Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: BIGINNER on September 02, 2011, 07:37:14 AM

Title: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: BIGINNER on September 02, 2011, 07:37:14 AM: is it required for grouse outside deer and elk modern firearm season?
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: Heartsblood on September 02, 2011, 07:38:47 AM: Nope. Not reqired in those circumstances.
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: AWS on September 02, 2011, 08:04:23 AM: Bear, Mountian Lion, Coyote and Bobcat are open outside of big game season and there are plenty of people out in the hills just target shooting. Hunter orange will not spoil your grouse hunt. Just a thought. Have a good season.

AWS
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: 10Key on September 02, 2011, 08:08:27 AM: No hunter orange is required...I always wear it when grouse hunting, for me it easy to throw on a vest and know that the modern firearm hunters can see me a bit better.
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on September 02, 2011, 08:12:16 AM: It's a REALLY good idea, especially if not hunting alone. EVERY incident I've been aware of where a grouse hunter has been shot, has been by a member of their own party. A close friend of mine was on a grouse hunt in Michigan where one member of their group was killed by a load of sixes to the heart from another of their group.
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: Heartsblood on September 02, 2011, 08:18:17 AM: Is it required? Only during modern deer and elk.

Should you wear it "outside" those situations? Probably. There are circumstances where it makes sense not to, but probably many more where it's more sensible to don your blaze gear.
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on September 02, 2011, 08:19:14 AM: the only problem is most of our grouse are shot from the road ....we have very few hardcore get out in the woods and hunt type hunters.....but If I was hunting with dogs and in a party definately wear orange..
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: BigGoonTuna on September 02, 2011, 08:35:36 AM: i wear mine, mainly because it's the only hunting vest i have right now. my only problem is that they hear me coming and flush 100 yards ahead of me when i'm on foot, but if i was in my truck they'd let me drive right up to them :chuckle:
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: scottr on September 03, 2011, 06:39:35 PM: From the Regs

Hunter orange
Anyone hunting upland birds (pheasant, quail, and partridge), rabbits, or hares with a modern firearm during any upland
game bird season is required to wear hunter orange clothing. Those hunting forest grouse, rabbits, or hares during modern
firearm deer or elk hunting seasons must also wear hunter orange clothing. A minimum of 400 square inches of fluorescent
hunter orange exterior clothing, worn above the waist and visible from all sides, is required to comply with this regulation.

Forest Grouse are considered Upland birds so they fall under the hunter orange requirements.
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: bobcat on September 03, 2011, 08:33:05 PM: Grouse are not considered upland game birds according to that regulation. That's why it says those hunting forest grouse DURING MODERN FIREARM DEER OR ELK SEASONS must wear orange. If it's not during modern firearm deer or elk season then a grouse hunter does not need to wear orange.
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: scottr on September 03, 2011, 09:24:30 PM: Quote from: bobcat on September 03, 2011, 08:33:05 PM
Grouse are not considered upland game birds according to that regulation. That's why it says those hunting forest grouse DURING MODERN FIREARM DEER OR ELK SEASONS must wear orange. If it's not during modern firearm deer or elk season then a grouse hunter does not need to wear orange.

Since forest grouse are listed under the upland game regs/seasons I had always interpreted that they are managed as such but according to this they are not http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/hunter_orange/ (http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/hunter_orange/) so I stand corrected. I swear you need a PHD to figure out the regs :o
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: Curly on September 03, 2011, 09:27:40 PM: Don't you find it ridiculous that they don't classify them as upland birds? The regs are too damn complicated. It is proven on here daily that they are complicated.
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: bobcat on September 03, 2011, 09:29:28 PM: I still consider grouse to be upland birds (whatever that is). But I think they categorize them differently just for the different rules, mainly being that you don't need orange and you can shoot grouse with rifles/handguns.
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: Curly on September 03, 2011, 09:55:55 PM: Probably the start of a thread jack, but .........the regs say:

Quote
Hunter Orange Clothing is Not Required:
During an upland game bird season for anyone hunting upland game birds with a muzzleloading firearm, bow and arrow, or for falconry.

I never read that before. So if you use a ML, you don't have to wear orange. Why not? I wonder what the reasoning behind that might be? You are still just as likely to be shot by someone if you are using a ML as if you are using a modern shotgun. :dunno:

They should do away with the orange reqmt altogether........for everything. :twocents:
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: huntinguy on September 04, 2011, 07:38:47 PM: Quote from: BIGINNER on September 02, 2011, 07:37:14 AM
is it required for grouse outside deer and elk modern firearm season?

I wish it were. It would make them easier to see :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: Heartsblood on September 04, 2011, 09:00:48 PM: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: SkookumJeff on September 04, 2011, 11:17:09 PM: A few years ago I would never wear orange if I didn't have to by law. Not anymore. There are too many people hunting these days that don't have much common sense. If there is any kind of hunting season open I've got orange on even when I'm just hiking or scouting. Maybe I'm getting paranoid in my old age, especially of 13 year old bear hunters...
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: mossy8352 on September 05, 2011, 01:50:08 PM: First I agree on wearing hunter orange for safety in the woods, the issue of our game laws is they are written in most cases by out of work lawyers who have to keep things complicated to keep employed. That said I think it is wise To be seen and hopefully not shot at. I have been shot at twice while wearing the orange once an accident and one time we will never know as they are still running somewhere in CA!
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: huntinguy on September 06, 2011, 06:33:19 PM: A few weeks back I was scouting, not a gun showing... unless you count a pellet gun. I was wearing hunter orange, A couple hikers walked by... man did I get dirty looks........

Yep, I agree with Mossy, I go for, "better safe than sorry."
Title: Re: hunter orange for grouse?
Post by: Bob33 on September 06, 2011, 06:39:41 PM: Quote from: SkookumJeff on September 04, 2011, 11:17:09 PM
Maybe I'm getting paranoid in my old age, especially of 13 year old bear hunters...
14 years old ;)