Fall – a time of the year when the crisp air is enjoyed and the greens of summer are replaced with hues of orange and yellow. And, it’s also the time that we as hikers contend with hunting season. Strategies for hiking during this time range from doing nothing different at all to simply staying home, and while hunting season is a worthy pre-hike consideration, by taking a few steps and modifying our gear and routine just a bit, we can continue hiking during hunting season with a few changes to our approach. Here are some considerations plus some strategies that I’ve found helpful for hunting season hiking.

A hat is one way to add a blaze orange clothing option, and wearing a headlamp during times of dawn and dusk is another good practice during hunting season.

Add Blaze Orange Into the Clothing and Accessory Ensemble

During the fall hunting season I like to add in some bright colors to my clothing arsenal, and very preferably blaze orange. Either way I like to stand out – exactly what I want this time of year, and hunters, who are likely wearing blaze orange themselves, are keyed up and actively looking for this color. While I personally prefer to blend in and wear natural colors at all other times of the year, during the fall hunting season I definitely embrace my extrovert side. Where to get the gear? Amazon will have just about anything you’re looking for in blaze orange (like the blaze orange Carhartt knit cap in the photo above), and local hardware stores might even have a decent selection of cheap, bright, and effective hunting season gear. This also goes for my dog – I look at blaze orange collars, bandannas, or jackets this time of the year. But as always at any time of the year, though especially during hunting season, keeping dogs on a leash or at my side and under voice command is something I always practice. If I'll be out hiking at dusk or dawn, I make sure my headlamp is on.

When planning approaches to hiking during hunting season, don't forget others in the group.

Hike Around Season Dates

Using my state’s fish and game website, I also like to plan trips around the season dates when possible and try to avoid opening and closing weekends / opening and closing day, and holiday weekends in popular areas. Middle of the week in the middle of the season is usually better timing while the season is active. I like to especially remain “bear aware” as the season winds on, as often times successful hunting activities may increase the presence of other animals as well. Hunting season often typically begins with an archery only season, and planning a trip during this time is great when more comfortable hiking at that time compared to the general firearm dates.

Head for Remote, and Preferably Wilderness Areas

Big game animals are heavy, and thus hunting is often closely tied to motorized vehicle use, ATVs, or horses. In wilderness areas I can avoid the motor vehicle aspect, and wilderness hunting horse trips are often led by experienced and local guides. But generally, just like if I'm looking for solitude any time of the year in the backcountry, the farther I go in and the farther from the road and trailhead I get, the less people…and hunters…I typically see. Many national parks also ban hunting, so this might be a great time to explore and get some national park hikes in if able.

Blaze orange clothing worn during hunting season.

Consider Where Hunting Will Be More Concentrated

Based upon wildlife activity, I can often get an idea where most hunting will take place. As an example and here in the Rockies, if we have a hot summer that’s stretching well into fall game animals could still be found in their higher elevation haunts. Early winter? Game may be pushed to lower and warmer elevations and closer to their winter ranges with the hunters following close behind. I like to plan trips around this. The nuances of every locale are a bit different, but you get the idea. Hunters in the area, outdoor stores, and land management agencies (forest service, game and fish, etc.) offer a great way to learn about these nuances and I find I can learn some interesting aspects about the wildlife patterns in the area. I've found it's good to be careful how I ask…it's not likely to get a very straight answer if hunters are asked where the best hunting spots in the area are.

Alertness When Hiking Off-Trail

Not only do I make my presence known by sight (adding blaze orange as described above) but also by sound. I have encountered hunting on trail, but generally there shouldn’t be encounters with any active hunting while on a marked trail (though I may encounter hunters themselves), and I find I will be more likely to cross paths with someone actively on the hunt off of it. Just like in bear country, I like to give a quick human vocalization every now and then, and stop to listen as well for the calls of game at intervals. Is that an elk, or someone trying to call one in? I’ve encountered both while hiking off-trail during hunting season. Either way I find a quick hello, hi there, or phrase of choice is not a bad idea. In combination an outdoor whistle can be considered, which may carry farther in difficult conditions.

Even though wildlife was abundant on this trip, due to the remoteness of the area hunting (and other hikers for that matter) would not be a likely occurrence.

Final Thoughts

On one hunting season backpacking trip no less than 30 seconds after parking at the trailhead and starting off towards the wilderness boundary, I encountered a hunter near the trailhead (see point 3 above), and a few minutes after moving on down the trail, a series of shots were heard. Hunting season is definitely a time when we have to share the trail, but overall and with fall one of the best times to be outside (and winter is coming!), the season can be enjoyed with a few extra considerations before heading out, from destination choice, to season timing, to adding blaze orange options into the clothing mix. And just like dealing with the conditions of any other season – be it throwing in winter gear or mixing up the gear and approach just a bit for the shoulder seasons, it’s all about preparation and approach and just getting out there.