Hiking Maine’s Woods? You should Wear Blaze Orange Right Now

People who don't hunt, probably think most things end in the fall.

Maine is a state steeped in hunting culture. It's one of those things that brings families together, friends together, and provides a lot of quality time in Maine's most precious feature... Our woods. All the way back to Maine's logging days, when there'd be hunters on staff, basically. Putting food on the table from what you can gather in the woods is as old as any Maine tradition there is.

Read More: Here's Some Sweet Maine Hiking Spots Where Hunting Is Not Allowed

A close second to that is Maine's overall outdoor culture, people who just want to spend time in the great outdoors, drinking it all in. And while these two groups do overlap quite a bit, there are many Mainers who don't really have a clue about hunting in Maine, and certainly don't have a clue about the seasons that go along with it. And right now, that could actually be a potential problem.

Get our free mobile app

Right now, the woods have a bunch of spring turkey hunters roaming about.

While it is true that the bulk of Maine's hunting season is in the fall for various animals, there are also a lot of animals to be hunted in the spring and summer as well. Right now, one of the most popular to go after, are wild turkeys. There's a hunt in the fall, but the spring hunt is on right now as well. It'll wrap up on June 1st.

There are slightly different rules for the hunters themselves. For instance, it's ok to use dogs to assist in the hunt during the fall, but not during the spring hunt. The bag limits are also different. But what isn't different, is that there will be hunters out in the woods with guns. that's worth considering if you're an outdoorsy person.

You should absolutely be wearing blaze orange when you're out in the forest.

There's probably a solid argument to always wear some no matter what time of year it is, but there are plenty of hunters out looking to bag turkeys. Much more than other spring hunts like squirrels and such. Turkeys are a delicious game bird that people would love to snag.

Read More: There's No Way This Is Maine's Favorite Turkey Day Side Dish

So if you are going to head out hiking, especially areas you're not super familiar with, or areas that aren't 100% sure are posted, you should consider wearing some blaze orange. It may seem a bit over-the-top, but I assume anything is better than being accidentally shot in the woods.

If you don't want to spray your yard for mosquitoes this summer, you could try this...