Encountered a Potential Shooter While Hiking

Fair warning: this story is anticlimactic. You’re the only folks I feel comfortable sharing this with; shared interests and experiences considered.I’ve been taking advantage of the snowfall in my area to hike some local public parks. Hunting is not allowed in these parks, and open carry on public property is questionable at best in New York, even in a red county like mine. To be frank, I haven’t had anyone able to explain whether concealed carry is allowed in a NYS public park. I take my chances and this time I’m glad I did.I’m romping along a wide, open trail with thick foliage on both sides and trails snaking across at odd intervals. About 2 kilometers from the trail head, a young woman came running out of one of these trails at a sprint. It was immediately an odd sight. Runners are common here, but not decked out in full down winter jackets, snow boots, hat, and mittens. She looked left, saw me, and turned and sprinted the other direction. She looked winded, but her eyes were wide like she’d seen a ghost. My worst fear at that point was a skunk. They scare the shit out of me too.That trail was about 10-15 meters ahead of me. As I approached the trail, wary of critters, a squat male clothed in full camo, plate carrier with pouches, beanie, and bloused pants over heavy boots marched out holding a rifle. Synthetic stock and steel receiver. I was not in my analytical mindset at that point, so it could have been a mini 14, 10/22, or even an air soft replica. He saw me, and shouldered the rifle but did not point it at me.I raised the front of my jacket, clearing my draw, and my hand was immediately on my pistol, but I didn’t draw. Some part of my non-lizard brain told me that since I wasn’t shot yet, and he had a clear view of my holstered sidearm, drawing might only provoke the shootout I wanted to avoid. He turned and jogged back up the trail.Still not sure if I saved my own life through discretion or spared some innocent if incredibly stupid larping airsoft enthusiast. If that barrel had raised a millimeter up toward me, I would have shot him dead. I’m not an expert pistol marksman, but I can put three in a chest sized target at that range without bothering to sight.I backed away quickly and double timed it to my vehicle where I called the police. The operator told me units were already enroute. Probably the woman I had seen earlier called it in.No moral or lessons learned here. I’m sort of happy I didn’t draw, for the reasons I stated above. I felt threatened, certainly, but he never made an aggressive move other than dressing to intimidate and stalking hikers in a public park. Living in NY, if he’d been some dumb kid playing dress up and I’d shot him, my life would have been over anyway.That is all. Flairing as a scenario because I didn’t have an actual DGU. via /r/CCW https://ift.tt/3pl9TsK