Got shot at

[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.

[limewave]

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

Seriously. It totally wouldn't phase me to get shot at on a road ride, I expect that kind of crap. But on the trail . . . that's my sanctuary!

[Bike Writer]

Wow limewave, glad you didn't get hurt and that woulda scared the bejezus out of me. In the last couple weeks of dirt road riding I've heard shots in the distance but these were on large parcels of land (200+ acres) that were agricultural and wooded and something to be expected in those areas. People who hunt that private land are hunters in the know who don't shoot toward roads, rivers or streams.

From the sounds of your encounter you had yahoo hunters out there popping off willy nilly in any direction and that's beyond scary, it can be deadly. At Island Lake State Park it is posted in the trail head parking lot that trails cross through hunting land and I haven't been out on those paths or roads since small game season opened. Last year riding through that park I came across bow hunters in the woods and on the roads I saw hunters walking with .22's down the road back to their vehicle. I go to neighboring Kensington Metropark where there is no hunting allowed, I was there tonight and felt very safe.

Glad you and DH escaped with no injury.

[zoom-zoom]

Lime and I rode together today and no one shot at us--WIN!

BTW, that was really fun. I'll be riding in that park lots more, methinks!

And I am finding bruises in places I didn't know I landed on...ow!

[limewave]

It was pretty awesome riding yesterday and not having to worry about being someone's target practice Zoom-Zoom, thanks for inviting me a long.

And, ahem, Zoom rode over her first log pile on only her second time out on the trail. I saw it, I'm a witness!

[zoom-zoom]

And, ahem, Zoom rode over her first log pile on only her second time out on the trail. I saw it, I'm a witness!

And I said whoohooo when I did it. But I'm not touching that big one, yet...that thing is scary!