It's Deer Hunting Season — Be Prepared 

​

Essential Safety Precautions for Trail Riders:

​

• Wear high-visibility colors: Dress in bright blaze orange or neon pink. Put an orange cover on your riding helmet and a blaze-orange vest on yourself.

• Outfit your horse: Equip your horse with a bright orange reflective breastplate, quarter sheet, saddle pad, or leg wraps. You can also braid orange ribbons into your horse's mane or tail.

• Stick to established trails: Remain on wide, well-traveled paths. Avoid bushwhacking through dense brush or thick woods where you and your horse might be mistaken for wildlife.

• Avoid peak hunting hours: Exercise extreme caution or stay out of the woods during early morning (dawn) and late afternoon (dusk) when light is low and game animals—and hunters—are most active.

• Make noise: Talk, sing, or whistle while riding so hunters can easily hear that you are humans and horses rather than deer.

• Know local property rules: Always check current local land trust guidelines before heading out.

​​

​

Deer Hunting Season Dates:

​

• Early Deer Season: September 21 – October 1, 2026 (restricted to archery equipment and primitive firearms; shotguns are not allowed). Check the land manager, read the trailhead notice and wear a bright outer layer where hunting is permitted.

• Archery Season: October 5 – November 28, 2026 (restricted to archery equipment). Many public properties remain open. The Land Bank generally keeps trails open for walking outside the shotgun exception, but individual properties can still have permits, signs or special

• Shotgun Period: November 30 – December 12, 2026 (look for specific local property closures, such as Land Bank lands).

• Winter Deer Season: January 1 – February 14, 2027. Check the official calendar and the latest notice from the land manager.