Chinnabee - Skyway - Pinhoti loop

[fungi]

Im thinking about doing the Chinnabee Skyway Pinhoti loop Dec 17th & 18th.  I noticed that "unantlered deer season" begins Dec 17th.  Of course I would wear some blaze orange but I am wondering if this would be a bad weekend to hike? I dont really want to hike if hunters are everywhere    I will be in Birmingham around that time doing some work and I dont get to get over to the Pinhoti just whenever I want and really want to take advantage of the opportunity.  Any thoughts?

[Mountain Dog]

I do not like to hike during genreal gun seasons but I would not worry about that section because it is a popular area for hikers.  I'd be surprised to find deer hunters in that area and even more surprised to find one not expecting a hiker to wander by.  I'd be a litle more careful (make more noise) on skyway though. 

[dogwood]

I've ran across hunters several times on the Skyway Loop Trail - usually at one of the access roads - but have not had any problems with them.  Wear hunter orange and make some noise(but not too much)...

[buck]

I've worn a bear bell and bright orange vest over my pack before when hiking during deer season around Cheaha - I wanted them to hear me coming. Being a deer hunter myself, if you encounter any hunters well off the beaten path and at higher elevations, you can just about bet that these are seasoned hunters and not to be worried about. The hunters that concern me usually don't venture too far from the truck and usually don't stay too long past sunrise. They'd rather head back to the truck and shoot beer cans

[squidbilly]

Definitely wear some blaze orange.  Not a bad idea when hiking anywhere during gun season.

I have one of these in orange  on my pack.