Your point about the lack of signage indicating that hunting is allowed on these properties is a valid one, if for no other reason than the associated safety concerns. Having said that, hunters must eventually face the fact that we are a very small minority of folks that use these areas. Anybody that thinks we are going to be catered to, when we make up roughly 3% of the populace anymore, is kidding themselves. Yes, it is definitely a "sign of the times"!
Confrontations with non-hunters (or anti-hunters) in these types of situations does little good in helping to preserve hunting for the future. Perhaps the best thing to do is to choose places to hunt where you are less likely to encounter someone that falls into the other 97% category. Surely there are still places back in that part of the country that minimize the possibilities of such interactions,...and all the potential negative sentiments towards hunters that might arise from them. I recognize your concerns, but sometimes we must just admit to ourselves that it is time to move to new locations to pursue our interests.