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This is just a few miles from my home. I have gone running along this trail. My last time doing that there were signs that deer hunting was being allowed in the area. As I ran along I heard regular rifle shots in the woods near me. I have not been back since.
I'm not anti-hunting but these are popular trails near a major metropolitan area. On nice weekends scores of people are out running, hiking and biking here. Allowing hunting here is just asking for trouble.
This is just a few miles from my home. I have gone running along this trail. My last time doing that there were signs that deer hunting was being allowed in the area. As I ran along I heard regular rifle shots in the woods near me. I have not been back since.
I'm not anti-hunting but these are popular trails near a major metropolitan area. On nice weekends scores of people are out running, hiking and biking here. Allowing hunting here is just asking for trouble.
Options would include closing the park altogether for hunts and limiting the hunting to very short-range weapons like bows and handguns...or as you note, just not allowing hunting there anymore.
I'm sure those policies are under review for this park but often state laws could be tying their hands on the matter.
This is just a few miles from my home. I have gone running along this trail. My last time doing that there were signs that deer hunting was being allowed in the area. As I ran along I heard regular rifle shots in the woods near me. I have not been back since.
I'm not anti-hunting but these are popular trails near a major metropolitan area. On nice weekends scores of people are out running, hiking and biking here. Allowing hunting here is just asking for trouble.
I live within 20 miles of the area, and walked on the same trails...but when I see a sign saying hunting is going on, I avoid those trails.
Busch Wildlife has always allowed hunting in season. I feel like 'being smart' needs to happen both ways. Now say...someone on the Katy Trail got shot? I don't know, I'd think that would be a different story.
Maybe in the future, signs need to be posted saying something to the effect "Trail closed pedestrians until such and such a time, due to hunting." Instead of just informing "Hunting is happening" basically.
This is just a few miles from my home. I have gone running along this trail. My last time doing that there were signs that deer hunting was being allowed in the area. As I ran along I heard regular rifle shots in the woods near me. I have not been back since.
I'm not anti-hunting but these are popular trails near a major metropolitan area. On nice weekends scores of people are out running, hiking and biking here. Allowing hunting here is just asking for trouble.
Active local hunts in progress should be posted but isn't always realistic especially for a large area. Permanent signage doesn't tend to be very specific, but it may suggest a hunt is possible during one time of year. Its difficult, because game season open/close dates often change every year based on conditions, management goals for this or that species, staffing and budget, etc. Responsible hunters adhere to game seasons and safety restrictions for that area (no shooting from vehicles, or within specified distances to homes, roads, trails).
As a non-hunting outdoor recreationalist you also have some responsibility to educate yourself about potential legal hunting seasons. Some species are typically hunted in spring, others in fall or winter. A very few nuisance species might be legally hunted throughout the year. You can get that information from the area's management office or your state game hunting publications/websites.
Of course none of this will prevent every shooting accident because a few hunters and non-hunters alike can and do choose to ignore posted information.
Why do people hike on designated game lands during hunting season? It is inherently dangerous.
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