Reminder: Hunting Season on the Bluff

[hockeynut]

Hi all... just a friendly reminder (though it's been mentioned in various other threads):

Bowhunting starts Saturday 9/17, and runs through to the new year.

Hours where it's still 100% cool to bike are 10 am - 2 pm every day.

Outside of those times it would be my suggestion that you refrain from hitting the trails (both for your safety, and as a courtesy to other users of the park who might be looking to make some venison jerky). But you can make you're own decisions, this isn't Russia...

Another note... for some reason the gate has been closed a few days the past week. The trail is still open, but it will just take some work to get to the trails. Either park on 7th and bike up the paved road (not my suggestion, but I have done it), or park at Mississippi National Golf Links and take the trail by the driving range to the bluff.

[gus man]

Yeah, What Isaac said!!!!:banana:

[hockeynut]

A little off topic... but that wasn't your headlamp flying across the road was it?

edit: it was Gus's phone... and it's ok.. I'm sure everyone was worried

[pokey]

Does anyone know what time of day bow hunters are required to be out of the woods, and does the city care if we night ride the trails ?

[hockeynut]

Hi Larry,

Night riding is definately a-ok. The park closes at 10:30 pm officially, so you'd probably want to be off the bluff by then unless you parked your vehicle someplace else and biked to the top.

Checking the DNR's website, it looks like legal shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise, and 30 minutes after sunset. So today it's illegal to shoot anything after 7:41 (realistically, you probably shouldn't shoot anything after 6:45 or so as the light starts fading fast).

I'm gonna be up there tonight I think about quarter to 8, to be riding by 8. Short notice I know, but you're welcome to join me.

Isaac

[pokey]

I live near the driving range, so no car is required.

Tonight is my wife's birthday, so that's out. But, I would like to get a night ride in soon. Also, I am working on my home-made light system so I should make sure I got the kinks worked out before I ride with someone so I don't end up effecting their ride adversly.

[hockeynut]

I don't mind heading out while you're doing final testing of the lights. It might be better to be with someone if they die mid-ride anyways... let me know when you are set up... I could park down by the driving range and we could meet there...

Isaac

[FarmerBEN]

would it be possible to get away with riding the double track without being turned into a pin cushion? trying to think like a hunter, I probably wouldn't want to hunt of the main ski/hiking trail, I should probably invest in a light kit, so I don't have to worry about it.

[pokey]

I think it's probably more of a courtesy to the hunters (since this is a shared-use facility) than a saftey issue. Bowhunting isn't like shotgun hunting. The chance of being accidentally shot with an arrow is very low. To kill a dear with an arrow you have to not only shot at the dear, but a pretty specific spot on the dear. If you are hit by an arrow, you could feel fairly certain that you were meant to be hit.

[Panman]

The deer also have to be significantly closer to you when bow hunting vs rifle. So, by the time you get close enough, they should know it's not a deer (I would hope).

[gus man]

I believe the hunters have until 1/2 hour after sundown. This info inprinted in the hunting regs. book printed by the DNR and it msy beon their website as well.

Chris Gustafson

[FarmerBEN]

true, I just generally try to avoid situations where pointy projectiles are flying through the air.