Parson

I was out for a ride yesterday and had a scary experience. I'm wondering if others have had similar experiences and/or if people who have been around guns can tell me if I have/had any reason to be concerned.

I ride beside vineyards a lot and am used to hearing the sound of loud bangs around this time of year because the farmers have some sort of device that makes small explosions (like a gun firing I assume) to scare off birds.

Until yesterday, I had never heard the sound of a gun being fired. While out on my ride yesterday on a country/farm road, I heard a loud bang similar to the sound of those used by the farmers, but this sound was slightly different. There was a slight wizzing sound accompanied with the bang similar to the sound of bullets flying through the air that you hear in war movies but fainter and not as dramatic. I knew in my gut that it was gunfire and instantly thought "if i can hear those bullets they must be close", but I didn't know for sure if that was correct. I really didn't know what to do. The idea of stopping, jumping off my bike a cowering in the ditch crossed my mind, but seemed ridiculous.

Moments later, on my left I could see two people a few hundred meters away, in a farm field, facing towards the field (not in my direction) holding a riffle and paying no attention to me. I rode as quickly as I could without trying to look panicked to a spot about 100m down the road where their house blocked them from my sight and kept riding. At that point, I convinced myself that the guys were practicing shooting and weren't shooting at me so my fear went away and I continued happily along my ride.

Out of curiosity, I just googled how close you have to be to hear the whistle of a bullet and the general consensus seems to be that you have to be VERY close... like close enough that you never want to be that close.

I don't know though.. I can't imagine that people would shoot at a cyclist on a road where cars are driving past every 30 seconds to a minute. Is it possible that I could hear the bullets from a distance, or maybe they were using skeets and maybe the skeets make a whistling sound? What are people's thoughts on this. Is this concerning? Do I just need to get out in the country more?

Reynolds 

I've heard gunfire a few times while riding on rural roads, but always from shotguns and at least 200m away, so I assumed there was no risk. A rifle could be quite another story, though.

eja_ bottecchia

I think that some of the guns used by farmers also make that whistling sound that you are referring to.

I now live and ride in a mostly agricultural area. I moved here from the city. The first time I was riding out a country road and I heard the "bird gun" I thought someone was shooting at me--having lived in the city for many years, gunshots were an almost everyday occurrence.

I rode my bike into a ditch and dove for cover.

After realizing what was going on, I got up and continued my ride...albeit covered in dirty and mud from the ditch.

I am just glad that no one saw me pulling that maneuver--I would have been pretty embarrased.

Parson

Reynolds, could you hear the whistling or hissing sound? That's what has me wondering.

Gluteus

Hunting is big where I live, so the sound of guns while you ride is not uncommon.
I am not too concerned while riding on a road thru an open field. Riding thru a wooded area during hunting season does make me a bit nervous.

Reynolds 

Never heard that, surely I would've been scared if I did.

Machka 

Yet another reason to wear hi-vis clothing.

znomit

Either that or Ninja.

Theres a rifle club on my regular route. Lots of bangs and the odd ding from the target, no whistling or hissing.

bike56

In the country when you hear a gun shot and are not sure of the direction,always yell "hey" or "over here"very loud.This is a common communication device among hunters and target shooters to let them know you are there.It happens with hunters and woodsman all the time.It is unlikely the bullet came close,if they were adults,but if you can hear it whistle ,it is close.

Rowan

Yep, scares the living daylights out of me when riding through a forest along a valley. The trouble in a forest, you cannot see where the shooter is and which direction he might be shooting.

I worked in an apple orchard with the gas guns used as bird scarers, and they aren't particularly alarming (although we had visitors and new workers dive for cover occasionally).

And, I've had shooters on the property fire big rifles almost next door where I was staying. That got my attention.

But if I hear them in open country, I usually ride as quickly as I can out the place. And I know that ducking on hearing the shot isn't much good because if I get hit... I won't have heard the shot.

BykOfALesserGod

Relax. It's not like artillery. If you heard the bullet then it missed you.

Astrozombie

Just another weekend around here........don't drive around at 3AM.

Bike Gremlin

Part of local folclore. Shooting in the air on weddings etc.

My city was bombed, but never near the frontline, so I got used to bombs explosions, heard a tomahawk missle once fly buy, but never bullets flying near me.

pallen

I hear it pretty often out in the country in TX. Its a popular past time to go out and shoot. Everyone I've even known that does it is very responsible about it. They usually shoot into a creek bank or hill where there's a natural stop for the rounds and face away from any roadways. I'm sure there's some reckless idiots out there, but I haven't met any yet. Sport shooters are generally very big on safety.

MDfive21

yep, bullets break the sound barrier so if you heard it, THAT bullet missed you. you'll never hear the one that gets you.




i wouldn't be too concerned. if you want to face your fear and learn a little about guns you might go by the vineyard and chat with the guys firing them.

topflightpro

I'm pretty sure it's deer hunting season right now, so I kind of expect to hear gun shots.

And one of the routes I often take goes past an outdoor shooting range.

iconicflux

Yeah.. as long as someone's shooting at you.. you may as well make it easier for them.

At least they didn't think you were a skunk...
https://abcnews.go.com/US/girl-hallow...5#.UIae8Gl2528

bonz50

if I road in the city it would freak me out, out in the country not at all. especially this time of year, it's bird season and bow season for deer. Riding after the satruday before thanksgiving (besides being quite cold) I would only ride mid-day, most hunters are out of the woods by about 10-11a and return around 2p, some do all-day sits, but most do not.

Dan333SP

I was floating down a river tubing with some friends in rural louisianna a few years ago when we heard some gunshots and actually saw some bullet splashes about 80 yards ahead of us in the river. We came around the bend and saw a group of 6 or 7 "rural" guys on the riverbank with ATVs and 2 pistols, evidently trying out their new guns. One of my buddies yelled something like "hey, don't shoot so close to us!" and the guy holding the gun just smirked. Once we were another 50 yards downriver they began firing again. It all g
felt very deliverance-esque, and if we hadn't downed several coolers of beer at that point it might have been quite scary!

bigbadwullf

Shotgun: If you are over 100-150 yards away. No big deal.
Rifle: Another story.

Basically hunters are usually very aware of their surroundings and set up so their shot will not affect anyone. Hunting is big here and anymore I don't even think about it when I hear a gun shot, especially in duck season. Sounds like a war going on. Steel shot doesn't go very far.

Now if I were in the city, I'd be pedaling very fast...

RecceDG

I have been, as part of my day job, shot "near" (I can't prove that I was the intended target; the shooter didn't stick around to say).

There is a loud "snap" as the bullet goes by. It is very distinctive.

DG

jon c. 

I hear gunfire all the time, but never hear the bullets whizzing. That might get my adrenalin flowing. As it is, it's such a common occurrence in my rural area that you really don't think twice about it.

RecceDG

Usually, a "whizz" sound is a ricochet, not a bullet in direct flight. When they bounce, they tumble and can buzz, hum, and whistle.

A bullet in flight is a hiss at a distance, and SNAP if close.

DG

Drag

Are you sure it wasn't another cyclist?

JohnDThompson 

Two words: "hunting season." Wear bright clothes and stay on paved roads and you should be ok. At least I've never yet been shot.