“Isn’t this wonderful,” I remarked, while friends and I gamboled over trails at Mooween State Park in Lisbon a few weeks ago. “So quiet … we have the whole woods to ourselves.”

It WAS quiet — too quiet.

Not 10 minutes later, eagle-eyed Phil Plouffe nodded toward a secluded knoll 50 yards away.

“Hey — you guys see the bowhunter?” he asked.

Sure enough, a barely visible, camo-clad man hunkered among the foliage.

His presence may have been disconcerting to us non-hunters, but in truth, he had as much right to the forest as we did; during designated seasons, the state allows killing game animals in selected parks and on private lands, with owners’ permission.

But just as hunters and hikers share the woods this time of year, they also share a responsibility for human safety.

Hunters, of course, must first and foremost be absolutely sure of their target, Warren Speh, a longtime hunter and hunting safety instructor told me the other day. They also must be certain that any errant shot be stopped by a land bank rather than continue through the air and possibly strike an unintended target, he said.

“I never took a shot at a deer where I could see skyline,” Speh said.

At the same time, “Hikers should wear bright clothing and know if hunting is allowed before they go out on the trail,” he added.

While state parks and wildlife management areas typically post warnings at trailheads about any permitted hunting, and outlines requirements for wearing fluorescent vests, hats or other clothing, these signs can be overlooked, particularly on properties with multiple access points. Bottom line: It’s up to hikers to familiarize themselves with what they may encounter before hitting the trail.

For those who confine themselves to shooting photos, not animals, it can be quite surprising to learn the number of species classified as fair game, the different times they can be hunted, and the various weapons that can be used.

Deer, of course, are the most familiar target; the state also has designated hunting seasons for gray squirrels, cottontail rabbits, European hares, snowshoe hares, woodchucks, coyote, red fox, gray fox, raccoon, opossum, Chukar and Hungarian pheasants, ruffed grouse, quail, crows, woodcock, snipe, rails, ducks, mergansers, geese, coot and turkey.

In addition, there are designated times and regulations for hunting with bows and arrows, crossbows, shotguns, revolvers, rifles, muzzleloaders and high-velocity airguns.

In some popular hunting areas, such as Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown, the woods can sound like a war zone.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which regulates hunting in Connecticut, notes that peak hunting occurs in early morning and late afternoon, through the end of December.

The department offers some safety tips for everyone — hikers, hunters, horseback riders and mountain bikers — entering the woods during hunting season:

— If you hike, ride, hunt, or fish alone, let somebody know where you will be.

— Familiarize yourself with the area you will be using, and know the activities that occur there.

— Ask landowners' permission to hike, ride, hunt or fish.

— Wear bright clothing (400 square inches of fluorescent orange are required for hunters) to increase your visibility. Dogs should wear a bright orange vest when accompanying you on a hike. Avoid wearing gray, brown, tan, or white when hiking in hunted areas.

— Consider using a bell on your bike or horse during the hunting season. If you see someone hunting, call out to them to identify your location.

Hunting is allowed in such specified state-owned lands as state forests and wildlife management areas; privately-owned land where landowners have granted permission; permit-regulated hunting areas; state-leased hunting areas; registered private shooting preserves; and lakes, rivers, and tidal wetlands during waterfowl hunting seasons.

The state also allows hunting at some, but not most, state parks. For a full list of places where hunting is permitted, consult the Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide (https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Hunting/2021-Connecticut-Hunting-and-Trapping-Guide) or the CT Interactive Hunting Area Map (https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Hunting/Public-Hunting-Areas).

For better or worse, there may be an uneasy truce between hunters and hikers. As DEEP notes on its website, “All hunters, regardless of where they hunt, should be prepared for the possibility of being harassed. Your behavior if you are harassed is extremely important. Maintain your composure and do not retaliate … Connecticut has a hunter harassment law that protects the rights of sportsmen … (Do not respond) with violence or (by) threatening a protester with bodily harm.”

So, folks, there’s guns in them thar woods, so stay safe, everybody.

Reader Barbara Lynch suggested I write about the hiker/hunter issue — thanks, Barbara! If you have an idea for a column, or place you’d like me to visit, send an email to s.fagin@theday.com.

I can’t promise I’ll get there right away, but I’m always appreciative of readers’ comments and recommendations.