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Scared Hikers
The $10,000 Reward post got me thinking about meeting people in while hunting. Then I got to thinking about non hunters meeting us in the woods. Here in the Adirondacks High Peaks I hunt mostly public land. With our early start to the season and the nutso warm weather I've been running across many more hikers and leaf peepers than before.
Alot of them arealready wary about hunter types anyhow. So out to the underbrush pops this large strange man wearing 99.9% camo, stinkin of fresh dirt/deer urine cover scent, carrying a canon that to them looks like it can kill a elephant at 2 miles, and wearing a knife. Grunting and sweating with a wild eye look that one can only get from bushwacking 2 miles of High Peaks dead fall. And to top it all off they are about 1 mile or so from the trail head. That has got to a nervous expierence for them. |
RE: Scared Hikers
We aren't looked at very nicely by other outdoor enthusiasts, that is for sure! With stories like the shooting incident in the other thread, why would we? I know these type of stories are fairly rare, but in the last few years we had that incident in Wisconsin that got national attention, add to this all the more minor offenses hunters get themselves in trouble for everywhere and one could honestly say that our bad reputations are no ones fault but our own. I know many hunters try to think of themselves as patriotic, law abiding model citizens, but when I stop and recall all the nonesense I have seen while out hunting, I am sorry to say there are probably more clowns out there hunting than there are good people. I also take part in other outdoor activities and can't say that I have seen a fraction of the nutcases I have seen while hunting. This tells me a lot!
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RE: Scared Hikers
Remember, a lot of those hikers, photographers, mountain bikers, etc. are hunters, also. Damage control starts by setting a good example in all of the activities you do.
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RE: Scared Hikers
No matter what their reaction, just be NICE. Be polite, chat and above all else, be very aware of muzzle control, don't let that thing point anywhere even remotely close to the folks.
They may have a negative image of hunters, but it may be based on nothing. Be nice, chat, be polite and be safe. May just change thier opinion. |
RE: Scared Hikers
Remember, a lot of those hikers, photographers, mountain bikers, etc. are hunters, also. |
RE: Scared Hikers
Wear a ghillie suit next time, and they will think they saw Bigfoot!:D
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RE: Scared Hikers
When I run across other people, I always go out of my way to get their attention and chat them up. It goes a long way towards improving relations.
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RE: Scared Hikers
we hunt private property. Any stranger there is tresspassing. Last year we had hunters running off the land when they say us coming.
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RE: Scared Hikers
Never had a problem per se, but I did have a very interesting experience. Bow hunt 4 years ago, full camo w/gloves facemask, etc., walking along a trail on public land and I hear a noise coming down the trail. I went 3 feet into the woods leaned against the closest tree raised my bow (did not draw) and waited. 2 minutes later a cute lady on horseback comes walking down the trail. Not knowing what to do - and not wanting to spook the horse,I remained motionless. It was all going to plan untill the horse gets even with me and must have scent busted me. They most definitely didnt see me. The poor horse got all squirrely and the poor lady is whoaing over and over. It was too much to just sit there so I let out a big WHOA and raised my arm. The horse was cool with it but the poor lady almost had a heart attack and jumped clear out of the saddle. When she did finally stop shaking from nerves,we talked for a few minutes. I told her I was going to just let them walk by but the horse must have smelled me so I tried to do what I thought was best. In the end it all worked out OK. Multiuse land with multiple users. Isn't that the point?
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RE: Scared Hikers
i think a day will come when you will not be able to carry a gun on hiking trails in woods.
you should see looks i get from women with my .357 pistol in my banderlo holster when i walk trails with my dogin feb here in pa. they are scared to death.. actually i would be more scared to death if i did not have pistol. |
RE: Scared Hikers
I think that others who are in the woods during hunting seasons need to be aware of what they may encounter. Namely hunters. More than once I have seen groups of hikers plodding along a trail during hunting season without a stitch of orange on. On one occasion during bear season several years ago, a Scoutmaster, no less, was hiking with 16 young boys, the majority who were dressed in dark colors. Just totally unbelievable and unexcuseable. Yet, as hunters, we are required to wear a required amout of orange during these seasons, and the hikers/bikers/leafpeepers are not. It is evident they are oblivious to the possible dangers of their dress and choice of time to do their "thing".An evident lack of knowledge and/or respect for others on their part.
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RE: Scared Hikers
Meetings with people in the woods is exactly why I have saved and saved to get my own land this year. To work all week to be able to hunt on Saturday and have it ruined by others is harsh. I hunt in MD and at the WMA I used to hunt I have had horseback riders, a butterfly catcher, & PETA people walk right up to me. The PETA people saw me go into the woods. And they were ready. They were dressed from head to toe in orange and as soon as they hit the woods they started screaming and yelling and walking slowly through woods. Adults and children both. I was able to avoid them though and backtrack around them and come across the road to hunt the other side. But, I'll tell you this it took everything I had not unscrew a broadhead and place it under their tire. This is a WMA that was also totally paid for by hunting through gun & license sales and is used by the public. They also parked right next to a sign that cautionned them about Hunters in the woods. I knew the DNR man their but, figured my hunt was already ruined there anyway so I just tried to hunt elsewhere. ANyway it is stories like this that have ruined public hunting.
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RE: Scared Hikers
ORIGINAL: jaymd72 Meetings with people in the woods is exactly why I have saved and saved to get my own land this year. To work all week to be able to hunt on Saturday and have it ruined by others is harsh. I hunt in MD and at the WMA I used to hunt I have had horseback riders, a butterfly catcher, & PETA people walk right up to me. The PETA people saw me go into the woods. And they were ready. They were dressed from head to toe in orange and as soon as they hit the woods they started screaming and yelling and walking slowly through woods. Adults and children both. I was able to avoid them though and backtrack around them and come across the road to hunt the other side. But, I'll tell you this it took everything I had not unscrew a broadhead and place it under their tire. This is a WMA that was also totally paid for by hunting through gun & license sales and is used by the public. They also parked right next to a sign that cautionned them about Hunters in the woods. I knew the DNR man their but, figured my hunt was already ruined there anyway so I just tried to hunt elsewhere. ANyway it is stories like this that have ruined public hunting. what has ruined our hunting here is not those people,its overharvest of doe by hunters that want meat. this is why i dont want to see hunting on sunday, right now most of hikers do their thing on sundays, if they allow sunday hunting, these people will be using saturday too. |
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