Bicycling during hunting season

Florida Trail near Pat's Island, Ocala National Forest

In Florida, the trail bicycling and hunting seasons share the same time period due to the cooler weather.  This can make some off-road bicycling interesting, at least in scheduling times to quietly and safely pass through most trails in Florida without spooking game, angering hunters or spoiling their shots.

Florida Trail Hiking Vest, couldn't find one that said "Bicycling"

Blaze orange is the "in" color during this time of the year, and when bicycling, it should be worn where it can be seen from ALL directions around you, including your head!  All Florida National Forests and most state lands are open for hunting.
There are some areas in the Sunshine state where you can bike off road during hunting season without hearing gunshots.  I reviewed those areas in this blog in 2013, and to my knowledge, they are still hunt-free.
My opinion is to avoid trail bicycling during hunting season weekends and to wear blaze orange.  Typically, during weekdays most trail areas are safe and clear of hunting parties.  If you are also camping on your bicycle, stick to posted campsites.
The 2014 Hunting Season dates for Florida are:
General Gun Season Zones B & C (Central Florida) for deer run from 12/06/14 to 02/22/15.
Muzzle-loader, Bow or Crossbow for deer run from 09/13/14 to 12/05/14.
Turkey hunters hunt from 9/13/14 to 02/01/15 for bows through guns.
Quail & Squirrel run from now through 03/01/15.
Spring Turkey season runs from 02/28/15 to 05/26/15.
The online dates are posted online at http://myfla.com/hunting/season-dates for details.

Along the Seminole-Wekiva Trail

Summer is almost over and the temperatures now linger in the lower 90's, cooling into the mid-70's at night.  As the weather cools in the fall, bicycling will become much more comfortable in Florida.  Once the daily high temperatures drop into the 80's, most people will enjoy getting out and riding so much more.  I have some routes planned to ride, mostly from home.  I hope to get back to bicycling 20 miles at a time in a few weeks and to then extend my bicycling distance/endurance from there.
The first place to bicycle is along the Cross-Seminole Trail to the Seminole-WekivaTrail to the end near the Wekiva River and back.  That 20 mile round trip will get me in shape for longer rides quickly.
I still plan to ride along the Atlantic ocean in the sand at low tide in New Smyrna Beach, ride the western portion of the Lake Apopka Loop Trail, finish the newest section of the East Central Florida Regional Trail crossing the new bicycle bridge and ride other trails nearby.
I also have a plan to bicycle with stroke-survivor Dan Zimmerman on his his cross-country bicycle trip while in Florida this November.
A busy winter looms!  Welcome to Florida!

Osteen Bicycle Trail Bridge

Osteen Trail Bridge Construction

The East Central Florida Trail bicycle-pedestrian bridge over highway 415 in Osteen is more than halfway completed (as announced on June 17th this year).  This bridge is a major addition that will immediately provide additional miles of trail travel in Volusia County.  Eventually this trail will connect to Edgewater and Titusville and across the state of Florida to Tampa as the first cross-Florida Bicycle Trail.  One of the community leader's hopes is the ability to get onto the commuter train in Orlando, get off in Debary and bicycle to Tampa or Cocoa Beach, for fun.
Aside from Tourist dollars, extending the bicycle trail from Gemini Springs east will open up miles of trail bicycling for local enthusiasts, and allow people to get around in central Florida and eventually cross from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico by bicycle alone.
Another trail bridge is under construction in Edgewater, and is will be the northern part of this same East Central Florida Trail.  Both bridges should be completed by cooler fall weather.