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Modern Firearm Big Game Hunters re: Hunter Orange

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Hunting Cowboy:
Several years ago I went into a popular area to hang my tree stands for the late archery blacktail season. I think it was during the late buck Modern Firearm season that is now closed in this particular area.

Anyway, Sitting at the locked gate were two game wardens, each had their own rigs. I walked up to say hey and maybe get a report on what they were seeing.  Friendly as always, they were in the process of watching a couple of hunters up on the hillside above. I told them I was just on my way in to hang a couple of tree stands. I was surprised by their reply....

"Not wthout hunter orange you're not." I said, what? He told me, "anyone who is in an area open to modern firearm season is required to wear hunter orange." I had never heard of this. The other warden confirmed what the first had said. I told them that I thought I had left my vest at home,  His reply? "Hope it isn't a long drive then." Again I was surprised. Turned out that I had an old hunter orange vest behind my seat. I went ahead and hung my stands.

Ray:
I would bet some game wardens try to play lawmaker all the time. Just like cops because they enforce the regs. But the law doesn't say


--- Quote ---anyone who is in an area open to modern firearm season is required to wear hunter orange.
--- End quote ---

It may have been their way of discouraging you for one reason or another. I have no idea why the might discourage you other than perhaps they wanted you "out of the way" so they could spy on the other hunters without being interrupted for example. Even if they did fine you - you could contest it on the grounds that you were not actually hunting. If you simply put up a treestand in August are you then guilty of hunting out of season? No way. They have a definition for the term "to hunt" and it has to do with intent to kill, harass and uses words along those lines. I believe that if contested for example you would get by without paying. I suppose if you were armed or something then they would have grounds to ticket you though.


--- Quote ---Under the following conditions a minimum of 400 square inches of fluorescent hunter orange exterior clothing is required. It must be worn above the waist and be visible from all sides. A hat, by itself, does not meet this requirement.
1.Anyone hunting deer or elk in an area currently open to modern firearm deer or elk hunting is required to wear fluorescent hunter orange clothing. This includes archers and muzzleloaders while hunting in units which overlap modern firearm seasons.
2.Anyone hunting in an area that is open for modern firearm deer or elk hunting must meet hunter orange requirements if they are hunting any of the following species: Bear, Bobcat, Cougar, Coyote, Deer, Elk, Fox, Grouse, Hare, Rabbit, or Raccoon.
3.During any upland game bird season, anyone hunting upland game birds or rabbits with a modern firearm is required to wear fluorescent hunter orangeclothing. (Grouse are not upland game birds.)
Hunter Orange Clothing NOT Required
1.During an upland game bird season, anyone hunting upland game birds with a muzzleloading firearm, bow and arrow, or falconry is not required to wear fluorescent hunter orange clothing.
2.While hunting in a muzzleloading or archery only GMU, anyone possessing a valid muzzleloading or archery deer or elk tag is not required to wear
--- End quote ---

Now as far as accompanying is concerned. I think it would be really hard to enforce that law. I would like to see it because I would like to know what constitutes accompanying.

Here is the law I know about: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=232-12-055

To Hunt Term as per law: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.08.010

--- Quote ---   (7) "To hunt" and its derivatives means an effort to kill, injure, capture, or harass a wild animal or wild bird.
--- End quote ---

Skycruiser:

--- Quote from: Hunting Cowboy on December 05, 2007, 05:36:30 PM ---I told them I was just on my way in to hang a couple of tree stands. I was surprised by their reply....
"Not without hunter orange you're not." I said, what? He told me, "anyone who is in an area open to modern firearm season is required to wear hunter orange." I had never heard of this. The other warden confirmed what the first had said. I told them that I thought I had left my vest at home,  His reply? "Hope it isn't a long drive then."
--- End quote ---

Unfortunately, the wardens I've encountered in recent years have had a major chip on their shoulders which is why I avoid them whenever possible. I have not found them "helpful" in any way.

Hunting Cowboy:

--- Quote from: huntwa on December 05, 2007, 05:43:18 PM ---It may have been their way of discouraging you for one reason or another. I have no idea why the might discourage you other than perhaps they wanted you "out of the way" so they could spy on the other hunters without being interrupted.
--- End quote ---
[/quote]

As I said. I went to the truck and found my hunter orange and continued on to hang my stands. They had abosolutely no problem with that at all. Acoording to them, they Just wanted me to be safe and in accordance with the law.

Since then, I have always been under the assumption that even when accompanying another (Modern Firearm) hunter, you had to be wearing hunter orange. Interesting topic.

billythekidrock:

--- Quote ---Since then, I have always been under the assumption that even when accompanying another (Modern Firearm) hunter, you had to be wearing hunter orange. Interesting topic.
--- End quote ---

It is probably one of those "interpretation" deals where enforcement can go either way on the rule.

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