by Sophia Mattice-Aldous
If you’ve spent time in this area for any amount of time, you may know fall and winter is a popular time for the hunters to emerge. Maybe you’ve been gunning to get those deer or turkey tags (bad pun usually intended) so you can get out in the forest and fill said tags.
Whether you’re an outdoor newbie or a seasoned veteran, practicing safety whilst traversing through our bountiful public lands is always a good idea. I’ve heard some people say that they will never go hiking during hunting season which perplexes me because, if that’s a credence you stick to, your window to get outside and go is a very small one. Hunting season in Washington typically runs August through March.
Growing up, my dad went hunting every year and my brother joined him as soon as he was old enough to do so. I went hunting a couple of times but proved too fidgety and restless to be any good at it.
All of that to say that guns don’t scare me, but I definitely pay attention and practice caution when I’m around a person who is carrying one. If hunting is not for you, there’s nothing to say you can’t continue enjoying hiking amongst our camouflaged compatriots. If you’re like me and have the technological know-how of an ape trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube, check out wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations for dates, locations and what kind of hunting is happening during that period. Your local sporting goods store most likely has hunter’s pamphlets you can get your hands on if you prefer something more tangible.
Hunting season is also the perfect time to look fabulous, i.e. indulge any desire you might have to wear bright pink, orange, yellow and/or neon. Make yourself a walking beacon of noticeability, so even the birds say, “Crap, is it mating season already?” Now is not the time for dark, moody recreational wear in the forest. No beige, which should be applied sparingly any time of the year anyway, but avoided during hunting season.
Since hunting is not my forte, but making noise is, walking the forest is the perfect time to do so. Sing Whitney Houston songs badly (unless, you know, you can actually sing), whistle, recite dirty limericks; whatever lets hunters know that you’re in the area. If you’re hiking with a dog, make sure you keep them on a leash and adorn them with their own eye-catching colors. A dog can look like a coyote or the backside of a deer to a hunter from a distance.
It’s a pleasure to be in the woods during autumn. Just have a little forethought before you do and enjoy.
Sophia Mattice-Aldous is not a doctor, personal trainer or dietician, so if you’re looking for that kind of exercise and health column, it’s not this one. However, she is a lifelong Washington resident and reporter with an affinity for The Great Outdoors who thinks fitness should be fun, and that looks different for everyone. For her, it’s going outside. If you have questions and/or comments, including hiking suggestions, email [email protected].