Hiking During Hunting Season: What to Wear and Where to Check the Dates

By the HikeSupply Co. team · October 20, 2026

From September into January, many of the trails you love are shared with hunters. That is not a reason to stay home. Shooting incidents involving non-hunters are rare, and New York's environmental agency calls them "extremely rare." But a few simple habits make you easy to see and easy to hear, and knowing where and when hunting happens lets you choose your trail with your eyes open.

When is hunting season?

There is no single hunting season. Each state, province and territory sets its own dates, and they differ by animal, by weapon (archery, muzzleloader, rifle) and often by zone within the state. As a broad pattern, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy notes that big-game seasons generally run from October through January along the trail, and that November is typically the prime month for deer firearm season. Small-game and spring turkey seasons add more dates outside that window.

The only reliable source is the agency that sets the rules:

• In the US: your state's fish and wildlife or natural resources department publishes a hunting regulations guide each year with every season and date. Search "[your state] hunting seasons" and use the result on the official .gov site.
• In Canada: seasons are set by each province and territory. Look for the provincial hunting regulations summary.
• On public land: the ranger district, park office or refuge office can tell you what is open near your trailhead and whether hunters use the area.

Also check Sundays. Several eastern states ban or limit Sunday hunting, so a Sunday can be a quieter day on the trail. The rules have been changing in some states, so confirm them each year rather than assuming.

Where is hunting allowed?

Hunting is not allowed everywhere, and that is your easiest safety tool.

• Usually open to hunting: most national forests and Bureau of Land Management land (under state hunting rules), state forests, wildlife management areas and state game lands, and many national wildlife refuges.
• Some National Park Service sites: according to the NPS, hunting is authorized in 76 park units, only where federal law allows it. Several national preserves and national recreation areas are among them.
• Usually closed to hunting: most national parks and most state parks. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy points hikers to Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Harpers Ferry and the C&O Canal during deer firearm season, because hunting is prohibited there.

Trail boundaries can cross land types in a single hike. The Appalachian Trail, for example, passes through about 1,250 miles where hunting is permitted and about 900 miles where it is not. Look at the land ownership on your map, and check each park's own website, because rules differ from unit to unit.

If you'd rather not think about it at all in November, a national park is the simplest choice. Our guide to the 10 best day hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains is a good place to start.

What should you wear hiking during hunting season?

The goal is to look nothing like an animal and to be visible from every direction.

• Blaze orange on top. A fluorescent orange hat plus an orange vest, jacket or pack cover. Orange on your head and torso is what a hunter scanning the woods sees first. Make sure it shows from the front, back and sides, not just one panel.
• Blaze pink also counts as bright. New York's Department of Environmental Conservation advises hikers to wear "bright clothing; blaze orange or blaze pink." Orange remains the most widely recognized color.
• Avoid white, brown, tan and gray. A flash of white at waist height can look like the tail of a white-tailed deer, and earth tones blend into fall woods. In spring turkey season, also skip red, white and blue, the colors of a gobbler's head.
• Cover your pack. An orange pack cover or bandana tied to the pack helps when your back is the only thing visible.
• Dress your dog too. An orange vest, collar or bandana, and a leash. A dog running loose through brush can be mistaken for game.

Hunter orange clothing is sold cheaply at most big-box and sporting goods stores. A simple vest over your normal layers is enough. If you need help with the layers underneath, our fall layering guide covers outfits from 35°F to 65°F (2°C to 18°C).

Do hikers have to wear orange by law?

In most places the orange rules apply to hunters, not hikers, but there are exceptions. Pennsylvania, for example, requires everyone on state game lands, hunting or not, to wear at least 250 square inches of fluorescent orange on the head, chest and back combined during set periods in the fall. Check the Pennsylvania Game Commission for this year's dates, and check your own state's rules for state game lands and wildlife management areas.

Hunting season hiking checklist

Before you go	On the trail
Look up season dates with your state or provincial wildlife agency	Wear an orange hat and an orange vest or jacket, visible from all sides
Check who manages the land and whether hunting is allowed there	Talk, whistle or sing now and then so hunters hear you
Plan to hike between mid-morning and mid-afternoon	Stay on marked trails
Pack an orange vest for your dog and a leash	Keep white, brown and tan clothing covered
Tell someone your route and return time	Carry a headlamp in case you finish after sunset

What else keeps you safe?

Hike in the middle of the day

Animals move most at dawn and dusk, so hunters are most active then, and the light is poor for everyone. Start after the early-morning rush and finish well before sunset. In late fall that window is short, and US clocks go back on November 1, so sunset suddenly comes an hour earlier. Set a turnaround time and stick to it.

Be heard before you are seen

You don't need to shout. A normal conversation with a partner is enough. Hiking alone, hum, whistle or say hello now and then, especially in thick cover, near road crossings and in valley bottoms, where the Appalachian Trail Conservancy says to take extra care.

If you see a hunter

Call out a calm "hello" and keep walking so they know where you are. Don't wave your arms or make sudden movements while still hidden. Interfering with lawful hunting is illegal in many states, so pass by politely.

Leave a plan

Tell someone where you are going and when you'll be back, and carry the basics: water, food, a warm layer, a light, a map and a first-aid kit. Our Hiking Safety Guide (a printable PDF, $8.99) covers setting a turnaround time that holds, cold and hypothermia, and what to say when you call for help.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to hike during hunting season?

Yes, for most people on most trails. Incidents involving hikers are rare. Wear blaze orange, stay on the trail, avoid dawn and dusk, and choose a no-hunting park if you'd feel more comfortable.

Is hunting allowed in national parks?

In most national parks, no. The NPS allows it only in the units where federal law permits it (76 of them), such as some national preserves and national recreation areas. Check the park's website before you go.

What color should you not wear during hunting season?

Avoid white, brown, tan and other earth tones. In spring turkey season, also avoid red, white and blue.

Does my dog need to wear orange?

Yes. Put an orange vest, collar or bandana on your dog and keep it on a leash so it stays close and can't be mistaken for game.

Where can I find hunting season dates near me?

On your state wildlife agency's official website (in Canada, your province or territory). They publish every season by animal, weapon and zone each year.