Keiko Betcher / Washington Trails Association
Around the same time some of the best wildflower hikes reach their peak, hunting season opens. The August start can catch many hikers by surprise, since fall is the height of hunting season.
Aug. 1 marked the beginning of bear hunting season across the the state. The South Cascades, Okanogan and Northeastern B hunting zones began Aug. 15, while the zones of Northeastern A, Blue Mountains and Long Island don’t begin until Sept 1. This means hikers should take extra precaution while they share the wilderness with hunters.
If you would like to avoid areas that permit hunting entirely, national and state parks in Washington do not allow hunting. Most national forest lands in Washington are open to hunting (though the elevation and specific zones vary).
If you hike in areas where hunting is permitted, remember the following tips to protect yourself:
Wear bright clothing. Make yourself more visible. Choose colors that stand out, like red, orange or green, and avoid blacks, browns, earth-toned greens and animal-colored clothing.
Make noise. Whistle, sing or carry on a conversation as you walk to alert hunters to your presence. Sound carries well across mountain basins, and hunters should be listening for any sounds of animal movement.
Make yourself known. If you do hear shooting, raise your voice and let hunters know that you are nearby.
Know when hunting seasons are. Continue to hike, but learn about where and when hunting is taking place. Bear season kicks off in August, followed by grouse, deer and several other species in September. October is the high point of hunting season.
Know your own comfort level. If the idea of hiking during any hunting season makes you uneasy, choose a hike in a location where hunting is not allowed, such one of Washington’s national parks or at any of more than 100 of Washington’s state parks.
If you hike with a dog, keep your pup on leash. Also consider having your dog wear a brightly-colored pack, coat or one of your old orange T-shirts. Dogs can easily be mistaken for coyotes, deer or other game, so make sure they’re clearly off-limits.
Washington Trails Association promotes hiking as a way to inspire a people to protect Washington’s natural places. Get inspired to go hiking and learn how you can help protect trails at www.wta.org.
More info
For a summary of general hunting season dates, go to https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/summary_hunting_dates.html
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