I’ve been busy hiking hills outside of Tri-Town these days, but this weekend was the first time this year I donned hunter orange while hiking – which made me think of my readers who may be hiking, walking their dogs, bird watching, or photographing nature on some of the same trails that I wrote about in my series Take a Hike!
Fellow forest freaks, beware. Deer hunting season begins this weekend, and some of the properties I myself have visited in Tri-Town and written about do allow hunting.
Deer hunting season runs from October 20 until December 31.
Hunter orange, blaze orange, or international orange, is an intense fluorescent orange that is highly visible, even in dim light. It might not be the most flattering or fashionable of colors, but it could prevent hunting-related accidents, and even deaths.
For about 300 years, hunting has been prohibited on Sundays, one of those last remaining “blue laws” of 18th Century Massachusetts that still observes the Sabbath. That, however, may change, and bow and arrow hunting might next year be allowed on Sundays.
Mattapoisett’s own Representative William Strauss earlier this year introduced Bill H.3963, legislation authorizing bow and arrow hunting on Sundays from October through the end of December, which passed the House of Representatives in June.
The bill was submitted to the State Senate Ethics and Rules Committee, and has not yet been voted on by the Senate.
I have no opinion either way when it comes to hunting. My dad hunted deer all throughout my childhood and, as long as Mom didn’t try to pass venison off as a regular steak for dinner, I was fine with it. Besides, Dad rarely ever came home with a deer. I personally prefer shooting nature with my camera.
I do, however, appreciate very much that one day every week when I am free to gallivant wherever I choose without the fear of accidentally getting pierced with an arrow.
If Strauss’ bill is passed, shotgun hunting would remain prohibited on Sundays throughout hunting season, which ends December 13. Primitive firearms hunting, i.e. muzzleloaders, continues until December 31.
Timothy Madden of Nantucket submitted an amendment to the bill, giving cities and towns the chance to opt-out of provisions of this act by sending a certified letter to the director of Fisheries and Wildlife and the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, but the amendment was rejected.
At least for this year, we are safe to roam the woods on Sundays without having to take extra precautions to not be confused as prey, but I strongly urge anyone spending time in the woods this time of year to don their blaze orange, regardless of the day of the week. They even make hunter orange accessories for dogs for protection.
A hiker should cover their body with enough blaze orange to be visible to hunters while walking through the woods. I wear an orange vest on the outside of my coat, which is large enough in size to be seen from a front or side angle. However, a blaze orange cap along with the vest is recommended. I bring along a blaze orange handkerchief as well to tie around my neck or hang from my backpack as extra reinforcement. After all, I live to hike – but I don’t want to die for it!
By Jean Perry
