I'm trying to choke this back, but so help me I cannot....
Holdstrong, you seem like a nice person, but somewhat uninformed. You seem to think you are doing the hunters a big favor, but in reality, it is really the other way 'round. You see, the hunters license dollars go DIRECTLY to habitat and wildlife management, at least in New York State. The pittance that comes from sporting goods taxes that you pay on your boots and packs, etc, does not really amount to a drop in the bucket and it has to trickle through the federal system before it gets to where it is needed, so you see it is their money that has the most impact on the land available to hunt and hike. They are only out for a few weeks a year, and are happy to let you enjoy the land for the other many weeks. I do not hear them complaining about the mess so many of the hikers leave.
We all own the public land, if you don't mind sharing it with me as a hiker, why do you have a problem sharing it with me as a hunter? I don't alter my hiking during the seasons, and I don't wear that silly orange vest either. I meet hunters in the woods, and just say 'hi' to them or chat as if they were hikers. What is the difference? I surely don't see what all the concern is about. I'm sorry if I'm a dolt in your eyes, but this is a fact of life when you live in places like this.
There, I said it, now I will go soak my thoughts in alchohol and dilute them.
Hike On,
Tom
By the way, if you came upon me in the woods when I was back in my hunting days, you would have never seen me anyway. I actually had a guy step on me once.