Maine in mid-November

[photobum]

Funny thing about that swimming.

So my friend and co-worker gets killed by a rifle, but that doesn't count cause it's at least ten years ago. Another friend has been shot while hunting twice, (NJ & AZ) but that doesn't count cause it was bird shot and he walked away.

Hell, the Vice President shot a guy a year ago or so, but that doesn't count cause the other guy wasn't a democrat.

Funny thing about that swimming. I spent a few good years of my youth surfing and still I never knew anyone that drowned.

 

[dslater]

The story of a woman getting shot in Maine while wearing white mittens during hunting season is true. She was not a local and did not understand what hunting season was. She was wearing the mittens while taking clothes off of a backyard washline which was surrounded by a wooded area.

As I recall, the hunter did not "flee" but in fact reported the accident and was not charged with any crime. When he was later sued by the family - they lost the lawsuit on the basis that her behavior was reckless given that it was hunting season and she was dressed in such a manner that she could be mistaken at distance for a white-tailed deer.

I'm sorry, but that is absolutely outrageous. I was born and raised in Maine, and the first rule a responsible hunter learns is you don't shoot unless you're sure of what you're shooting at. You don't shoot at a flash of white and assume it's a deer - you shoot when you can see the deer clearly - i.e. it's head, body, antlers, etc.
If the woman was out in her yard in a deer suit, then that's one thing, but if you can mistake a normally dressed person with whit mittens for a deer, then you're too far away to really know what you're shooting at. I wonder how those cases would have gone if she had been a local.

 

[dslater]

Hi Sanjay,
Good luck on your trip - definitely wear orange - in my home town of Dexter, everyone wears orange everywhere for the whole month of November. November is a great time there for B&W photography. If you want to go into the woods, I'd suggest an orange hat and vest - orange gloves wouldn't hurt either. If you're wearing orange, you should be fine in the woods.

Dan

 

[Sanjay Sen]

Dan, thanks, that made me feel better! Orange it will be...


Best wishes,
Sanjay

 

[IloveTLRs]

... Hunting was one of the safest. ...

So is pool (billiards.) I read somewhere that it is one of the safest sports Somehow I doubt anyone would be playing in the woods, however ...

 

[selenium96]

Wow, what started out as a request for info about a trip to Maine in November turned into a discussion about hunting because some friendly advice was offered about staying safe in the Maine countryside during deer season. I know this subject can provoke some strong emotions both pro and con. Hunters are just as outraged by accidents as non-hunters. Despite the opinions about hunting, Maine is a rural state with a long tradition of hunting. Last year 209,165 hunting licenses were sold in Maine. Use some common sense and you will be safe. You are more likely to get killed by a drunk driver than in a hunting accident. I lived in the Boston area for 10 years and was much more afraid in some parts of the city than I ever would be in the Maine woods. But I guess if you use good judgment and take common sense precautions about traveling in the city or roaming the Maine woods, you increase your chances of staying safe.

Can we get back to talking about photography? I can talk about hunting on other websites.

Steve

 

[copake_ham]

Wow, what started out as a request for info about a trip to Maine in November turned into a discussion about hunting because some friendly advice was offered about staying safe in the Maine countryside during deer season. I know this subject can provoke some strong emotions both pro and con. Hunters are just as outraged by accidents as non-hunters. Despite the opinions about hunting, Maine is a rural state with a long tradition of hunting. Last year 209,165 hunting licenses were sold in Maine. Use some common sense and you will be safe. You are more likely to get killed by a drunk driver than in a hunting accident. I lived in the Boston area for 10 years and was much more afraid in some parts of the city than I ever would be in the Maine woods. But I guess if you use good judgment and take common sense precautions about traveling in the city or roaming the Maine woods, you increase your chances of staying safe.

Can we get back to talking about photography? I can talk about hunting on other websites.

Steve

Steve,

I think I was the guy who first offered the friendly "advice" and hoped (foolishly) that folk's wouldn't go off on a tangent.

But they did.

I am not a hunter because it doesn't interest me. My hunting neighbor is not a photographer because it doesn't interest him.

He doesn't post here because this is a photography site - I don't even know where there are hunting sites.

I'm putting this thread on IGNORE now. Too many "agendas" are opening up over what I intended to just be "cautionary advice".

If you're not hunting and not otherwise "blazed" you don't traipse through the woods in rural areas in November just like you don't spit into the wind. It's no more complicated than that!

 

[Sanjay Sen]

Thanks to all who posted your suggestions and advice - it is much appreciated. And since the topic of hunting came up, I think I (and hopefully someone else who happens to read this thread in the future) will be much better informed of the precautions to take. However, seeing how this is a public forum, people will post their opinions on matters that grab their attention, in one way or another.

Steve, I've got myself a copy of the "Maine Atlas and Gazetteer" as you suggested. It looks pretty useful.


Thanks all.


Best wishes,
Sanjay