ATV Florida Forum

When is hunting season and when or how does it effect riding in Ocala NF?

hunting season is now,,,,and as far as affecting the riding,,,it's worse than the rangers shutting down areas.

during hunting season I like to ride armed, or at least with a bullet-proof vest.

but seriously, you will get shot at, but I find you will attract the least shots if you ride during non-peak hunting hours,,,say about 9am - 3pm.

Id@

Yea you better be strapped.  I heard alot of stories of people being shot by hunters.

How long is the hunting season? Are they any asigned areas for hunting or is wherever they feel like it. So you'll run into them, that's not good very dangerous.

there are designated dog hunting areas, but as far as the rest, you might try looking it up or calling one of the ranger stations,,,,best to stick to certain times of the day like I posted before,,,,and yes, I have been shot at a few times.

Id@

when i hunted there you can hunt just about anywhere, around big scrub you should be safe. ends in jan. I think

Thanks  guys.

Oh yeah?  Well I've hunted it for 15 years, and I live within a mile and a half of it, and I've never heard of anyone getting shot.

That being said, I wouldn't ride early in the morning, or at dusk.  I wouldn't worry about getting shot, but I'd worry about catching a couple tires full of roofing nails.

The areas that have designated trails I would hope that the hunters are hunting as far away from them as possible.  It only makes sense as far as safety is concerned.

there are areas just for hunting but you should check at ranger station to see where they are

wow sounds scare :(

Actually, nearly the entire forest is open to hunting.  There are some small spots where it's prohibited, and around dwellings.

and I've ridden there since 1988 and have gotten shot at(seeing dirt fly up in the trail in front of you while riding is a dead giveaway) at least once per season that I have ridden.

like I said in a previous post, I don't ride during the popular hunting times, but I definately don't have much love for most of the hunters out there in the forest.

The dog-runners don't seem to mind much and their areas are where I concentrate my riding,,,but the others I dunno.

Id@

Nobody has ever been shot in the last 15 years??? Right....Someone usually gets shot every season in the ONF. The mentality of the hunters IMHO is Iam here to hunt & I paid for my license(most of the time) & these dang quad riders better leave, so let me fire a warniing shot over the bow(hopefully a good aim). I have hardcore hunters in my family & I know how they talk about it. Hopefully it is all talk but in some cases it isnt like IDa said. I wonder who spends more money on the area, the riders all year or the hunters in 3 months?????

Let them have it for a couple of months. I also hunt but there is no deer that is worth murder charges. Also a lot of hunters use quads to hunt so they dont all hate atvers. I'm going to keep my sport bike out of the woods until the season is over.
 It will be over before you know it.

I didn't say nobody has been shot, but that doesn't mean they were shot because they were riding an ATV, and I doubt you can verify a single person being shot because of riding.

You are painting all hunters with a broad brush.  Would you appreciate it if all hunters equated all ATV riders with a couple of knucklheads?

I am a hunter, and I ride atv's, now does that make me an azzhole, or an alright guy because I ride.

I hunt and ride in Ocala and will be there the whole opening week doing both but I have also been shot at while I was down there riding as well as returned fire. I'm with Ida on this one I do ride during hunting season but I try to keep it limited to the non-peak hours and I never ride without atleast my sidearm during general gun.

All this shooting going on and nobody gets shot? If a MFer shoots at me and misses then it aint going to be over until he is DEAD!

ive rode ocala several time during hunting season. ive decided that i couldnt enjoy the ride as i always seem to come up on hunters. i mean like having to squeeze past thier trucks on the trails. thanksgiving weekend forget it, the hunters are out in force. my opinion is to let them have the woods for a few months. if you do ride, the non-peak hours are the best time to do it. the problem i have is i ride from morning till dark.

jeff

  I was at SEED ORCHARD this past Saturday (yesterday). I saw two other guys just south of the orchard sign on two quads.....I was the only one at the sign.
  I rode for a few hours and every once in awhile out on a trail, I would shut my engine off, just to sit.  I heard no one else. Not a gun shot, and only once or twice did I hear other quads.
  I guess people can get shot......but I think Ocala is safer than Calle' Ocho in Miami.....or any place in New Orleans during a Hurricane.
  If you hear weapons being discharged, you may not want to ride in that direction.  Common sence plays a LARGE part in life.
  (Don't wear that funny hat with the deer antlers on it that your aunt Bertha bought you while you are in the woods either)
  Whether you ride with a side arm or not....please do so safely. 
  As for me? I assume everybody is armed.    (helps keep me "honest"...LOL)

     Chuck

I want to thank you all for responding to my question.  I thought the question would stimulate some good responses and it has.  Out of all of the responses you can take some real good ground rules.

I know there are a few hunters out there as well as ATVers that are probably a bubble or two off plumb.  I respect the rights of hunters to bear arms and enjoy their sport.  I also respect the rights of riders.

A few years ago I was shot AT hundreds of times and a few hit their mark.  I couldn't return fire as I would have given away my position.  Today is an other story.  I am out to enjoy my ride and not to be confrontational with anyone.  Here's what I taken from  all your answers for riding during hunting season, or any other time.

1.  YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU ARE DEALING WITH.

2.  Use common sense.

3.  If your going to ride, do it in the middle of the day.

4.  Stay home on Thanksgiving weekend.

5.  Don't wear Aunt Bertha's antler hat.  Wear bright colors.

6.  If you hear gunshots, ride the other way.

7.  If you are carrying and I do, it is still better to ride the other way and      ride another day.

8.  Try not to ride alone...I ride by myself and on Mondays so I don't run into the weekend warriors.

9.  Be respectful of others and REMEMBER my RULE #1.

Thanks again for all your input.

The Ole guy