Hunter orange for rifle bear hunting

[dilleytech]

I might have missed where this was previously discussed but it looks like there’s a new requirement requiring hunter orange or pink while hunting bears with a rifle at any time.

I don’t understand why they didn’t make it apply to all hunting weapon choices. Holding a bow doesn’t make you more safe from getting shot then if your holding a rifle..

[Loup Loup]

Strictly so enforcement can generate more revenue by writing tickets. If it were a safety issue you’d think you’d see enforcement agents leading by example, and wearing orange or pink. But no. Have you ever seen an enforcement agent wearing hunter orange? Ever?

[bobcat]

I don't think it has anything to do with safety. A couple of those commissioners would probably actually prefer a hunter to get shot instead of a bear. It's simply something they did because they don't like people hunting bears. Just a little thing to make our lives harder. Totally unnecessary. Kind of like the new requirement to turn in a certain tooth on any bobcat harvested.

[dilleytech]

I don't think it has anything to do with safety. A couple of those commissioners would probably actually prefer a hunter to get shot instead of a bear. It's simply something they did because they don't like people hunting bears. Just a little thing to make our lives harder. Totally unnecessary. Kind of like the new requirement to turn in a certain tooth on any bobcat harvested.

I’m sure you’re 100% correct on that. Whatever way they can to try to reduce bear harvest. They aren’t smart enough to know it doesn’t make sense. They probably think safety orange is used to make hunting harder not safer.

[Loup Loup]

I also noted you have 5 days a
Free harvest to send in a tooth. ( or December 31 which I don’t get).
I didn’t research it but, I think it was 10 days last year. ( course I could be mixing it up with ID regs)If the reporting period is shortened by half, another way to write tickets.
Also next season I will send in any teeth return receipt. Cost money but, cya.

[dilleytech]

I also noted you have 5 days a
Free harvest to send in a tooth. ( or December 31 which I don’t get).
I didn’t research it but, I think it was 10 days last year. ( course I could be mixing it up with ID regs)If the reporting period is shortened by half, another way to write tickets.
Also next season I will send in any teeth return receipt. Cost money but, cya.

Most people don’t send in teeth and I haven’t heard of it being enforced. Yet.. these kind of things just discourage reporting bear harvest in general.

[85yota]

Is this a confirmed legal change? If it's real it has nothing to do with safety. In my opinion it's about optics..  for 2 weeks out of the year people get spooked seeing hunter orange.. I'm not rhe biggest camo guy, so people don't really look twice at me, now slap hunter orange on, in augest at a trail head, eyes will turn and questions will be asked.. they will now question there safety about not wearing it. ( multiple times I've given my extra orange to mushroom pickers in late October western wa, as they were rightly concerned with all the guys with rifles and orange at the gates).. I will have to look at the penalty, but if it's just a fine I would never wear it. It's like a stigma they want to portray, I feel they want you walking past people on a trail who otherwise would be clue less. To immediately recognize your trying to kill animals.. nothing good comes from this

[bobcat]

Yes it's in the new 2024 hunting regulations:

[elkslayer069]

Hard to prove your bear hunting. Wheres the line drawn just because I have a rifle in my truck or a rifle in a scabbard on a mule during bear season I’m bear hunting ?

[dilleytech]

Hard to prove your bear hunting. Wheres the line drawn just because I have a rifle in my truck or a rifle in a scabbard on a mule during bear season I’m bear hunting ?

If you’re walking around with a rifle and a bear tag in your pocket. You’re bear hunting. Same goes if your sitting in a stand over a pile of bait with a bear tag in your pocket.

[bobcat]

Hard to prove your bear hunting. Wheres the line drawn just because I have a rifle in my truck or a rifle in a scabbard on a mule during bear season I’m bear hunting ?

If you’re walking around with a rifle and a bear tag in your pocket. You’re bear hunting. Same goes if your sitting in a stand over a pile of bait with a bear tag in your pocket.

Not really. My tags are with me 100% of the time, because they stay in my wallet year around. I'm only bear hunting if I tell the game warden I'm bear hunting, or if I shoot a bear.

[Loup Loup]

Huntin’s over soon as you shoot a bear.

[dilleytech]

Hard to prove your bear hunting. Wheres the line drawn just because I have a rifle in my truck or a rifle in a scabbard on a mule during bear season I’m bear hunting ?

If you’re walking around with a rifle and a bear tag in your pocket. You’re bear hunting. Same goes if your sitting in a stand over a pile of bait with a bear tag in your pocket.

Not really. My tags are with me 100% of the time, because they stay in my wallet year around. I'm only bear hunting if I tell the game warden I'm bear hunting, or if I shoot a bear.

You can have that opinion. But the game warden can disagree with you.

[HillHound]

Then my bear tag stays in my sock and I am always coyote hunting. He’s got no reason to strip search me because I’m out Coyote Hunting. If I shoot a bear then the orange will come out of my pack, the tag will fall out of my sock and I am now a bear hunter following all their new stupid pointless rules designed for nothing other than generating funds

[Karl Blanchard]

We already wear orange so new rule is irrelevant for us. We wear it in Idaho where it isn't required as well. Imo, it's just a good idea in general