>>1868072If I’m hiking and camping, late winter or early spring is my favorite, but I’m in the South so it hardly counts as winter. Most hunting seasons are over by late January, and there are several local multi-use trails that are closed to ATV’s from Jan 1 until April (but open to hiking). And the weather begins to warm up; there’s little risk of temps below 35° after about mid February. Big pressure is very low as the previous seasons mosquitoes have died off and the next seasons haven’t hatched. Ticks and gnats are less of an issue. It’s not hot yet so the wildlife (which there is an abundance of in this part of the country) is out in full display; hogs, deer, feral horses, foxes, bobcats... it’s almost like they all hibernate for like 8 months.
Fall is nice too, but the drop in temps (summer is the off season here) coincides with the start of deer hunting season (which can start anywhere from late October to Late November, depending on location). It’s not ideal. Early October is pretty nice though. The risk of rain is really low, and the change in temps is really welcoming. The smell of a dusty pine forest is so unique and really connects me to nature.
