bushwhacking, in that case, it's best to wear blaze orange during the hunting season. Backcountry hunters use the trails to access remote areas. Those folks use the trails for easy access, not hunting.

[EagleCrag]

As a hunter, it bothers me that hikers are afraid of getting shot during hunting season. The vast preponderance of hunters are safe hunters and don't shoot if they aren't certain their target is a deer. Look at it this way, if hunters thought there was a chance they might get shot, most would not be in the field. The fact that hunters are carrying guns don't make them any less a target than a hiker yet hundreds of thousands take to the woods each year. Wearing some blaze orange is a good precaution and hikers, in my opinion, should feel comfortable hiking anywhere during hunting season, I'm also of the opinion that Adirondack hunters are safer than downstate where the ratio of "nimrods" is probably much higher. Hunter education requirements for hunters has been effective at reducing hunting accidents.

[wiiawiwb]

While bushwhacking in hunting season I have carried an FRS family radio and left it open on channel 5, which is what most people use. I was on my way out of the Sawtooth Range a couple hours before sunset with about a mile of whacking to go. (near Alford Mtn.)
I heard two hunters talking softly. Something like this: "I'm going to circle around the big spruce and come towards you on the west slope."

I realized they were coming in crystal-clear so I keyed my mic: "hiker coming through, what is your position"?
Hunter:"Are you in need of assistance?" Then, "see any deer?" Me: no but I heard a bear higher up on Sawtooth 2".

Once we all knew where everyone was I felt safe to continue. I was wearing blaze orange.

I think that is a very good idea. I'll start bringing my Midland with me so I can monitor discussions.

[Buckladd]

Twice, so far this season, I've been in observance of a state hiking trail while hunting. One day I counted 13 hikers in 30 min, and only two were wearing clothing that I would consider logical for hunting season. I'm not saying hikers should have to wear blaze orange (or pink), but I'd be happy just to see them not wear black, white, gray or brown clothing.

[wiiawiwb]

I don't know why the light wasn't going off with those 11 hikers. Nowadays, I wear a blaze orange hat or vest and I have a 2nd vest I sprawl onto the front of the backpack (the back of me) so someone can see me from the front or back.

We all hope that a hunter wouldn't mistake them for a deer even if they were wearing camo or brown but that can happen. No reason to tempt fate when blaze orange is cheap and readily available.

[Zach]

My winter coat is black, it's one of those heavy duty nylon things that only comes in that color but never wears out. I do wear a red hat with it, so that might help a bit. Also all the boots I own are either black or brown. I can see the importance of not wearing only those colors, but not to wear them at all could be a challenge.

[montcalm]

You can wear black and brown. Heck you can wear camo. But if you do you need a blaze color over top - one of those thin vests and an orange hat is best.

I usually just wear a red hat, but I don't really go out all that much where hunters are during gun season for deer. I do this as much to not disturb them as to not get shot.

I have been out in late deer season - maybe muzzleloader and had hunters be quite rude to me though in the Adirondacks. I was on trail and not doing anything stupid, but I think they were upset to see anyone.

[St.Regis]

Those hunters that got upset with you were out of line...I'm a hunter, but understand that the woods on public land are shared with the non-hunting community. I always assume there are other people in the woods. If you're a hunter and don't want to see other people on hiking trails (on public land), get away from those trails. Ethics and common sense go a long way. It's a two way street, but when you have a gun, you have to always be cautious and know your target and beyond

[montcalm]

Those hunters that got upset with you were out of line..

I think it was a NIMBY situation. And shoulder season tends to be pretty quiet so I can understand their frustration. They weren't the only wieners I've run into on a trail - they come in all shapes and creeds.

[TCD]

Agree with the above. I don't hunt, but I hike and bushwhack a lot, all year round.

Much of my travel is in the High Peaks region, which makes it easy. In the High Peaks, there are areas where most of the hikers are, and very few hunters. Then there are other areas where it's mostly hunters. But there is a pretty good separation that minimizes any conflict.

Sometimes I will be bushwhacking in Hammond Pond, or Van der Whacker. There, I expect more hunters. Like Montcalm, I don't want to barge into a hunter's area and spoil the hunt. I recognize that I have all year to visit these places, but the hunters only have a narrow season.

Of course I wear my orange. But also, if I get to a place, and I see a bunch of "obviously hunter" vehicles, I have a back up plan and I go somewhere else.

The woods is big; there's plenty of room for all of us.