One of the things I love most about birding is how it’s taken me to new places, to new destinations that I might not have visited before. I’ve veered off the beaten path in search of new birds and it’s opened my eyes to the breadth of Wisconsin’s public lands. From state natural areas to state wildlife areas to state parks and more, Wisconsin has endless opportunities to get outside. Many of these areas are open to in-season hunting, but also to birders, wildlife-seekers, and other adventurers looking for new natural areas to appreciate.
Whether you’re looking for cool birds during fall migration, or maybe just out wanting to be surrounded by nature and away from the crowds, you might be considering exploring some of these off-the-beaten path areas too—and fall is certainly a gorgeous time to do so!
But we encourage that you go prepared—fall is also when many hunting seasons begin and there are a few things you should consider to keep yourself and others safe this time of year. Birders and hunters can absolutely co-exist and share these spaces that we all love, but it requires that you be informed and prepared.
That’s what this week’s Entryway to Birding blog is here for—we’re bringing you some safety tips on everything from what to wear, to the best time of day to venture out, to what to do if you encounter hunters in the field.
I ventured out to Lake Barney, a popular public access spot for waterfowl hunters, to see these rare Nelson’s sparrows. They like marshy habitat and were very active among the beggar’s ticks, a flowering yellow plant in the aster family, that lined the edge of the water. Dane County will only see these bright, colorful sparrows during migration season, and they sure caught the attention of a lot of birders in the area! Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
As a newer birder, I know that I feel intimidated when it comes to birding certain areas during hunting season, to the point where I’ll just avoid going to certain places. While it’s often smart to make these exceptions on where you go, hunting season doesn’t mean that these areas are off-limits to you—they’re often areas where you might find some special and unique birds that only visit us this time of year!
My goal for this post is to make you feel confident and prepared should you choose to go birding at or near a hunting area. Since I’m not an expert on this by any means, I reached out to several expert birders (and some birders who are also hunters!) in the Madison area who’ve been birding—safely and smartly—during hunting seasons for years. Here’s what I learned from them:
Know the Hunting Season Dates and Opening Days
You should familiarize yourself with the dates in your region. Click here to visit the DNR’s webpage for a comprehensive list of hunting dates.
The first tab you’ll see is for deer hunting. Be sure to click the other tabs to get more dates for other popular seasons like waterfowl or pheasant. You might see references to regions on this chart—for those of us reading in the Dane County area, we’re in the “southern zone.”
Click the image above to download a PDF of the dates for the UPDATED 2021 Wisconsin hunting season. PDF from the Wisconsin DNR
Consider bookmarking the DNR’s hunting date page on your phone or even printing it to keep in your car, so you can reference it even without cell service. Knowing these time frames is step one when it comes to being prepared.
On a related note, you should also be aware of how popular “opening days” can be. If you’re not familiar with hunting culture, you might not realize how big of a deal these season openers are—they can draw a crowd! The pheasant season opener is coming up on October 17th and the gun deer season opener is coming up on November 21st. These are days that we’d recommend playing it really safe—head to a state park or conservation area where hunting isn’t allowed.
Wear Orange or Bright Colors
Here’s me and my blaze orange hat that I keep in my car. I like not having to think about grabbing it before I leave home—it’s more handy to keep in my vehicle. A hat or vest are both really easy to toss on top of your regular outfit. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
You’ve heard this advice before, but it’s so important that it’s worth repeating. If you’re venturing out during hunting season, you need to make yourself visible. Wear blaze orange or fluorescent pink if orange isn’t your thing. You don’t need to wear it from head to toe, but a hat or a vest is a must.
These bright, blazing neon colors are proven to be visible in many weather conditions and from a distance. They’re also colors that hunters are accustomed to looking for, so stick to the classics and definitely avoid earth-tones! I promise the birds won’t care.
Full Parking Lot? Try Somewhere Else
You had it in your mind that you wanted to visit Brooklyn Wildlife Area today, but when you pull up to the parking area at dawn, it’s already looking pretty packed. You’d be right to assume that all those cars probably don’t belong to birders.
This is one of those situations where the smart move is to change your plan. Instead of navigating a number of potential hunters out roaming the same wildlife area, you’ll find a more enjoyable birding experience can be found by simply choosing to go somewhere else for the day.
Knowing when to adjust course like this is important. No one likes to change their plans last minute, but it’s a small price to pay when it comes to safety. Consider planning ahead from the get-go—have a list of possible destinations for your day, and if the first one doesn’t work out, head to the next closest place on your list.
Parking lots are also a good place to get an idea of what uses are permitted or not. The lot pictured here at Zeloski Marsh is well-marked with hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife viewing all listed as allowed activities. If you’re not sure if an area is a potential hunting site, there may be a sign designating it at as such. Not all areas have well-marked parking lots, though, so it’s always best to do a little research in advance. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
Keep Your Distance—But Make Your Presence Known
Let’s say you are out in the field, trying to scrounge up some cool sparrows or other fall migrants, and you spot some pheasant hunters in the distance. They’re actively hunting, sweeping a field, and maybe haven’t spotted you yet. You should give them their space and keep your distance, but at the same time, don’t hide from them! Make your presence known with a quick wave or a whistle, and look for a sign of acknowledgement that you’ve been seen. Once they’re aware of your presence, be considerate, maintain distance, and avoid making further noises that might startle wildlife.
If you are out and hear gunshots nearby, but haven’t spotted any hunters—that’s a good time to raise your voice or make some noise. Talk loudly with your group, whistle, or belt out some lines to a song. Do what you need to make your presence known, and don’t worry about being loud—it’s more important that hunters know you’re there, especially if you’re not in their line of sight.
Time It Right
The time of day you head out can make all the difference. Dawn and dusk can be challenging times because of low-light conditions, which make it even harder for you to be seen. Many birders I spoke with said that they would avoid birding before noon in hunting areas that are popular for pheasant, turkey, or deer hunting. In the afternoon, deer hunters will be much more scarce. Waterfowl hunters are more active early to mid-morning too, so if you’re looking to avoid running into hunters in general, afternoon birding will be where it’s at.
A short-eared owl swoops low over a field. These are fun, exciting birds to watch in the late fall and winter, but here in Dane County, they’re often found near Brooklyn Wildlife Area, which is also a very popular hunting area. Heading out to see them in the evening hours when they are most active means that you definitely need to don your orange—lighting conditions at dusk can make it even harder for people to see you! Photo by Monica Hall
Follow That Golden Rule
As a birder, you might spend time researching where you can find the birds you want to see, thinking about good habitat, mapping out destinations, and planning your trip. Hunters do the exact same—arguably with a heck of a lot more planning and preparation to maximize their chance of a successful hunt. Think about that good ol’ golden rule and do unto them as you would have them do unto you.
When you encounter hunters in the field, do your absolute best to respect their space. If you come upon someone in a blind or a tree stand, or see nearby decoys set up, give that area as wide of a berth as you can. Try not to disrupt the space that they’ve carefully chosen to set up—even if this means taking a different route than you planned. There are definitely times when this situation can’t be avoided, especially if someone is set up near a trail with one way forward. Just be courteous and move on as quickly and quietly as you can.
Keep an eye out for tree stands, blinds, and decoys—all signs that hunters may be nearby. Photo by Jim CC BY-NC-ND
Be a Good Birding Ambassador
You might find yourself with the opportunity to make conversation, especially if hunters approach you in the field or while getting ready in the parking lot. (We wouldn’t recommend approaching hunters in the field without any prompting—let them come to you if they’re curious what you’re up to!)
Don’t be afraid to let them know you’re birding! Many hunters are birders themselves, and even if they aren’t, we guarantee they’ll share your love of the outdoors and be excited to see more people taking advantage of Wisconsin’s gorgeous public lands. Hunters are historically some of our most ardent and important conservationists. They recognize, just as birders do, that these lands are meant to be shared and enjoyed and appreciated by all.
So if the opportunity presents itself, connect over that gorgeous sunrise you both saw, let them know what exciting birds are around, learn what they’re up to, and expand your perception of all the ways our public lands can be enjoyed.
Here’s another view of Lake Barney, where those Nelson’s sparrows are hanging out. It’s a popular spot for waterfowl hunting, but usually in the early hours of the morning—I only ran into a few fellow birders on my afternoon visit! This was my first time out to this location, which I was excited to learn had public access. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
If you find yourself still feeling nervous about birding at or near hunting areas, that’s okay. It’s important to respect your own comfort level, and maybe this is the time of year you stick strictly to the non-hunting areas—of which Wisconsin has plenty. You can find just as many birds, see just as many gorgeous landscapes, and still have a gosh darn good time by sticking to areas where hunting isn’t allowed.
But if you do want to venture off the beaten path and explore some of these wildlife areas, know that you have every right to do so—hunting season or not. These public lands are there for you to enjoy, but it is your responsibility to be informed and prepared for your visit. Wear your orange. Know dates to avoid and the best times to go. Be flexible, courteous, and willing to change your plans if needed.
I’d like to give a big thanks to all the birders and hunters that provided insight for this blog. If any birders out there have questions about something not mentioned here, leave them in the comments—I’ll investigate and get back to you!
Happy (and safe!) birding, everyone!
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Caitlyn is the Communications and Outreach Assistant at Madison Audubon. She’s crazy for birds because they changed her life. She’ll be back next Monday with some tips and tools for birders, new and experienced! Between now and then, she’d love to hear about the birds you’re seeing and hearing. Leave a comment below or email to drop her a line!
