Is ocala safe to ride and camp in during hunting season etc

[EricG1824]

Hi i have not been to or rode in Ocala forest in over 10 years and getting back into it and always had issues with hunters etc and what are times in morning when we can start up our bike etc and is it just plain safe to camp and ride at Big Scrub with family or is it not a good Idea.

Thanks
Eric

[sugarsand007]

Only when general gun season opens (nov 23) is it a little hairy to ride with all the hunters. That's when they hunt with dogs. As long as you ride the northern end the don't hunt with dogs and you wont run into too many hunters there. North of hwy 316.

[EricG1824]

Dont they only hunt till a certain time also and not to up on all the areas there any more I just no big scrub is all

[sugarsand007]

Lookup one of the atv trail maps. It shows the different riding area's. They hunt all day long. http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5192614.pdf

[EricG1824]

Thanks

[1Scorpion]

  Only rode up there once in hunting season a few years ago.  We did not have any problems what so ever.  If it makes you feel better you could wear an orange hunting vest. 
  I would think the hunters would want to avoid the noise of the atv's.
   I plan to ride up there in Nov. this year.

[gmiller0737]

I am pretty sure General Gun Starts November 9th

[dalem352]

I ride all though hunting season I have stoped an talked to the hunters never had any problems with them

[Starbuc71]

I won't go to Ocala from the beginning of November to the end of hunting season. Even though hunting season starts on a specific date, they let you take your dogs out earlier to train them. Last year we ran into hunters flying down atv trails with trucks and won't get out of your way. We also got a few flying fingers and dirty looks. Not all hunters are alike. We met some nice guys also. It's vroom over the holidays for us

[gmiller0737]

Deer Dog Training Starts October 26th & Runs to Early November.

[sugarsand007]

Does anyone know when dog hunting season ends?

[1Scorpion]

 I'm headed to the north trails tomorrow. I'll keep riding as long as it's legal to ride, hunting season or not. I've never had a problem there yet. Maybe I'm lucky.

[gmiller0737]

January 5th is the Last Day of General Gun Hunting Season I believe.

[1Scorpion]

 There were about 6 or 8 hunters that I saw.  Most were on the Hog valley trail. All the trucks were off the trails. No problems with any of them.
I saw more riders than hunters.
Those who didn't ride missed out on a great day.