Hunter Orange for Bear Season

[Heetor]

Hey guys I wanted to get some feedback on the requirement for orange this weekend, this is my first year hunting up here in the northwest (GMU 418), and to be honest I think the guy that wrote the hunter orange section of the regs must have had a few cocktails before he wrote it.  Egyptian hieroglyphs would be easier to understand...

It starts of by saying if you are hunting Deer or Elk in modern firearm season where Orange, (I guess this does not mean bear), then it says all modern firearm permit holders must wear orange, (so this must mean bear)?

Then it goes on to say that anyone hunting in an area that is open to modern firearm deer or elk must wear orange (since this GMU is not open to to deer and elk gun hunting this weekend this must mean no orange)?

Help???

[h20hunter]

No orange required. I would suggest having some orange or brightly colored tape on hand. If you get a bear down and are packing it I would put some on or simply put some on the bear. For me this is a little extra to try and not get shot by another person.

[SkookumJeff]

Since you're new to the area...

A few years ago a young boy shot a woman hiker while 'bear' hunting.  Killed her.  He claimed he thought he was targeting a bear in the bushes.  I'm sure that is what he believed.  Kid was 13 IIRC and hunting with his older brother.  Very tragic all the way around.  That was the final straw for me, law or not, I wear hunter orange around here (west side Cascades) when there is any kind of a firearms hunting season going on.

But hey, that's just me?!  YMMV.

Skook.

[vaz,,66]

Since you're new to the area...

A few years ago a young boy shot a woman hiker while 'bear' hunting.  Killed her.  He claimed he thought he was targeting a bear in the bushes.  I'm sure that is what he believed.  Kid was 13 IIRC and hunting with his older brother.  Very tragic all the way around.  That was the final straw for me, law or not, I wear hunter orange around here (west side Cascades) when there is any kind of a firearms hunting season going on.

But hey, that's just me?!  YMMV.

Skook.

Same is here, if there is any firearm activities in the area I never go out with out it, I even advice all my relatives who goes berry's  picking or mushrooms  to wear that staff too. To me its like a sit belt in a car, I'am sure even if they will make it" not have to" I will
wear it any way.  
That's just me.

[billythekidrock]

Since you're new to the area...

A few years ago a young boy shot a woman hiker while 'bear' hunting.  Killed her.  He claimed he thought he was targeting a bear in the bushes.  I'm sure that is what he believed.  Kid was 13 IIRC and hunting with his older brother.  Very tragic all the way around.  That was the final straw for me, law or not, I wear hunter orange around here (west side Cascades) when there is any kind of a firearms hunting season going on.

But hey, that's just me?!  YMMV.

Skook.

The shooters brother was also involved with a group of hunters that shot a companion during a night time hunt.

[grizzlyadams]

Kind of like American Express.....never leave home without it. Bears won't see it, so why not. It won't hurt your hunt but it could save your life.  Be safe....wear the orange and live to hunt another day.

[ICEMAN]

Alot of guys have shot bears while they were wearing their checkered red and white flannel or woolies...
 
Bears aren't like hunting turkey or ducks.

[jtf]

i always wear it. i always try and tell hikers i run into that they should maybe think about wearing some also. 90% of them had no idea it was hunting season. Bears can't see it so i always wear it. I also carry an extra orange mesh vest in a pocket to drape on the back of my harvest when packing out. ya never know who's out there.

[ydeardorff]

Given that bears do see in color, the orange will alert them to you.
There eyesight according to me reading hasn't been tested over 200 yards. But I suppose this is where a blind, or tree stand would come in handy.

[ydeardorff]

No orange required. I would suggest having some orange or brightly colored tape on hand. If you get a bear down and are packing it I would put some on or simply put some on the bear. For me this is a little extra to try and not get shot by another person.

Page 13 in the hunters manual, or page 16 of the PDF file states:

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.

So as I read this,... so long as deer or elk season isnt open (modern firearm) in the area your hunting, your fine without orange on. But if it is, then Orange is required. Since modern firearm starts in mid Oct. we should be fine so long as were not running into a release happy bow hunter. But yes I think it would be prudent to keep Orange with you in a back pack or pocket to tie onto yourself, or the bear, for safety.

[Machias]

No orange required. I would suggest having some orange or brightly colored tape on hand. If you get a bear down and are packing it I would put some on or simply put some on the bear. For me this is a little extra to try and not get shot by another person.

Page 13 in the hunters manual, or page 16 of the PDF file states:

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.

So as I read this,... so long as deer or elk season isnt open (modern firearm) in the area your hunting, your fine without orange on. But if it is, then Orange is required. Since modern firearm starts in mid Oct. we should be fine so long as were not running into a release happy bow hunter. But yes I think it would be prudent to keep Orange with you in a back pack or pocket to tie onto yourself, or the bear, for safety.

There are lots of other hunters out there besides bow hunters.  Lots of guys using modern firearm for bears right now as well as yotes and just general target shooting.  So it's not just the release happy bow hunter you should concern yourself with.  And I'm not sure bears see color as an alert.  I've had them walk right past me while wearing orange and in some Canadian provinces you must wear brightly colored clothes while bear hunting and it does not affect their success rates.

[hogsniper]

More likely to mistake a guy for a bear than a 3pt buck. That law is one that I never really understood.  I dont think one should have to wear it if you dont want to any time of the year but that is just me.   

[ydeardorff]

Yes,
I agree, a broad arrow, or a .50 caliber black powder round wont help my hunting day any. After 20 years in the US military, Ive had my fill of being shot at.

[Orion98422]

I've hunted all over North America and I've never encountered as crowded of areas or as dangerous and reckless of hunters as there are in Western Washington. I obviously do not mean to impune all hunters in this area of course but I think the close proximity to Seattle and limited access to wild lands concentrate a lot of inexperienced hunters. Long story short I wouldn't even think of going into the woods around here during any hunting season without hunter orange. When I bow hunt I even wear it to and from my stand and only take it off once on the stand.

[bobcat]

I've been hunting in this state for about 32 years and I don't recall a time when I was ever afraid of being shot by another hunter. I don't ever wear orange unless it is required and even then I wear the minimum amount possible. But that's just me. I don't believe the government should be telling us what color clothing we should wear. I also avoid hunting in the most popular and crowded areas so maybe that's why I have a different perspective on it.

[Orion98422]

It's not a matter of being afraid it's a matter of being smart --- I'm sure that the hiker killed a year or so ago by a young inexperienced bear hunter wasn't "afraid" to hike without it either. Not liking to be told what to do by the government is poor excuse for giving bad advise to another hunter. If this irresponsible comment represents things typically stated by moderators on this forum than it should be shut down.

[bobcat]

It's not a matter of being afraid it's a matter of being smart --- I'm sure that the hiker killed a year or so ago by a young inexperienced bear hunter wasn't "afraid" to hike without it either. Not liking to be told what to do by the government is poor excuse for giving bad advise to another hunter. If this irresponsible comment represents things typically stated by moderators on this forum than it should be shut down.

I was not giving advice but just stating the way I feel about it and what I do. You have your opinion and I have mine, and we are both free to state those opinions here. As I said, I don't normally hunt in areas that have a lot of other hunters, but if I did, I very well may have a different perspective on it. I don't agree that it's not a "matter of being afraid". Of course it is! Sorry but I don't think that makes you any "smarter" than me. You have your opinion, I have mine. Neither is right or wrong, but just different.