Hunting Season !

[Zog]

Ah. Another favorite pastime in New England!
Let's hear about any stories about encounters with your local Elmer Fudd; ever been shot at? Do you wear safety orange clothes? How about a big cow bell? :o

[turch]

In CT, the DEP offerings hunting information including seasons dates online at:

http://www.dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/wildlife/fguide/fgindex.htm

My observation is that the fall seasons generally commence on Sept 16th (bowhunting season), progress into firearm seasons Oct. 19th and run through the end of the year and into Jan/Feb of 2003.

What's it all mean? Hunting traditions should be respected. You might not appreciate hunting but it remains a valid and legal pursuit with significant restrictions. Most participants are serious conservationists and law abiding citizens. I suggest avoiding known hunting areas Mondays through Saturdays (especially state forests and some state parks during first and last lights of day, the prime hunting windows). There are plenty of lands where hunting is not permitted. If in doubt, review the above URL for details and/or ask the local land manager.

Regardless of any of this consider how you might present yourself in the woods. Keep safety in mind. Noise is a good thing to differentiate yourself from potential game. How you dress should be considered (earth tones tend to camoflage. Bright colors may look gastley but you might not look like bambi.). Nothing wrong with picking up a cheap blaze orange vest.

[Big Game]

Don't some places even require you to wear hunter orange or similar?

I would also avoid riding around dusk. While hunting is forbidden at time, the person most likely to shoot you is unlikely to be a responsible hunter. Rather, it is likely to be someone poaching on non-hunting land, after the sun sets, without a license, with an illegal firearm, intoxicated, etc.

[turch]

Arcadia in RI does require all users to wear blaze orange during their hunting season. Nothing elsewhere that I'm aware of.

[Mt.A TODD]

In Maine, Deer hunters are not allowed to hunt on Sundays, that's pretty sweet! In NH, they hunt on Sundays, and I have bumped into a few of them. I don't have a problem with hunters, it's WHERE those dummies decide "hunt" I have a problem with. If I were trying to hunt a deer, I would go out into the woods were there are no humans, why do they insist on "hunting" on MTB trails and in populated areas? And then they give you attitude like "they" own the woods and we shouldn't be there. I agree bright orange cloths are a must, but hunter who can't distinguish a human from a brown four legged animal should not have a firearm! And Yes, I have been shot at! By a poacher rather than a legal hunter. Group of us riding at night in stealth mode, we had all of our lights off because of a bright full moon. All of a sudden, BLAM, BLAM! We were all confused whether or not to turn the lights on, it would either distinguish us as not a deer or give the psycho a better target! We kept the lights off and rode like hell! Nobody was hit, but it sure did scare the **** out of everyone. I have never been able to duplicate that incredible "escape" speed on my bike. I rather enjoy the added dimension to our sport, the threat of getting shot is a real adrenaline booster. I have no problems with hunters, just the retarded ones. :P

I havent had any trouble with hunters in Harold Parker State Forest. I have been run off the trail twice by startled deer. If i hit one am i allowed to keep it?

maybee those King hubs are loud for a good reason, perhaps i should look into a set.

[pk]

What New England states allow rifles for hunting and what one only allow shotguns?

I recommend everyone figure out what dangers lurk in the woods in their state--a fast moving mountain bikers (with a white helmet) could attract unwanted attention!

Connecticut
http://www.dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/wildlife/fguide/fg02/fg02indx.htm
Upland Birdsmid-October through November
DeerNovember to December


Maine
http://www.state.me.us/ifw/hunt/2002%20seasons.htm
Firearms******Nov. 4-Nov.30

Massachusetts
http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/dfw_toc.htm
Birds******As early as September

New Hampshire
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/hunting.html
Birds******October
Deer******November 13 (firearms)

Rhode Island
http://www.state.ri.us/dem/programs/bnatres/fishwild/index.htm
Upland game***mid-October through February

Vermont
http://www.anr.state.vt.us/fw/fwhome/html/dates.htm
Small game***Sept-December
Deer season***Nov. 10-25.

[Zog]

From NEMBA mail list:

This was passed on to me from a friend in the CFPA. I thought it should be posted to the mountain bikers as well.

The first week of September is the start of the fall squirrel-hunting

season. Hunting activity steps up a notch in mid-September and October,

through early January with the advent of deer, turkey, waterfowl, upland

game and the remaining small animal seasons. The fall is also one of the

best times to hike through the woods, when the weather is cool and tree

color is at its most brilliant. Many of our Blue Blazed Hiking Trails cross

state hunting lands. State lands are for the recreation of all and the

majority of hunters are responsible individuals. We at Connecticut Forest

and Park believe that by taking a few precautions, hikers can reduce the

already rare incidence of hunting accidents.

1. By law, hunters are required to wear 400 inches of fluorescent orange on

their person from September 1 through the last day of February. Hikers

should consider wearing florescent orange and other bright colors as well.

DO NOT wear white, gray, brown, or tan!!!

2. Shooting hours commence ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.

There is no hunting on Sundays.

3. DO NOT wander off marked trails.

4. Familiarize yourself with the area you will be hiking in.

5. You should not hike alone ever, but if you do let someone know where you

will be and when you plan on returning.

6. If you bring your dog with you, plan on protecting them with fluorescent

orange collars with a bell attached to alert hunters of your presence. If

your dog has a habit of wandering off it would be best to leash them up

during bow and gun season.

7. When you see someone hunting, call out to alert them to your presence.

8. Hunting also can occur on private lands with landowner permission. If you

frequently walk in an area of private lands, check with the owner to see if

they have granted a hunter permission to hunt the lands.

9. If you find a dead animal or notice one that is acting abnormally for its

species, avoid all contact with it. Rabies is a virus affecting the central

nervous system. There are still many incidences being reported throughout

the state.

10. The state of Connecticut has a website that will allow you to find out

which state lands allow hunting and the schedules of times and dates for

different seasons. That address is http://www.dep.state.ct.us. The links are

well marked.

--------------------------------------------------

Questions or comments: info@ctwoodlands.org

[I Are Baboon]

There is nothing I enjoy more than being shot at while I ride my bike in the woods. :)

[knucklebuste]

Screw those jerk off hunters. Killing innocent animals. I'd rather see them shot as well as all politicians and executives than the innocent animals. Whoo, I shot a deer at 200 yds with a scope on my rifle. What the **** is that. Heres what I think should happen. Outlaw killing of innocent animals and have hunting of inmates, politicians, and high ranking corrupt executives. That would be a sport. F*&k the government and all it controllism, facism, corruption and lies. DONT VOTE
Lets get the ******* fossils out of government, get some fresh minds in there and fix this ******* country. The reason it's falling apart is purely greed. ******* MONEY HUNGRY GREEDY *******S that take all my money. What do I get out of it. Social Security? Like there will be any social security when I retire, not that I'll ever be able to retire, thanks to the scumb bags that run this country. God Bless the USA, we need it as the bastards that are running it are out of control with greed. Bush shall not be included in this rage. BUSH RULES

[sizlinseagulsoup]

Don't you think you might be reading a little too much into this?

[I Are Baboon]

I think this knucklebuster guy seriously needs to get laid. ;D

[splat]

IAB , I think you hit the nail on the head!

[knucklebuste]

:-X :-X :-X :-X :-X :-X :-X :-X :-X :-X
YOU GUYS AFRAID OF A LITTLE RAGE?
I get laid every night if I want. I slap my bitch silly on the ass till it turns purple. Aight? Ease up on me, I'm a high energy guy. You should go riding with me sometime. Seriously. Kevin

[Mr_Cheeze]

"Aight"???

[bikerag]

I would wear orange and yellow year round!!!

Also - do not wear white helmets unless you like being shot in the head.. Looks like dear tail to bud soaked hunters..

Not that there is anything wrong with that..

[turch]

I know that people usually think that generally wearing brightly colored clothing suffices. Well them thar hunting guys and the DEP have found that yellow, screaming honking yellow or not, washes out at a distance and appears bambi-tail white. No darned good if you are trying to conspicously differentiate yourself from deer. International blaze orange rules.

[I Are Baboon]

I hear hunters smear themselves with deer **** in an effort to attract deer. Any activity that involves smearing myself with animal **** isn't my kind of thing.

[knucklebuste]

Screw hunters, I hope they all die.

[Newbie]

Screw hunters, I hope they all die.


You are so right knucklemaster! I wish we had more meatheads like you wandering about. Then those FREAKS in Congress would learn to shut up. I'm so glad morons like you can speak their stupid minds. Lets kill them all, right! But before we do, lets have a plastic bag over our head contest. I bet you can't beat me. I'm not twice as much the imbecile you are.

knuckleHEAD!

[sizlinseagulsoup]

I know its's really fun to insult the simpleton with the alias KnuckleBuster however I think we must just ignore him. He's like an annoying six year old: Responce is only encouragement. Eventually he will just go away and peace and harmony will be reinstated until the next village idiot discovers the forum.

[I Are Baboon]

Screw hunters, I hope they all die.


I thought you said you got laid every night? Obviously last night wasn't your night.

[knucklebuste]

Since some babies have reported me to the moderator, I'm gonna cool down. Peace, Kevin ::)
Oops, sorry I hope all the deer die, not the hunters. That's what we're after right?