The shooting you heard, could it have been coming from Burro Canyon Shooting Park? (when I did Rattlesnake Peak in early September I heard a lot of shooting - I'm pretty certain it was coming from the shooting park)
Or was it because of hunting season? Anyone know what is "in" season right now? I saw a bunch of hunters today up by Mt. Waterman - Most def not the time to do any XC hiking unless you wear lime green and orange