I never really thought about hiking in the fall during hunting season something to consider until I read on Lower Shaker Trails Trailfinder page that hunters liked to hunt there and to wear orange in the fall. It got me thinking. What do I need to consider when hiking in the cooler months?
It’s Really November You Should Consider
Before I started getting nervous about hiking in the fall, I looked up when the main hunting season starts, which is DEER.
Youth Weekend is at the end of October, like around the 24th.
Late October to mid-December is deer season. You can see VT’s dates here and NH’s here. Before these dates, it’s small game like turkey and just with a bow. It’s also trapping season.
I start hiking in the woods less after Halloween anyway so this works for me.
Hike During the Afternoon
Hike in the afternoon of the golden sun where there’s fewer deer and fewer hunters. When do you see a deer at 1 or 2 in the afternoon? Rarely. I usually see them in the backyard in the morning and at dusk roaming around. If you choose to go out during prime time for deer, just wear bright orange (or red) with reflectors (and maybe a headlamp?). Tractor Supply has a good selection of orange vests.
Another suggestion was bear bells that you and your dog can wear. Local dog owners highly recommended that your dog wear orange too and be on a leash (in case you don’t already do that).
Where to Hike
Anywhere if you wear orange.
Popular and well traveled trails are a safe bet (like the rail trail) because being near people is NOT what hunters want because it scares away the animals.
Marsh-Billings National Historic Site. No hunting allowed.
Rail trail. A well known popular trail that is often near houses or borders residential areas.
Brookside Park. It’s a small woodsy area between the interstate and main road, noisy and populated.
Kilowatt Park North. A short trail right in a park by the river you can picnic at.
VINS and Montshire. Great trails that are well marked in a popular tourist location.
Quechee Gorge. and Dewey Pond Trail. I love this trail popular among tourists and locals alike. See the gorge and the dam. Continue past the dam along the meadow to see Dewey Pond.
In NH basically all land is open to hunting unless otherwise stated. That includes Conserved lands in Lebanon (see Lebanon’s FAQ). I would avoid State Wildlife Management Areas.
For more tips, I loved this article and this one to help understand how to be safe and have fun in the woods in the fall.
Wear orange and Love our Woods. I’m going to be a fall wooded pumpkin from now on.
Happy Hiking.
