Everything You Need to Know About Hiking During Hunting Season

Are you a die-hard November hiker, or do you relinquish the woods to deer hunters when rifle season comes around?

As someone who didn’t grow up near the woods or hunters, it took me a really long time to feel comfortable hiking during hunting season.

Each October I would look up the rifle season dates in my state and mark them on my calendar, and for several weeks during hunting season, I would only hike in busy public parks —  listening to the distant crack of rifles as happy deer hunters reclaimed the forest. 

It doesn’t have to be this way.

If you enjoy hiking, you can still get outside during hunting season. You just need to take a few precautions to stay safe.

Can You Hike During Hunting Season?

The short answer is yes, with caution.

Here’s a bit of reassurance: hunting incidents involving anyone are rare, and getting rarer. New York had its safest hunting season on record in 2025, with seven hunting-related shooting incidents statewide, five of them self-inflicted, and no fatalities. Pennsylvania credits hunter education and blaze orange for cutting shooting incidents by nearly 80 percent since 1959. The risk is small, and orange makes it smaller.

Hunting season is a gorgeous time to be in the woods. The bugs are gone, the air is crisp, and the leaves on the ground are still full of crunch. The more I fall in love with the forest trails near my house in Vermont, the more impossible it is for me to stay out of them.

Even during hunting season.

I have a healthy respect for most hunters, and our mutual love of the forest has made us conservation allies. Hunters are often staunch protectors of the environment, and without them, our beloved hiking trails and national forests may not even exist.

The hunters that I’ve met love being in the woods, will fight to protect wildlife, and know a lot about the outdoors. 

If you are a hunter, please understand that I get it. You love being in the woods too. It’s just that running into people with guns on the trail is a little unnerving, especially for someone who hikes solo.

Late fall is such a fabulous time to hike, though, so I urge you to learn to hike safely during hunting season.

Here are some tips to help you make the most of the November forest.

In other words, everything you need to know about hiking during hunting season.

How to Find Hunting Season Dates in Your State

Every state sets its own seasons, and they change every year. Your state wildlife agency posts the official dates, usually in a hunting digest you can read online. Where to Hunt has a state-by-state picker that links to each agency’s seasons, licenses, and regulations.

Look for the firearms (rifle or shotgun) deer season first. That’s when the most hunters are in the woods. In much of the West, deer and elk rifle seasons start in September or October. In the East, Midwest, and South, the busiest firearms weeks usually fall in November, and some Southern seasons run into January. Archery, turkey, bear, and small game seasons stretch longer, so I wear orange from September through the end of the year.

I always write important hunting season dates on my calendar to avoid unpleasant surprises while hiking in the November woods. Being proactive is the best way to stay safe while hiking year-round.

Also read: The 10 Essentials Every Hiker Needs in Their Pack

2026 Firearms Deer Seasons in the Northeast

Here’s what my corner of the country looks like this year, and since most of my readers are based in the Northeast, here ya go…

State	Main firearms deer season, 2026
Vermont	Rifle Nov. 14 to 29; muzzleloader Nov. 30 to Dec. 13
New Hampshire	Muzzleloader Oct. 31 to Nov. 10; firearms Nov. 11 to Dec. 6 (ends Nov. 29 in the far north)
Maine	Firearms Nov. 2 to 28 (residents-only day Oct. 31)
Massachusetts	Shotgun Nov. 30 to Dec. 12
New York	Northern Zone Oct. 24 to Dec. 6; Southern Zone Nov. 21 to Dec. 13
Pennsylvania	Firearms opens Nov. 28 to Dec. 12

---

Tip #1: Hike Where Hunters Aren’t Allowed

If you’re feeling uncomfortable about sharing the fields and forests with hunters, it’s not too hard to find places where hunting is forbidden.

Town and city parks, conservation areas, and national parks cater more to hikers than hunters, and with few exceptions, you won’t find hunters in these areas.

If you want to steer clear of hunters altogether, avoid national forest trails, wildlife management areas, and trails that cross private property.

Where to Hunt is a website dedicated to helping hunters find permitting info and locations to hunt in every state. By default, it’s also a great resource for regular folks who want to avoid hunters during hunting season. Knowledge is power, my friends!

Tip #2: Wear Blaze Orange or Another Bright Color

Stay safe and make a fall fashion statement by sporting your blaze orange hat, vest, and coat during hunting season.

If you are hiking during hunting season, this is your best line of defense. Seriously! Bright orange isn’t exactly my color, but a few years ago I watched the video below and was totally convinced it was the safest way to hike.

This video was created for hunters, but it helped me realize how important it is to be seen while hiking during hunting season.

If you don’t have blaze orange attire, bright red or another bright color is better than nothing. Please do not hike during hunting season in brown, grey, or green — you’re just asking for trouble.

Tip #3: Hiking with Dogs During Hunting Season

My dogs are my all-time favorite hiking companions, but hiking with them during hunting season can be quite risky, especially if they are off-leash.

No matter how well-behaved your dog is, please keep him or her on a leash during hunting season.

In many states, a dog caught chasing deer can be legally killed. In Vermont, for example, state law lets game wardens and police shoot a dog in close pursuit of a deer or moose, and the owner can be fined. It just isn’t worth the risk to let them run free when hunters are in the woods.

In Pennsylvania, dogs on State Game Lands need orange too, on a vest, collar, leash, or bandana.

I also recommend dressing your pup up in blaze orange when you hike. Now you’ll both be safe, and you’ll match!

Tip #4: Make Some Noise

As much as I love tiptoeing through the woods looking for birds and other wildlife, it’s better to call attention to yourself when hiking during hunting season. I spend a lot of time talking to my dog, singing, and whistling. 

If you don’t want to talk to yourself or your dog while hiking in hunting season, how about rounding up some friends for a late autumn hike?

Hunters may not appreciate your revelry, but at least everyone will stay safe.

Tip #5: Stay Out of the Woods When Deer and Hunters Are Most Active

Deer are most active during dawn and dusk, and so are hunters.

Try to plan your hiking excursions during the middle of the day, and you will be much less likely to run into hunters in the woods.

Deer aren’t exactly weekend warriors, but you’ll find fewer hunters in the woods during the workweek. If you can get outside on your hikes from Monday through Friday, you’ll be much better off. 

Which States Restrict Sunday Hunting?

Sunday used to be the hiker’s day in many states, but that’s changing fast. Most states now allow hunting seven days a week. Two still ban it outright, and six more limit Sunday hunting by land type, hours, or method. Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia have lifted their old bans in recent years.

State	Sunday hunting rules
Maine	Banned statewide
Massachusetts	Banned statewide. A repeal is pending in the legislature.
Connecticut	Private land only, and not within 40 yards of blazed trails. State and public land stays closed.
Maryland	Set county by county. No Sunday deer hunting in Baltimore, Howard, or Prince George’s counties, and many counties allow it only on private land or only in the morning.
New Jersey	Bowhunting for deer only, on wildlife management areas and private land. No Sunday gun hunting.
North Carolina	No gun hunting from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and no deer hunting with dogs. Some game lands stay closed.
South Carolina	Open on private land. On public land, only select wildlife management areas and the Sumter and Francis Marion National Forests, Oct. 15 to Jan. 31.
Virginia	Open, except no deer or bear hunting with dogs

Hiking During Hunting Season FAQ

Can you hike during hunting season?

Yes. Wear blaze orange, keep your dog leashed and in orange, hike midday, and stay on marked trails. If you’d rather avoid hunters, choose town parks, nature preserves, or a Sunday in a state where Sunday hunting is banned.

Is it safe to hike during deer season?

Hunting-related shooting incidents are rare, and most involve the hunter alone. New York had seven in 2025, none fatal. Wearing orange and making noise lowers the risk further.

What color should you wear hiking during hunting season?

Blaze orange, on your head and upper body. Avoid brown, gray, green, and white, which can look like a deer’s tail in the woods.

Do hikers have to wear blaze orange?

Usually it’s recommended, not required. Hunters must wear it in most states, and a few places require it of everyone, like Pennsylvania’s State Game Lands during the fall firearms seasons.

Is hunting allowed on Sundays?

In most states, yes. Maine and Massachusetts ban Sunday hunting outright. Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia limit it by land type, hours, or method.

Should my dog wear orange during hunting season?

Yes. A blaze orange vest or bandana and a leash keep your dog visible and close.

---

Follow us on social media!

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Pinterest