Hi folks, hopefully the title about says it all. I'm planning a one-nighter in the central SNF, but respecting hunters like I do, I don't want to ruin someone's hunt (and risk my well-being!) by tromping through their field of vision. So if any of you were going to go camping how would you approach it? I'm bringing binocs so I can scan ahead once in a while to try to avoid anyone, maybe wear orange, and hike in after most folks are done with their morning hunts (what's the best time for this?), be quiet, etc. I guess parked vehicles would be a big clue eh? Anyway, interested in any/all advice/input. Thanks much!

Edit: I'm not going to be hunting, btw.

My dad and I made that mistake years ago while trying to quail hunt during firearms deer season, not knowing deer sesaon was in. Needless to say we were out of the woods by 9am. Was not worth getting shot at, getting the dog shot, or ruining someone elses hunt.

respecting hunters like I do, I don't want to ruin someone's hunt (and risk my well-being!)


Sillyguy if your talking about gun season the odds of not ending up in someone's hunting spot is slim to say the least, is there a reason you have to go camping that weekend? I am not trying to be a jerk but if I had to go camping that weekend I would go to a campground and not out into the Shawnee during gun season. Bow season is a whole different story, the odds of running into a bowhunter is a lot less chance than gun season would be.


maybe wear orange

If your talking about gun season you MUST wear orange with the same requirement as the hunters. If your going during bow season I still would wear orange for personal safety.

Definitely not during gun season.

I didn't see anything in his post about gun season, just deer season.

I stay in town during gun season. I don't want my truck to be mistaken by a deer by someone who only gets in the woods two weekends a year and has an itchy trigger finger.

My bad - I should have been more clear. Thanks!

My bad - I should have been more clear. Thanks!
So it is or isn't during gun season that you plan on camping there?

Definitely not during gun season.

Cool, with a name like "Sillyguy" I was really worried about you. :D Hope you have a great time on your trip.

Sillguy -

You've cleared the first hurdle, simply because you are thinking and being considerate of others on public land!

Here's what I do - I try to find areas that are closed to hunting - if that isn't working out so well, and really want in somewhere where there is a chance that I might encounter someone hunting I look for vehicles, try not to be there during typical sitting times, (morning or afternoon) Wear an orange hat or hoodie - as I really don't want an arrow in the fanny. Just using a little common sense and surveying an area before you really go tromping through can be helpful. For the most part, when I have accidentally looked up to see I've probably fouled up someones sit - I just mouth to them I'm sorry and get the heck back out. But of course there are the ones who want to come after me and have a set to- sure that I'm probably some undercover PETA person who was trying to wreck their hunt.. but luckily they are few.

Now during gun season - I won't go to the mailbox without orange - And as much as Willie is not enthused - during hunting seasons he has to wear his orange and reflective vest - during any of the hunting seasons - I can't afford for an overzealous hunter to mistake a yella lab in the grass for something shootable..


Some thing else I do running around with Willie - I always like to check at the offices for public ground to see of they know if anyone is trapping in the area and where the traps might be.

I really don't want that nosy dog's head ending up in a conibear.

Luckily for us a trapper caught us headed towards one he'd just set out last year..otherwise it could have disastrous. That trapper is kind enough now to let me know where his traps are on the public ground we both run :)

Sillguy, it's great you are thinking about this and trying to be courteous. I'm a bow hunter and appreciate it. But public land is public, and unless its off limits for the season (as several sites are near me during gun deer and spring turkey), your entitled to be out there too. Two years ago, I had a guy, his daughter, and their dog walk under me bird hunting and I shot a doe of that stand about an hour later. Don't feel like you can't go out in the woods for 3 and a half months because its bow season.

Make sure you do the orange thing. Dont want to come out with any more bodily openings than when you entered the woods.