Conference noted::bicycle

     You really can't help but think about it. Particularly when you're
    hearing reports in this distance. I too, quit hunting a long time ago
    and do feel the same. Except I was probably hunting in those woods
    before most of the folks were. Doesn't leave me with anymore sense
    of ownership though.
    
     While hunters may cause us (cyclists) anxiety, we could ruin hours
    of time for them. Hanging out in a tree stand for 3 hours only to
    have the deafening silence broken by an MB Kamikaze Pilot has to be
    a little irritating... When I hunted, the only things out there were
    other hunters and porcupines (who used to drive me nuts when they'd
    start tearing bark off trees - almost justified the cost of a slug).
    I think that's a perspective that we need to understand. But, it
    doesn't mean we have less of a right to be there.
    
     There are some areas available to us that are posted, private or state
    owned, (No Hunting/Fishing/Boinking/Etc...) that should be considered.
    Riding with a buddy or group also helps reduce the likelihood of taking
    a round somewhere. Conversation certainly brings the chance of being
    recognized as "human" (or at least bipedal) up a bit.
    
     Fall is my favorite time as well. The air is crisp and smells great.
    Being in the quiet of the woods is soothing and relaxing... Just makes
    you feel good.
    
     Speaking of boinking.... :-) I came across a couple Tuesday right on a
    dirt road. Parked smack-dab in the middle of the road leaving me little
    alternative but to ride directly along side (to get by - and a good
    peek at what was going on) the car. This is the second time this MB'g
    season (different couple though). Get this, the guy was hiding behind
    the woman (these weren't kids). Looked to me like people killing
    some time after work before getting home to their respective spouse/
    SO... But hey, I'm not judging them. Broke the ride up! 
    
     So, I guess it wouldn't/won't stop me. It does cause one to think and
    certainly makes it a little more hazardous.
    
     I guess we should be on our knees thanking God that Dupont ISN'T
    making camo-lycra cycling clothes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)
    
     My $.02 +++++
    

    
    
    Makes me a bit paranoid also. I wear hunter orange gloves and vest; my 
    helmet is bright yellow-green (Rule #1- NEVER wear a white helmet
    during deer season- a woman in Maine got killed a few years ago just
    wearing white gloves while she hung up her clothes in her own
    backyard!); I have bits of bright orange on my bike and orange
    toe-straps. I've heard of folks hanging a "jingle bell" from the
    handlebars to make a bit of noise while they ride, but I ride for the
    quiet, so I'm not sure I'm ready to go that far (actually I'm afraid of
    being mistaken for "Rudolph" ;^)  ).
    	I do intend to get in a good Sunday ride and to go up to Acadia
    as often as possible. I also will limit my riding to a residential
    woods nearby (some hunting there , but not as much)
    	Bow and bird season don't worry me much. People with long-range
    rifles in deer season scare the hell out of me. People who think the
    World Wresting Federation should be in the Olympics scare me also. ;^)
    
    Mike

    So...does anyone have the low-down on hunting in NH and 
    Northern Mass.? Like when are the seasons, where are they
    allowed to hunt (state land, federal land, national forest...),
    do different geographical areas have different seasons?
    
    Or, does anyone know of any place in NH, Me or eastern MA 
    where hunting is not allowed?  I guess any level of trails
    is acceptable when you don't have to worry about random
    bullets.

    
    	Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine; 57 miles of beautiful
    carriage roads; no cars , No Hunting! Bikers, Hikers, horse riders and
    horse-drawn carriages only (plus snowmobilers and CC skiers in winter). 
    Campground is open all year. There is a small airport in Bar Harbor with 
    flights to Boston. Great ocean scenery, great riding, good bike shop in
    town, rentals available.
    
    
    	Mike

     City Halls or places that issue sporting licenses usually have
    pamphlets that outline the hunting seasons (dates/game/etc...).
    
     The cities should also be able to tell you which public lands are
    "safe"...
     
               Chip

    I have called town police, and have always gotten an answer concerning
    hunting. In Eastern Mass, the State Forest in Ipswich is closed to
    hunting, Lincoln is closed, Fellsway, Lynn woods are also closed.
    
                                  Bill

	A couple of years ago I was in Bear Brook Pk., and the park
	ranger himself drove down the paved road in his lime green
	pickup yelling, "I am not a deer!" repeatedly.  Really.

	I too feel a bit sorry for the bow hunter, especially, who has 
	spent weeks acclimatizing the deer population to his scent, 
	only to have a bunch of smelly, noisy MTB riders crash through.
	But these are multi-use areas.

	Didn't that guy who shot the woman in Maine get away with
	no penalty?  I think some strict penalties here would be 
	merited.  And then I could rag on about gun licensing and
	safety training, but that's a can of worms I won't open
	here.

	I think I'll to Agway for a cow bell. 

	Happy trails, Tom

     I agree with .7 on some exremely harsh penalities on hunting
     "accidents." 
    
     Basically, you get a wide range of inexperienced, jeeped-up or
     intoxicated hunters. Killing a person (except by a stray round)
     should be negligent homicide, at a minimum.
    
     If you don't know what you're shooting at, you shouldn't. If you 
     don't know the area (e.g. proximity to houses/buildings) you shouldn't
     even think about discharging a firearm. Particularly a high powered
     rifle...
    
     Crazy out there... One of the reasons I don't do it anymore (and that
     was 15 years ago). Five years before that my father was hit with bird
     shot in the back...

    Here are some of the hunting dates in Mass. which people who ride in
    the woods should be concerned with.

    October 11 -  Ruffed Grouse opens. This seems to be when  most
                  hunters start to hunt.

    October 20 - Pheasant season brings out more.

    Deer Archery - Nov 1 - Nov 20

    Deer Shotgun - Zones 1 - 11 Nov 29 - Dec 8
                   Zones 12- 14 Nov 29 - Dec 4 
                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Zones 12 and !4 are on the Cape and
                                Nantucket

    Turkey - Nov 8 - Nov 13
             May 3 - May 22

    There is no hunting allowed on Sundays. If you hear shooting in the
    woods on Sunday, call the cops.

    I wear Hunter Orange from Oct 20 on. Put bells on your bike. You
    could use  the kind I put on my hunting dog. Its light and won't 
    be too irritating to yourself.
    
    Stay on dirt roads if you can. Most hunters usually hunt in the woods, not
    on roads. Trails however are often deer runs. I'd stay off them during
    deer season.
    
    Jim

    
    And the winning answer is:
    
    	Don't ride during daylight.  I used to ride in the A.M.  I decided
    to brush the dust off my Nightsun and ride after dusk.  It is a little
    eerie because I ride solo many times.  I also found out that you MUST
     wear glasses because you can't see those annoying little branches that
    will tear your eyeball.   Mountain biking on technical terrain is
    tough, at night it's much harder.  The shadows are very deceiving and
    it quickens your reaction time.
    
    mike

    
    If you do woods at nights, be weary of skunks ;-)