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| Fall Hunting Season and Hiker Safety | ||||
| September is the start of the fall hunting season for squirrel hunting. Hunting activity steps up a notch in mid-September and October, through early January with the advent of deer, turkey, waterfowl, upland game and the remaining small animal seasons. The fall is also one of the best times to hike through the woods, when the weather is cool and tree color is at its most brilliant. Many of our Blue Blazed Hiking Trails cross state hunting lands. State lands are for the recreation of all and the majority of hunters are responsible individuals. We at Connecticut Forest and Park believe that by taking a few precautions, hikers can reduce the already rare incidence of hunting accidents. 1. By law, hunters are required to wear 400 inches of fluorescent orange on their person from September 1 through the last day of February. Hikers should consider wearing florescent orange and other bright colors as well. DO NOT wear white gray brown or tan!!! 2. Shooting hours commence ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset. There is no hunting on Sundays. 3. DO NOT wander off marked trails. 4. Familiarize yourself with the area you will be hiking in. 5. You should not hike alone ever, but if you do let someone know where you will be and when you plan on returning. 6. If you bring your dog with you, plan on protecting them with fluorescent orange collars with a bell attached to alert hunters of your presence. If your dog has a habit of wandering off it would be best to leash them up during bow and gun season. 7. When you see someone hunting, call out to alert them to your location. 8. Hunting also can occur on private lands with landowner permission. If you frequently walk on an area of private lands, check with the owner to see if they have granted a hunter permission to hunt the lands. 9. If you notice an animal that seems sick, acting abnormally or dead avoid all contact with it. Rabies is a virus affecting the central nervous system. There are still many incidences being reported throughout the state. 10. The state of Connecticut has a website that will allow you to find out which state lands allow hunting and the schedules of times and dates for different seasons. That address is www.dep.state.ct.us the links are well marked.
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