Trail Riding Etiquette

Except they already have laws that dictate what hunters are allowed to shoot at.

Maybe if they locked up the ones that didn't clearly identify their targets and what's beyond, there would be less "accidents" of this type.

I love to hunt but darn it, if I can't be sure it's a deer, then I sure as heck wouldn't pull the trigger.

Personal responsibility for ones actions, and being held accountable for them is what we need.

No excuses. Know your target and what's beyond. PERIOD!!!! NO GUESSING.

No, we don't.
Laws & Regulations

If you care to read the above link, there are no "closed" seasons for some of the things people hunt here on a regular basis. Again I will say, I do not oppose hunting. Nor do I oppose gun ownership.

There is a man across the street hunting as I type. Based on his dog's breed I think he is after birds. Many people in MY area use hunting as a means to feed their families or earn money to feed their families instead of for sport. Having lived in pIaces where there were a great number of responsible and sober hunters, my family included, I have made my statements specific to MY current location.

The woman who was shot mentioned in the information I pulled about the stats, was sitting in her car, in her driveway. Many of the accidents that have happened to people in MY area were to people on their own property, minding their own business. These lives have been severely impacted because of some else's irresponsibilty while participating in a sport.

You are right. Nothing can fix outright stupid, but ignorance and irresponsibilty can be fixed. Accidents do happen, some that are beyond our control but most, sadly, could have been avoided.

When I am out on multi use public land, I do not gripe about having to wear bright colors to be safe. But I do not think I should have to wear them while on my own property to be safe. Neither do my neighbors and the people who live in my county. I can easily see why some people might not want to wear blaze orange while out riding public trails to feel safe, and why they might make a comment about it on a forum thread about trail safety.

Last year there was a huge front page new story in our paper about how this was the first year that no one was shot on opening weekend of deer season. It had been such a long time since that had happened, it was a huge deal in MY area.

In other areas I have lived, ridden, and hiked. There were restrictions on who or what, can and can not be on certain trails. There are plenty of public places and lands where horses were never allowed to go in any season or time. And I have no problem with that.

Men do stupid things. Doesn't mean we should generalize that all men are bad. Women do stupid things, doesn't mean we should generalize all women are bad. Some horse owners do stupid and cruel things, doesn't mean we should generalize that all horse people are bad. Hunters do stupid things, doesn't mean.... well I think you get the point.

By the same token I wish people would quit thinking that just because something is a certain way where they live, that it is the same where others live. And I also wish some people would realize that just because they participates in activity "xyz", that everyone who does activity "xyz" is right, or does it safely, with proper education, or is responsible about it. Whatever... hunting, riding, gun ownership, drinking, gambling, ATV riding, knitting, hiking, ... well, ok perhaps not knitting...

I have looked at that. For the most part with the exception of a few animals, OPOSSUM, SKUNKS & WEASELS, the hunting of game animals runs from Oct. - May, depending on the species and the hunt area. There is nothing in there that say there is year round hunting state wide in Pa. For all game animals. I highly doubt that there are hundreds of drunk crazed hunters running around the entire state of Pa. Shooting possums, skunks and weasels on a daily basis.

I see closed seasons for deer, elk, squirrels, quail, grouse, turkeys, rabbits, hares, porcupines, crows, raccoons, pheasants, fox, bear and others.

If it is public land, there should be no restriction for anyone to be able to go there. The biker, hiker, hunter has the same rights as the person on horseback. If it is open for one, it is open for all. There are restrictions on vehicle use on public lands because of abuse in certain areas, but the individual can still go on there, but without his dirt bike or quad. Same as wilderness arears, open to everyone, year round, just do not bring any mechanized means of trasportation which means no hang gliders, bikes, machined vehicles, planes or hellicopters.

Now I've got to ask. Why would anybody want to hunt a porcupine? Do they eat them? Make weapons out of their quills?

God gave us the gifts of creativity, intelligence, and the capacity to experience joy because He wanted us to use them, and one of the biggest indictments against modern society is that it denies people the opportunity to fully develop their natural abilities and live in ways that would allow the human spirit to flourish. Government rules and regulations take that freedom away. Hard true fact!

You've never eaten a porcupine?

I don't know what to say except that perhaps the influence of Appalachian culture has had a bigger impact here, than where you live or hunt. It is still a very real part of some communities here in how people live, hunt, and feed their families.

I highly doubt there are hundreds of drunk crazed hunters running around the entire state of PA shooting 'possums, skunks, and weasels on a daily basis as well. They are all here in my area.

As for the restrictions on public land... as an avid backpacker and hiker of state, local, national, recreational, and wilderness parks, I have seen plenty of these restricted trails. I was tipped off by the signs that say "No Horses" or "No Bicycles" or my favorite "No Foot Traffic."

My neighbors tell me "possum stew is quite tasty.

Lockwood, I was not always in Wyoming. I lived most of my life in NY (37 yrs) and even in lower NY never ran into the problems you say you have. But more regulations will do no good. If someone is already breaking the law, do you really think that more laws are going to stop them? I guess you are stuck with it unless you move to another location.

You have?