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Lesson Learned on Todays Hike

EmsRescueGuy

EmsRescueGuy

Joined
Oct 21, 2006
Messages
1,067
I went for a nice 6 or 7 mile Hike in Promised Land state Park in the Poconos P.A., something happened that gave me pause so I thought I would share

I had forgotten that PA's shotgun season just started, and failed to realize that I was hiking through several hunting areas. I happened upon a hunter in cammo and orange, who reminded me that I should have some orange on. I usually do have a vest in my pack but I switched packs again and left it out. A quick search of my bag revealed, a few items I could use to increase my visibility but nothing as good as a vest. The hunter also pointed out that bear season was approaching and that a man in black fleece and a hat, as I was today be easily mistaken through the brush

As soon as I got home, I threw a vest in my pack, and since I always keep an extra wool hat and gloves in my pack from september to may I will make it an orange hat from now on.

Just a thought I wanted to share, remember where you are hiking and the time of year to increase your chances to come home in one piece.
 
I had a similar lesson last November when I was earing this hat
deerhatx1.jpg


Seriously though it's a good idea to mark your dog as well
 
Gotta be very careful this time of year when in the woods...some people will shoot anything that moves !
 
People are really that careless? Aren't hunters taught to identify their target before letting lead fly? I know better safe than sorry, but these guys need to know what they are shooting at too, right?
 
Glad you're alright Ems. I need to update my EDC to include at least an orange vest I can slip on over top of what I'm already wearing.

Generally Snow, I would say every hunter out there in the woods has had someone teach them proper gun handling, but sadly it's not the case. 'Cause it's the ones that are idiots with their tools that give those tools a bad rap.

If you go out on state land here in MI during rifle season, you're asking for trouble.. They'll blast at anything that moves + a hunter every 10 feet with a gun = gungho staying off state land and only on private land as much as possible.
 
great reminder, I've been keeping an orange boggin in my pack, besides the use of heat retention, and the visibility factor...
 
coaldigger said:
Gotta be very careful this time of year when in the woods...some people will shoot anything that moves !
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My sis lives within the Shawnee Forest in a 150+ year old home and says the same thing. When she goes out walking or horseback riding, she wears orange and so does the dog during hunting season.
"They'll shoot anything that moves" is her fall warning.
 
Shotgun season? I haven't read anything in the regs about a shotgun special season for deer or bear. Was he turkey hunting?

I try to pay special attention to the rifle and powder seasons for big game, so am sincerely inquiring.
 
Snow said:
People are really that careless? Aren't hunters taught to identify their target before letting lead fly? I know better safe than sorry, but these guys need to know what they are shooting at too, right?
Click to expand...

Any true Hunter will know his target and what is beyond it. As with everything though, there are some bad apples. Seems like just about every year, someone gets shot by one or more of these bad apples. Just shooting at something that moved, or what they "Thought" was a Deer, Bear, whatever. :(

You do need to know what your shooting at, because most tags are specific to species, sex, etc.
 
brians said:
Shotgun season? I haven't read anything in the regs about a shotgun special season for deer or bear. Was he turkey hunting?

I try to pay special attention to the rifle and powder seasons for big game, so am sincerely inquiring.
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He was a turkey Hunter and others were grouse hunting according to a ranger I was talking to.

I have only ever Bow hunted except for a few squrrels with .22s I dont know the propper name for seasons Plus I am from NJ so deduct tourist points.


Any time I shoot I was tought "know your target, and whats beyond" But you never Know. Better safe than sorry.
 
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When it comes to safety one always has to cater to the lowest denominator.
Prepare for the dumbazzes.

I keep an orange fleece watch cap in my pack all fall and winter.
 
Snow said:
People are really that careless? Aren't hunters taught to identify their target before letting lead fly? I know better safe than sorry, but these guys need to know what they are shooting at too, right?
Click to expand...

Sorry to say there a lot of DUMB ASSES out in the woods, during rifle season here in Pa.,... It's the main reason I won't be hunting during rifle season...

Had 1 close call and one scare(where I almost pulled the trigger on an idiot)..

The close call :

I got out of my truck around 0430, and starpped on a headlamp(had it switched to red), and a chemlight(bright yellow) slung over my back, to mark myself well for the hike to my spot... Took me about 40 mins to get o it and I was lit up the whole entire way... Once I got to my spot I cleared i all out and got sttled in to wait for daybreak... About 30 mins after I got settled in, I heard some noise and it sounded like whatever it was was moving towards me, but still off a ways.. I still had my headlamp on as well as my chemlight, so I was WELL marked as being a PERSON... Now, was set up along some power lines and it was probably about 25 yds to the other side of the clearing.. So I waited to see what was coming out but never even touched my rifle because I couldn't see anything... By daybreak there was 3 hunters DIRECTLY across from me in the other treeline !!:eek: Never flashed a light to let me know they were there or had any lights on when hey came in there !!

Needless to say, I packed up my gear and headed back to my truck:mad:...

The scare :

As I was heading to my truck, I could see someone was in the bed of it... I got to within about 200 yds and I see whoever it is pulling up his rifle and scoping me !!:eek: Without thinking I dropped my gear and shouldered my rifle and popped off the safety.. My finger was on the trigger, and the only thing that saved that guys life was that he obeyed my order on the first try.. Otherwise, he was going down !! I ordered him outta my truck and to lay his gun down.. WHen I got to him he appologised and said, "I thought you was a friend of mine"...:eek: WTF!!! After I chewed him a ew one, I took his rifle and emptied it, and took his bolt... I went back and got my gear and loaded up my truck.. As I got my stuff loaded he had the nerve to tell me he needs his bolt back along with his ammo so he can get back to hunting... I drove off with both and tossed both a good ways down the road... Was I right for taking his ammo and olt and tossing ?? Don't really care all I know I may have saved his as well as someone elses life !! I have never come so close to taking a person's life as that and hope I never do !!
 
Irresponsible wackos crawling all over your truck with a rifle deserve whatever non judicial punishment you dish out.

For everybody else, only you can know if it is safe to hike in your region during hunting season. Historically, hunting has been a safe activity. I guess if you don't feel safe walking in the countryside, you could take your chances walking in The Big City (shudder).
 
Erasmus said:
Irresponsible wackos crawling all over your truck with a rifle deserve whatever non judicial punishment you dish out.

For everybody else, only you can know if it is safe to hike in your region during hunting season. Historically, hunting has been a safe activity. I guess if you don't feel safe walking in the countryside, you could take your chances walking in The Big City (shudder).
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In my sister's case, she lives in a national forest and not on any road. Her "driveway" is a hand cleared grass road that is a half mile long and ends in a small clearing with a very old, yet obviously occupied small farm house.
During hunting season, she is often woken up early AM by idiots shooting at deer in the clearing her home is on while her son and her are there. :thumbdn:
 
Here in the Catskills a "experienced hunter" got 2-8 years for killing an infant.He shot at a deer with a house visible in the background.He missed the deer and killed the child.These type of cases are now being prosecuted seriously instead of the old "accident" .
BTW PA and some other states - if you have a carry permit you can carry in a state forest but not a state park !
 
Its best to stay out of the woods during deer firearm season in Missouri. I worked with a guy who shot someone. It wasnt even light enough to see and he blasted some dude.
 
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Thanks for posting this - This is a crappy time of year to get some hikes in because of all the hunters out. Around here there are a lot of people and little woods so you really are on top of eachother out there.
 
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