I have to keep reminding myself that most all of these post are from the Eastern side of the country.
The location of the poster is great to see on the left!
In Wyoming we have no closed days for hunting during the seasons, we have open season {all year long} on some critters listed as predators, coyotes, jack rabbits to name two.
We also have two major differences, much more Public Lands, and a lot less people.
This means that we have a lot less chances for the incidents to happen.
As a Hunter Ed. Instructer, I must say that Common Sense seems to be lacking. I know many nonhunters who still go hiking, fishing, picnicing, camping, etc. during hunting seasons and they always wear hunter orange at these times. Some wear it all year long, for the fact it makes them more visible to other people in the wilds of Wyoming, Not a bad idea for any state.
I have never had a problem fishing during hunting season. It is ashamed that someone would have to wear orange while walking through the woods, but unfortunately some hunters can be very careless. Not trying to down hunters because I am one, but some of the situations I have encounter and heard of sure worry me.
I agree with you, Byron. It must be an “East Coast” issue. The typical Nebraska hunter (and I considered myself one of them all the years I hunted) only has the two weekend days to hunt during the open seasons. A Sunday closure law would be viewed as cutting our seasons in half.
Now that I’m primarily a fisherman, the only time I’m concerned about hunters is during our 9-day rifle deer season in November. If I go out that week, I wear orange. That’s just common sense.
Like most things, first it will be Sunday, then Wednesday, then…Hunters pay to hunt through a license purchase and yes, they pay taxes too. Bird watchers (I love to watch birds, I have 5 books on identifying birds, its part of my outdoor experience) don’t pay a fee nor do joggers, picnickers, or young lovers out for a stroll in the woods. Know the rules and laws of partaking in the outdoors in your state. I firmly believe in blaze orange when afield during hunting seasons or when around game preserves. My two bits worth.
Here in Montana you can carry a gun all the time and shoot varmits anytime of the year. You can carry your rifle in the rack or on the seat of your truck or car loaded and not in a case. Most people here are raised with firearms and respect them at all times. But I have had a run in or two while guiding. And I hate to say it but both times they were from out of state and city people. One group fired over our heads while shooting at an Antelope. 4 guys firing at the same animal. They got the warden called on them. The other time I had a guy scoping me from across a canyon. He didn’t do it agin. We had a small talk after I got around to his side.
As for fishing it never bothered me one way or another. I just go fishing. I don’t wear any Orange just my normal everyday fishing cloths and I do not worry. But we don’t have as many people as some other states. And less city people which makes a difference. Ron
I wear orange hunting cap, orange hunting vest, orange hunting trouses, orange hunting socks and underwear(if nature calls), and orange hiking boots. You can never be too careful, when they let the inmates out to go deer hunting.
[b]Hey there goes one (BANG!) Hey you shot my cow!
It’s the second week of deer camp
I got a swollen head
I’m lying with the dustballs
Underneath the bed
An icy breeze is blowing
Into the tongue and groove
My pants are frozen to the floor
And I’m too sick to move
I didn’t drink so many
Just durty (thirty) cans of beer
It musta been that last shot
That put me under here
“It’s the second week of deer camp
And all the guys are here
We drink play cards and shoot the bull
But never shoot no deer
The only time we leave the camp
Is when we go for beer
The second week of deer camp
Is the greatest time of year”
I remember playing poker
That weasel musta won
He’s wearing my new swampers
And sleeping with my gun
He’s snoring like a chainsaw
The camp smells like a dump
Someone’s dirty underwear
Is hanging on the pump
Mickey’s in the woodbox
Weener’s on the stove
His flannel shirt is smoking (sniff)
I wonder if he knows (YEOW!)
“It’s the second week of deer camp
And all the guys are here
We drink play cards and shoot the bull
But never shoot no deer
The only time we leave the camp
Is when we go for beer
The second week of deer camp
Is the greatest time of year”
Beadle’s crawling through the door
I think he got frostbite
He passed out in the outhouse
And he’s been there since last night
Goofus stumbled through the door
He says he got a buck
He was coming from the wayside
And hit it with his truck
Musty cracked a beer and said
Let’s celebrate
Goofus caught the first buck
Since 1968
“It’s the second week of deer camp
And all the guys are here
We drink play cards and shoot the bull
But never shoot no deer
The only time we leave the camp
Is when we go for beer
The second week of deer camp
Is the greatest time of year”
[/b]
Given the stellar safety record of hunters in Pennsylvania I don’t see a problem with Sunday hunting. But then I work on Sundays so it makes little difference to me.
Every year our state ranks either first or second in license sales and has the lowest fatality count. I recently looked up the graph on year to year accidents and guess what? The graph clearly shows a dramatic drop in accidents after the passing of the “Ten mile” blaze orange laws. Is your life worth the few bucks spent at Wal-Mart to buy a blaze orange cap? I don’t think so. If your going to be in the great outdoors during hunting season wear the orange. That little bit of orange keeps you from blending into the background behind a potential target. Besides, it’s “the” outdoor style for the season.
The potential rule change has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with continuing centuries old religious prohibitions.
I can’t see the logic behind prohibiting hunting on Sundays, it’s not like you are likely to shoot a deer, bear, rabbit, or squirrel while it’s attending it’s religious service of choice is it?
I’ve often fished during the big game seasons here in PA and when I lived in NY since I am not a hunter. I never once felt scared or threatened by the folks who were in the woods hunting.
Being in church work, I understand the history of prohibiting other Sunday activities, and they used to work. Unfortunately (and as much as we may want them to work), it just doesn’t happen anymore. If someone isn’t going to go to church on Sunday, they don’t need an excuse. They simply don’t go. Also, worship practices have changed since these rules were created and worship is no longer an all day affair. There is still plenty of time in the day to hunt should a person decide to worship in the morning.
In short, I agree with you. There is a history there, but with the changes in our culture, there isn’t really any logic for keeping the ‘no-hunt Sundays’ laws on the books. It just doesn’t have the intended effect that it once did.
:lol: JC & Pete,
Between bow (early & late), muzzle (early & late and rifle seasons in Virginia you’d have to close fishing from October through the first week of Jan. Appreciate the humor.
It wasn’t too long ago that they started all year round trouting in Virginia for which I’m grateful. Love that cold weather fishing with no bugs, no crowds, etc. For the folks that missed the hoopla of an April opening day they recently reinstituted a designated same type of deal on about eight trout streams throughout the state. Wouldn’t go near one though if you paid me.
When I was a kid growing up in Vermont the rifle deer season was two weeks long and started on a Saturday finishing on a Sunday; which meant you had 16 days and three full weekends to hunt. Nicely accomodated folks that worked Mon. thru Fri. They even accomodated Sunday hunters by having an early Sunday morning mass for hunters at something like 2:00am or 4:00am if memory serves me correctly.
I dont think i would worry about fishing on sunday during hunting season. The body count on the highways in the good old U>S>A> was higher than in vietnam,gulf war and Iraq war for the same time period. I would worry more about driving to my favorite fishing hole
OK, it’s a 12 gauge, that’ll teach me to proof read. 1 numerical error and you guys are tough…
By the way, the steelhead have started to run. not thick yet but sufficient to burn a few hours on my creek. I have been trying to catch the ones with the lampray eels on them, in order to remove those parasites.
I will submit a report as I begin fishing for them hard!
Read through this posting and had a little thought about my neck of the woods!
As told to me by a warden.
A fella caming in from hunting to the local check station to registar a kill.The check station guy went out listening intently about the nice SPIKE BUCK the guy killed.The check station guy asked if there were any farmers around the area where he shot the deer.The hunter said yea1 Why?
You need to go back to where you got the deer and explain to the farmer WHY YOU SHOT HIS GOAT!
In Shawnee National forest they allow public hunting.Every year a house,cow,sheep or goat get shot.It is to the point that people tie red ribbons around their animals necks!
Wear a vest orange or bullit proff your choice!!!
The story was actually releyed to me by the warden who got the call from the check station!!!
Dennis
My dad called many years ago to tell me a similar story and then sent a newspaper clipping. It described two “hunters” from the “big city” that came cruising down Main St., car horn blaring, and inviting all to see the spike, albino, deer they got; now, uncermoniously draped over the hood. First person they encountered asked where they got the “nice Billy Goat Gruff!”
My cousin raised fawn colored goats.After losing 2 goats to “hunters” he now paints the word goat in bright orange paint on both sides of all his goats. He also used to raise Buffalo and Beefalo, (Buffalo-Charlais cross). There was a sign on the entrance gate for all hunters that said make sure you close the gate behind you then drive up to the ranchhouse for permission to hunt on the ranch. At the house there was a very large prominant sign that their attention was drawn to by whoever was on hand to give permisson to hunt . It stated that Buffalo and Beefalo were not wild animals They were domestic animals sold here on the ranch . Any animal domestic animal accidentily shot were $30.00 a pound. No-one ever accidentily shot one of those $35,00-$40,000 animals.
Yoopers Rock!