Got shot at

[limewave]

Strangely enough this takes place awful close to where we were biking.
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/article/1...rom-tree-stand

[shootingstar]

Glad nothing hit you limewave.

I've never read of incidents involving pellet guns....very, very rare. Even in Vancouver where there are bears wandering off the mountain (North Vancouver), one never reads about people using pellet guns. Hunting is forbidden all across the mountains around Vancouver.

Or having a gun to protect themselves.

One would have to be obsessed ....actually to own a gun living in an urban area.

[SheFly]

One would have to be obsessed ....actually to own a gun living in an urban area.

Not obsessed. Target shooting and biathalon are also sports using guns, and there are people in urban areas who participate in these sports as well.

I am not a hunter, so take what I say with a grain of salt. Hunting seasons are typically short - riding season is all year (for some). My MO is to let the hunters have their time in the woods, and to venture in when hunting is no longer allowed (and in our state, there is no hunting on Sunday, so MTB trips are saved for that day of the weekend).

SheFly

[beccaB]

I truly hope you contacted the police! I'm very ready to leave the state of Michigan personally, I've about had it with some of the attitude where I live, in one of the worst counties in the state. Maybe someone wanted you away from their illegal crop Limewave?

[zoom-zoom]

Hunting seasons are typically short

Individual seasons, yes...but around here we have different seasons for different critters (rabbits, turkeys, squirrels, deer, bear, etc.) and separate seasons for different weapons...bow, muzzle-loader, rifle, handgun (yes, handgun...my best friend actually does that), et al. We have hunting seasons pretty much year-round in MI.

[zoom-zoom]

Maybe someone wanted you away from their illegal crop Limewave?

Agriculture is still one of MI's goldmine industries...hmmm... That would be like meta-agriculture! Wouldn't be the first time something like that has happened.

[limewave]

Or having a gun to protect themselves.

One would have to be obsessed ....actually to own a gun living in an urban area.

Dh really wants to have a gun for "protection." He is not a hunter at all, can't stand the idea of hurting an animal. There's been a lot of shootings in a neighboring city. I've pointed out that a lot of those seem to be gang/drug-related. But there has also been a lot of home break-ins--at night, when the families are home. I think that some good "motion-sensor" lights and dead bolts would be a better investment. I'm adamantly against guns. But, I also had a close childhood friend killed in a gun incident by a dumb*ss with a rifle. I hate guns.

[OakLeaf]

Heavily guarded illegal crops are going to be in more remote areas, not right next to public trails.

I've never even heard of any of the big plantations in the mid-east being guarded at all. They've raided several in our area over the last couple of years, and every one has been a camp of poor, expendable laborers, recruited and directed by someone who didn't get caught. All of the guarded farms I've ever heard of have been out west.



Intentional or not, drunk or not, this was just some a-hole (the kind that IMO will persist until guns are demystified in our culture and everyone learns at a young age how to use them responsibly).

Falling out of tree stands is actually the most common hunting injury there is, I've read, way more than anything weapons-related. But did anyone else think it was kind of a sick sense of humor for the paper to illustrate that story with a stock photo of a buck?

[jessmarimba]

Eek!!

There was someone shooting near the Colorado Trail last weekend while I was riding, too, but none of the bullets came anywhere near me. I probably would've instinctively screamed if I heard one hit the tree beside me!! Glad you're both ok. And let us know if anything comes of this!

[zoom-zoom]

Ahh...another example of ill behavior by the weapon-toting set... My BFF lives in that area. Kinda scary that she could have been on the receiving end of that.

[limewave]

The world is full of crazies!

[ny biker]

I have noticed that the high-vis I've seen on roadies can blend right into the fall foliage this time of year. I do think I'm going to invest in some "hunter orange" for either my helmet or camelbak. I also like the idea of bear bells. DH would not ride with me if I had something like that, but I would be glad for them when riding alone.

Helmets and camelbaks are small, and the camelbak is only visible from the rear. You should have an orange jersey/jacket.

[tulip]

What did the police/game warden/sheriff say?

You can get an inexpensive orange safety vest to wear over your regular clothes.

[Trek-chick]

Here are the seasons for MI hunting

http://www.michigan.gov/images/dnr/H...e_361388_7.png

Opening day of bow season was Oct 1st so, I did not get any riding in this past weekend. We did hear a lot of gunshots from the duck hunters but, you can not gun hunt deer until nov. 15th in Michigan-----that is pretty scary having them that close. I would definitely call the local conservation officer (DNR agency near you, and report the incident)

I LOVE bow hunting but, would never gun hunt --just do not have it in me. But, I see nothing wrong with any type of hunting as long as you eat what you kill--that's just my hunting mantra

[7rider]

FWIW, when I lived in Massachusetts, hunting season had a closure day of Sundays (so even during season, no hunting on Sunday). So that's when everyone went mountain biking. If we felt we HAD to go Saturday - or some other day - we'd wear blaze orange and hang Christmas jingle bells from our bikes. We figured, no deer, turkey, or whatever else they'd be shooting, would sound like Santa rounding the bend. We were less concerned about "communing with nature" on those rides and more about "don't sound natural and don't get shot."

I guess it worked. I never got shot except while on a road ride.