Hunter Orange

[Rainier10]

Not sure how much traffic this will get in this board but it is the one that seemed to fit the topic, hunter orange is gear or clothing.

So this topic has come up in the people on cams thread and I thought I would start a thread to discuss it here instead of derailing that thread more.

So a few members are commenting that they don't wear hunter orange or think that it is not needed.

Just wondering what everyone else thinks.

I know as a hunter education instructor we preach the values of hunter orange from a safety standpoint.  Statistics show that after the hunter orange requirement was made that hunter incidents in the woods decreased and less hunters were injured by other hunters.

The other thing that drastically changed with the hunter orange requirement was the harvest numbers increased.  Once hunters could see that there were other hunters in the same drainage or area they spread out to other areas moving more game around and increasing harvest by covering more ground and moving more game around.

What are your thoughts on hunter orange?

[h20hunter]

A) It's required at certain times so I wear it
B) I don't want to get shot.

Simple as that for me.

[MADMAX]

During general elk or deer rifle I wouldnt be out of the truck without it
too many trigger happy schmucks

[Woodchuck]

During general seasons, I wear it and lots of it. Too many guns pointed in too many directions. I want to be seen.
A lot of times when not a general season, I will still wear at least an orange hat.

[cbond3318]

A) It's required at certain times so I wear it
B) I don't want to get shot.

Simple as that for me.

  I would also wear if not required by the law. I ha e at least an Orange panel on my packs no matter what I’m out doing during the year.

[bobcat]

I don't like the government telling us what color clothing to wear. They should at least allow a variety of colors instead of only orange. I believe fluorescent pink is more visible in the woods than orange. Why isn't pink an option? Also, I seriously doubt that wearing orange increases success rates. That seems like a "fact" invented by the proponents of hunter orange. This is the first time I have ever heard of that.

[cavemann]

what is the down side?  It gives the animals a bit of an advantage?  We have the ability to shoot from hundreds of yards with a modern firearm as well and it is pretty leveled out in my opinion.  As for knowing if someone is in the area or not, I completely agree!!  It has saved me several hours on several occasions from hunting an area someone is already in.

I wear it, no issues.

[Curly]

In states where it isn't a requirement, I wear at least an orange hat.  I always at least have an orange vest in my pack.

In states where it is required I wear a vest and a hat.  I don't want a ticket.

I wish more states left it up to the individual to decide what they wish to wear.  If someone wishes to wear hot pink or chartreuse or blue or whatever, it should be up to them.  In some instances in the fall, there are a lot of orange leaves in the woods, I think colors other than orange would actually be more visible so it would be better to wear some other color.

[724wd]

If it were really a safety issue, wouldn't EVERY user group be required to wear it?   

[headshot5]

I'd really prefer not to wear it, though I do during modern.  The only time I'd like to see it be required is if you are packing out an animal for safety reasons. 

[Rainier10]

I think the fluorescent pink option is a good one.  I have been told that deer and elk can't see the orange, not sure about the pink.

I am sure just  few letters to the game commission and maybe a few people standing up at a commission meeting making the request for more color options is all it would take to add pink as an option.

[Stein]

A) It's required at certain times so I wear it
B) I don't want to get shot.

Simple as that for me.

I wear it when hunting even in places where it isn't required.  Vest, sometimes hat and a good sized strip on my backpack as it covers my vest.

[White Pass Outfitters]

I don't and wont, the Gov. is not going to tell me what to wear!!!
And where I go Im not worried about getting shot. If they cant see you they cant shoot you !!! But I do hunt where there is no hungover trigger happy road hunters also. LOL

[fishngamereaper]

People get killed every year by Hunter's not identifying their target. I don't want to be a statistic. Some orange on me even when not required.

[huntingfool7]

I don't like the government telling us what color clothing to wear. They should at least allow a variety of colors instead of only orange. I believe fluorescent pink is more visible in the woods than orange. Why isn't pink an option? Also, I seriously doubt that wearing orange increases success rates. That seems like a "fact" invented by the proponents of hunter orange. This is the first time I have ever heard of that.

x2  And I think hot pink should be an option.  It would make my hunting partners uncomfortable.