Hiking crown land during hunting season etiquette

Galipo

Galipo

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Hey guys, just wanted to get some thoughts from hunters.

What sort of etiquette should people follow when out hiking on crown land (to enjoy the fall colours) during hunting season? Of course we would wear blaze orange, but any other tips to follow?
 
Watch out you don't get in the way of the ATV's, they're more deadly than the bullets. Hunters don't walk anymore, where one can drive a 4 wheeler.
 
It is crown land, you are free to use it any way you need to, just because they are armed and you are not, should that change anything. But people do go missing in the forest all the time, just saying. The hunter has no more rights to crown land then you do.
 
Why are you needing to bush whack during open gun season?
Just an honest question, what are you up to?
Wear orange for safety and have respect for the other outdoorsman who hope to enjoy one week a year.
 
I try to avoid all others (hunters & non-hunters alike). ATV's and dirt bikers, :bangHead:. I don't want to see or hear anyone else when hunting.
 
Grock-co said:
It is crown land, you are free to use it any way you need to, just because they are armed and you are not, should that change anything. But people do go missing in the forest all the time, just saying. The hunter has no more rights to crown land then you do.
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Haha man.... Do they go missing in the woods all the time? You have a run in with some hunters at one time? Chill out. The guy was asking an honest question. He wasn't saying he was terrified to walk in the woods with the scary bad guys with guns shooting people and leaving them in the woods. Get a grip.

OP - wearing blaze orange is a great courtesy and pretty much all that I can think of to be expected. The only issue I've ever had was with an outfitter.. He thought he owned the place. He did not. For your own sake, maybe be a bit more vigilant with rotting carcasses and gut piles laying around, so as not to walk into a bears dinner.
 
It is illegal to interfere with someone who is lawfully hunting (in Ontario anyway). If you were bushwhacking and thrashing around, causing a disturbance right beside my blind or tree stand, and I made my presence known, and kindly asked you to move along, and you want to stay and cause problems, a simple call to the mnr would be made to report the incident.
 
Is it really imperative to go sightseeing through the bush during the short rifle/shotgun deer season?

I know, I know. It's your right!

Edit: I'm wrong. As I think about it it is a good thing for hunters on a stand.

Any human movement in the bush will of course move bedding deer.
 
DAgunlvr said:
It is illegal to interfere with someone who is lawfully hunting (in Ontario anyway). If you were bushwhacking and thrashing around, causing a disturbance right beside my blind or tree stand, and I made my presence known, and kindly asked you to move along, and you want to stay and cause problems, a simple call to the mnr would be made to report the incident.
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Pretty much keep this in mind and wear blaze orange on yourself and any pets. Even if there is no active gun season for big game, best be as visible as possible.
 
K-Roc said:
Not sure if it's worth it for the 2-3 wks or whatever it may be. 49 other wks of the year you can do it . Just my opinion.
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Elk in September. Moose firearm and bow in October. Deer firearm in November and December. Some bear season in there. Add in a three month archery season for deer in there too.

You cant reasonably expect people to avoid the woods during hunting season. Just make the best of it.
 
Cintax said:
Elk in September. Moose firearm and bow in October. Deer firearm in November and December. Some bear season in there. Add in a three month archery season for deer in there too.

You cant reasonably expect people to avoid the woods during hunting season. Just make the best of it.
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Yeah I hear ya... I avoid the 2 wks when it's deer rifle / shotgun season... Rest of the time its not a big enough issue for me to avoid the woods. My dog wears a blaze orange vest year round on crown land with a bell no matter what though.

I was in a crown land area I enjoy last year with a buddy the day before deer season opened. We were just fishing... It was crawling with various hunting parties setting up camp. It was pretty much the busiest I have ever seen the area. Wouldn't really want to be there the next morning lol. Going there during grouse, duck, bear or even bow season for deer and it's pretty much empty.
 
Mount Sweetness said:
Why are you needing to bush whack during open gun season?
Just an honest question, what are you up to?
Wear orange for safety and have respect for the other outdoorsman who hope to enjoy one week a year.
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I don't like hiking on established trails as they are full of ATV's doing 60km/hr. I have a few regular spots I like to hike to which have no trails leading to them (cliff faces, look outs, water falls, etc). Hunting season is the nicest time of year, with the beautiful colours, thinned out under brush, and no bugs.

I also like to scout out, and GPS mark, cross country ski trails which I snowmobile to in the winter.

I do have my hunting and firearms licenses (for birds), so I stay on top of what's in season. I generally avoid moose season, but that's it. I've come across many a tree stand in the woods, both permanent and temporary, but never actually seen any one occupying them.
 
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Cintax said:
Elk in September. Moose firearm and bow in October. Deer firearm in November and December. Some bear season in there. Add in a three month archery season for deer in there too.

You cant reasonably expect people to avoid the woods during hunting season. Just make the best of it.
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Exactly. I have run into folks out hiking when I have been out hunting and it was not an issue for me at all. I didn't give them a lecture about being out in the woods during hunting season and they didn't give me a lecture about hunting so we got along just fine! If it is public land you are on anyone is allowed there to hunt, hike, ski, fish, whatever. Everyone needs to learn to share.
 
K-Roc said:
Yeah I hear ya... I avoid the 2 wks when it's deer rifle / shotgun season... Rest of the time its not a big enough issue for me to avoid the woods. My dog wears a blaze orange vest year round on crown land with a bell no matter what though.

I was in a crown land area I enjoy last year with a buddy the day before deer season opened. We were just fishing... It was crawling with various hunting parties setting up camp. It was pretty much the busiest I have ever seen the area. Wouldn't really want to be there the next morning lol. Going there during grouse, duck, bear or even bow season for deer and it's pretty much empty.
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Fair point.
 
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