- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances
Camino Portugese
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Happened to me twice on the way in to Calvinos and again coming in to Viana do Castelo!!Hunting party shooting on the Camino Finisterre this Sunday in mountains between Hospital and Cee. Was alarmed to hear 3 shots fired very very close to me, screamed out at top of my voice 'Stop shooting, I am here' shooting stopped and 3 cars of hunters (& dogs in trailers) drove past me a couple of minutes later. I flagged them down and communicated it was too dangerous with pilgrams on trail & they scared me, they were respectful. Best advice for pilgrams is to shout out loudly if you hear gunfire, keep shouting till gunfire stops, most hunters will hold fire if they here someone shouting (they're often wearing ear plugs so shout loudly) . Although there's 0-5% chance of being shot, it's 100% chance of being catastrophic so take your own life in your hands and let the hunters know you're there. I've hunted and shot rifles in Australia so this isn't being alarmist, it's a being realist and keeping youself & them, safe from harm.
Too often, people that enjoy the outdoors, walking. kayaking, and more seem to migrate to brown and black clothes and equipment. High visibility orange while not a bad idea, a less extreme approach would be more visible colors in general.Hunting party shooting on the Camino Finisterre this Sunday in mountains between Hospital and Cee. Was alarmed to hear 3 shots fired very very close to me, screamed out at top of my voice 'Stop shooting, I am here' shooting stopped and 3 cars of hunters (& dogs in trailers) drove past me a couple of minutes later. I flagged them down and communicated it was too dangerous with pilgrams on trail & they scared me, they were respectful. Best advice for pilgrams is to shout out loudly if you hear gunfire, keep shouting till gunfire stops, most hunters will hold fire if they here someone shouting (they're often wearing ear plugs so shout loudly) . Although there's 0-5% chance of being shot, it's 100% chance of being catastrophic so take your own life in your hands and let the hunters know you're there. I've hunted and shot rifles in Australia so this isn't being alarmist, it's a being realist and keeping youself & them, safe from harm.
You obviously have never humped a ruck while wearing a flak jacket (body armor) before. Will wear your six out most quick. lolI have often heard hunting gunshots on various caminos in late autumn and it doesn't phase me, though I make sure I don't stray from the path. Gun ownership is controlled in Spain and hunters are aware of their hunting environment.
If I had to walk or hike in a country where there was a strong gun culture and weapons were obtainable and easily accessible to all, I would have a different view.. I wouldn't put any responsibility on anyone else's shoulders. I wouldn't wear a high viz but I would wear a flak jacket.
True, I haven't! 2nd half of my post was, in part, tongue in cheek..You obviously have never humped a ruck while wearing a flak jacket (body armor) before. Will wear your six out most quick. lol
This is related to the thread to some degree. The importance of reflective clothing, etc while walking the Camino. As far as hunting goes this would apply October through December, but for the rest of the year in regards to walking in the dark or low visibility it applies everyday.
On my last Frances I walked several early mornings in the dark. I had reflective tape on my trekking poles and a headlamp, but one morning I saw a pilgrim walking with a small strobe light on his pack. Very effective and no bigger than a golf ball. I saw him coming and saw him for a long time after he passed me.
Couldn’t agree more. Hi-vis buffs, ball caps or hats are my go-to in the Fall when duck hunters and deer hunters are ever present! I was unnerved hearing gun fire on the Frances. I want to say it was outside Pamplona. I was leaving a “metro” area and then was back into vegetation along the camino.A brief exercise in analogous reasoning...
I walk on roadsides occasionally in the US. I wear neon or blaze or blinky lights, walk on the side with the longest sight line, and don't use headphones.
Why should I assume that every driver is patient, isn't tired, isn't colorblind, and knows exactly where they are pointing at all times? Why should I place the responsibility to protect me solely on their shoulders?
There's a trail near our home in the US.
Hunting is permitted with certain weapons at certain times of the year.
I wear neon or blaze orange or blinky lights during the season.
Why should I assume that everyone holding a bow or gun is patient, properly trained, isn't colorblind, and knows exactly where they are pointing at each moment?
Why should I place the responsibility to protect me solely on their shoulders?
Valid point about errant slugs, but anything I can do to alert others of my presence is prudent…short of blowing my whistle the entire length of the Camino! Hah!Long story short I had a run in early hours with wild boar whilst bivvying out on Primitivo. Resulting in my relocation up a tree appreciating 3.30 am on an early Spanish morning. Since then taken an interest all things wild boar as in "know your (potential) enemy". All this stuff about shouting out to hunters, wearing bright orange and being "safe" on marked tracks is all very well until....
Take a glance at the filmed Spanish (and elsewhere) boar shoots on You Tube. The gun discipline shown in the heat of the moment, the shots taken in direction of others in the hunt let alone respecting footpaths the potential for " blue on blue" is obvious.
Plus solid slug from a shotgun or bullet will ricochet irrespective of where a footpath is.
All I am pointing out is that being on a path wearing an orange vest is not necessarily any use if something metallic or leaden has missed something organic, struck something inanimate and is then flying your way.
Google how many hunting accidents there are during the French hunting season for, perhaps, a more accurate version of this topic.
Be aware of your path, stay safe but be realistic as to the risk of wandering through an actively hunted area.
Don.
Pilgrims are in far more danger from passing motor vehicles all year round and on all the Camino paths. Also from falls and medical emergencies related to bad cardio vascular health.
Not entirely true. As a valiant Ditch Pig, our very own @tyrrek, reported here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...ppened-to-you-on-the-camin.16243/#post-115264As far as I know there's been no pilgrims struck by gunfire while walking the Camino in the vicinity of hunters.
Serious incident and not trying to minimize it but more likely dirt and not lead shot to the face otherwise he'd have also described his emergency room experience as well.Not entirely true. As a valiant Ditch Pig, our very own @tyrrek, reported here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...ppened-to-you-on-the-camin.16243/#post-115264
Loaded gun in bag? A sure sign of a decent lunch. Thankfully both parties to the incident can still tell the tale.Not entirely true. As a valiant Ditch Pig, our very own @tyrrek, reported here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...ppened-to-you-on-the-camin.16243/#post-115264
But the last one the gentleman would ever be invited to on my old beats.Loaded gun in bag? A sure sign of a decent lunch.
Yes, indeed. My shoot has always had a zero-alcohol policy and the (very few) who we consider unsafe never get invited back.But the last one the gentleman would ever be invited to on my old beats.
And now that we have prospective pilgrims worldwide checking the pack weight of Flak Jackets I think we could put this thread to bed.
Ought to have thinned out numbers in the Maragatos at least
I've frequently hiked in France in September and always found the gunshots on Sunday mornings rather unnerving, and usually wear a bright orange/red shirt and hat just in case... I remember running into hunters and a couple of them looked surprised seeing me on the GR. One got on his walkie-talkie which was encouraging. I saw at least 8 hunters one day in a 15 minute period--and they were all wearing safety vests.Hunting party shooting on the Camino Finisterre this Sunday in mountains between Hospital and Cee. Was alarmed to hear 3 shots fired very very close to me, screamed out at top of my voice 'Stop shooting, I am here' shooting stopped and 3 cars of hunters (& dogs in trailers) drove past me a couple of minutes later. I flagged them down and communicated it was too dangerous with pilgrams on trail & they scared me, they were respectful. Best advice for pilgrams is to shout out loudly if you hear gunfire, keep shouting till gunfire stops, most hunters will hold fire if they here someone shouting (they're often wearing ear plugs so shout loudly) . Although there's 0-5% chance of being shot, it's 100% chance of being catastrophic so take your own life in your hands and let the hunters know you're there. I've hunted and shot rifles in Australia so this isn't being alarmist, it's a being realist and keeping youself & them, safe from harm.
Not sure it is really an issue, you may have been a bit surprised if you don’t understand how the local hunting seasons work.Hunting party shooting on the Camino Finisterre this Sunday in mountains between Hospital and Cee. Was alarmed to hear 3 shots fired very very close to me, screamed out at top of my voice 'Stop shooting, I am here' shooting stopped and 3 cars of hunters (& dogs in trailers) drove past me a couple of minutes later. I flagged them down and communicated it was too dangerous with pilgrams on trail & they scared me, they were respectful. Best advice for pilgrams is to shout out loudly if you hear gunfire, keep shouting till gunfire stops, most hunters will hold fire if they here someone shouting (they're often wearing ear plugs so shout loudly) . Although there's 0-5% chance of being shot, it's 100% chance of being catastrophic so take your own life in your hands and let the hunters know you're there. I've hunted and shot rifles in Australia so this isn't being alarmist, it's a being realist and keeping youself & them, safe from harm.
Easier said than done. How many "coto de caza" signs have you seen along the path? Means "area/reserve for hunting"I suppose if one was truly concerned my best advice is to not walk the Camino during the months of hunting season or if one does detour around the hunting areas.
You see I don’t agree, hunters in Europe do not wear blaze, unless it is a big game shoot and they are moving about in the game shooting area. Or in the US where Center fire rifles are used and they have no idea who else might be on public lands.There’s a reason why hunters wear blaze orange. Even extremely careful hunters with full knowledge of trails, etc can inadvertently fire in the direction of a person if they don’t know they are there. It’s a good idea to wear it during hunting season no matter where you are hiking. That goes for the Camino as well!!
Good info. If it’s just birds and rabbits, then I concur. In the US, however, unless you are certain it’s just bird season, wearing orange is prudent. Even on private land where I am (Maine) as hunters are not restricted to public land in this state.You see I don’t agree, hunters in Europe do not wear blaze, unless it is a big game shoot and they are moving about in the game shooting area. Or in the US where Center fire rifles are used and they have no idea who else might be on public lands.
The hunting areas bordering the Camino are bird and rabbit shoots, meaning shotguns only which are no where near as risky and they avoid the known rights of way, just like all hunters do. Hunting is with dogs pointing and flushing sparse game. The peregrino is quite simply never likely to be any where near the’ action’.
The beaters on my shoot (UK) all wear blaze hats or carry a similar flag. We do shoot through woodland with many changes of height, but still it’s a simple enough precaution.You see I don’t agree, hunters in Europe do not wear blaze, unless it is a big game shoot and they are moving about in the game shooting area. Or in the US where Center fire rifles are used and they have no idea who else might be on public lands.
The hunting areas bordering the Camino are bird and rabbit shoots, meaning shotguns only which are no where near as risky and they avoid the known rights of way, just like all hunters do. Hunting is with dogs pointing and flushing sparse game. The peregrino is quite simply never likely to be any where near the’ action’.
And boar and (occasionally) deer which can mean 12-gauge slug and centrefire rifle.The hunting areas bordering the Camino are bird and rabbit shoots,
At Broadlands Lord Louis would occasionally walk with the beaters. That tended to keep the guns fairly focused.The beaters on my shoot (UK) all wear blaze hats or carry a similar flag. We do shoot through woodland with many changes of height, but still it’s a simple enough precaution.
We haven’t shot a beater in the ten years we’ve been operating - and they’re all out in front of the guns. If a member of the public approaches a danger area, shooting is stopped by anyone on the shoot on a simple whistle-blast.
I’d expect any organised shoot to have similar procedures.
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