Caution: Hunting season is here

Hunting season is here. Though the opening of deer season has passed, there will be hunters in the woods at various times through the fall.

Although most hunters are cautious and safe, there are some who in the fervor of the moment use less than perfect judgment. Being near the woods in hunting season requires a mindset that is akin to defensive driving.

Those who live in the country near federal land can sometimes face additional hazards.

"Several years ago now, I ran a bow hunter off the edges of my property. I found him sheepishly searching for his hunting arrow, claiming he had dropped something - later to find his arrow stuck on an inside fence on my property. He had shot across North Pine (Street) at a deer on the edge of my property," said Sisters resident Bill Mintiens, who lives in the Indian Ford subdivision.

Hikers and equestrians also need to exercise caution when taking to the woods.

"On another occasion I was riding one of my horses in the forest across the highway close to the entrance of Tollgate. Hearing gun shots I didn't think too much about it - until I started hearing whizzing above my head. Some idiots were shooting randomly into the forest from the north side of Highway 126," said Mintiens.

Although everyone thinks Fred Perl does a wonderful job as law enforcement officer for the Sisters Ranger District, he is just one man patrolling hundreds of miles of trails and roads. During hunting season the task becomes herculean because so many hunters fail to honor the rules.

Even some of the avid hunters are noticing a problem.

"I have hunted all my life. I usually bow hunt for deer and use a rifle for elk," said Craig May, a Sisters area resident. "We go back into the country usually by horse and hunt where the game are. But I have seen a steady increase in what I call road hunters, people who drive down roads until they see a deer or elk then step out of the car and make a shot. It is illegal and I don't see why people do it unless they are just plain lazy."

Road hunting is common near Sisters.

"There are people driving up and down the roads at five miles an hour and jumping out to take a shot when they see a deer. It is not just the rifle hunters; the bow hunters do the same thing. Not every one does it, but it is getting a lot more common," said Gary Landers, whose residence on Trapper Point is nearby Pine Street.

Hunting close to residences is also forbidden by Oregon State Hunting Regulations.

"I happen to suspect that hunters never read - or perhaps ignore - their license manuals that say they shouldn't hunt within 150 yards of a residential area," said Mintiens.

Good hunters are always cautious.

"I am always careful before I take a shot and won't even take a shot unless I am sure of my target and what is behind it," said May.

"But not everyone is (careful). I heard a bullet buzz by me one day when I was bugling for elk. I guess the hunter just fired at the sound. Now I like to hunt where I know there is no one else there but my party and I know where all of them are located before I ever take a shot."

Some of the subdivisions located near areas of federal land have taken the problem into their own hands and put up signs to warn hunters.

"We've had other subdivisions such as Black Butte Ranch, Tollgate and Crossroads that are completely surrounded by National Forest want to post the Hunter Warning signs. The homeowner's associations were willing to purchase, post and maintain the signs," said Jeff Simms of the Sisters Ranger District.

For now, it just pays to be extra cautious when hiking or riding in the woods.