Would you run here?

[juliahenry]

We have trails in the forest that backs on to our neighborhood. Most of it is owned by the local university (UNC) and is part of a protected watershed. There's also one large piece of land owned by a family who have been there for 50+ years. They call it "the compound" and only use it on weekends. It includes a shooting range (yikes, I know) and they are very careful to tell the neighborhood whenever they will be shooting there. The neighborhood in general does not fully approve of the shooting range and is fairly proactive when it comes to dealing with "the compound." Because of this, any gunshots in the area get emailed around the neighborhood list serve and neighbors can and will call police whenever they hear gunshots.

anyway, today I went for a run on the non-compound trails. I took a smaller, infrequently used path and found 1) a newly assembled hunting blind thing and 2) shot casings in the ground. Several weeks ago, we had reports on the list serve of gunshots in that area. It is decidedly not hunting season now and any shooting of deer etc is illegal. I'm pretty sure that I stumbled upon someone's out of season hunting site.

so.. Avoid the trails? Or just wear bright colors and be sensible? Wwyd?

[joenali]

Wear orange???

[grk2012]

I wouldn't feel safe there, even in my orangiest orange.

[aurora]

If you believe people are hunting there illegally then no, I wouldn't feel safe. I've lived in places where hunting is common and being near responsible hunters doesn't bother me, but responsible hunters don't hunt illegally.

ETA - I misread.  If this stash is on UNC land, then I would absolutely report it and ask for patrols to ensure the safety of the area.

[juliahenry]

Thanks, ladies!

There's no way they'll patrol this area. Whenever there are shots, one of my neighbors calls the police and they do come, but it's too big and too wild and there's not a lot they can do.

I think I'll be careful about when I run there and make sure I'm in bright, unnatural colors. Lots of families with kids use the trails, so I don't think it's too unsafe.

[vanillahip]

Call the DNR- they're wayyyyy more interested in out of season hunting than the cops. And my stepdad (avid hunter and macho man) is actually uncomfortable with DNR people- that's saying a LOT about them, at least here in Michigan!