Free: Contests & Raffles.
I detest the color of ORANGE. I don't purchase any items in ORANGE, except the stoopid vest I'm forced to wear during modern rifle to keep myself "safe".As mentioned multiple times above and I've said it before here too; I feel that the ulterior motive of the mandatory "hunter orange" requirement is to allow LE an "easier" way to identify hunters in the field. It's essentially profiling, hidden behind the red-herring of "public/hunter safety".
Quote from: snit on April 14, 2024, 08:05:49 AMI detest the color of ORANGE. I don't purchase any items in ORANGE, except the stoopid vest I'm forced to wear during modern rifle to keep myself "safe".As mentioned multiple times above and I've said it before here too; I feel that the ulterior motive of the mandatory "hunter orange" requirement is to allow LE an "easier" way to identify hunters in the field. It's essentially profiling, hidden behind the red-herring of "public/hunter safety". exactly.
I understand what folks are saying.....don't 100% agree.....but understand. I did a quick google search and it shows 40 states currently require hunters orange for hunting. I didn't look deep enough to see for what specific season...most likely rifle seasons. So are all the other 39 states motives to profile hunters or is the motive truly safety.....regardless of whether or not you believe it makes you more safe? I want other hunters to see me with the naked eye and not scope me when they see movement. Here is a great article and history of hunters / blaze orange. This came about many decades ago.....I just can't believe it is a profiling mechanism with this long standing history. I would agree with what some had said....why just the "hunter", or person holding a rifle? Why not others that are accompanying the hunter?? Why not WDFW employees when in the field during rifle seasons?? I think it would be hard to force others, not in the act of hunting, to wear it.....but it could be highly recommended. That said...why give non hunters a reason to complain about hunters when we start telling them what to wear?? Regardless.....very interesting topic and appreciate everyone's perspectives. Here is the article I found informative. https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/blog/hunter-orange
Quote from: jrebel on April 14, 2024, 08:52:06 AMI understand what folks are saying.....don't 100% agree.....but understand. I did a quick google search and it shows 40 states currently require hunters orange for hunting. I didn't look deep enough to see for what specific season...most likely rifle seasons. So are all the other 39 states motives to profile hunters or is the motive truly safety.....regardless of whether or not you believe it makes you more safe? I want other hunters to see me with the naked eye and not scope me when they see movement. Here is a great article and history of hunters / blaze orange. This came about many decades ago.....I just can't believe it is a profiling mechanism with this long standing history. I would agree with what some had said....why just the "hunter", or person holding a rifle? Why not others that are accompanying the hunter?? Why not WDFW employees when in the field during rifle seasons?? I think it would be hard to force others, not in the act of hunting, to wear it.....but it could be highly recommended. That said...why give non hunters a reason to complain about hunters when we start telling them what to wear?? Regardless.....very interesting topic and appreciate everyone's perspectives. Here is the article I found informative. https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/blog/hunter-orangeOkay so if you want people to be able to see you with the naked eye, when bear season has been in season in the past were you wearing hunter orange so others could see you? I bet I know the answer.There are 20k bear hunters on average every year in Washington with a season that is months long. This new regulation has nothing to do with making anyone safer. There is no crowding in the bear woods like you’ll see when deer and elk hunters are crammed into a small window of opportunity to hunt those species.
Quote from: hughjorgan on April 14, 2024, 09:58:17 AMQuote from: jrebel on April 14, 2024, 08:52:06 AMI understand what folks are saying.....don't 100% agree.....but understand. I did a quick google search and it shows 40 states currently require hunters orange for hunting. I didn't look deep enough to see for what specific season...most likely rifle seasons. So are all the other 39 states motives to profile hunters or is the motive truly safety.....regardless of whether or not you believe it makes you more safe? I want other hunters to see me with the naked eye and not scope me when they see movement. Here is a great article and history of hunters / blaze orange. This came about many decades ago.....I just can't believe it is a profiling mechanism with this long standing history. I would agree with what some had said....why just the "hunter", or person holding a rifle? Why not others that are accompanying the hunter?? Why not WDFW employees when in the field during rifle seasons?? I think it would be hard to force others, not in the act of hunting, to wear it.....but it could be highly recommended. That said...why give non hunters a reason to complain about hunters when we start telling them what to wear?? Regardless.....very interesting topic and appreciate everyone's perspectives. Here is the article I found informative. https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/blog/hunter-orangeOkay so if you want people to be able to see you with the naked eye, when bear season has been in season in the past were you wearing hunter orange so others could see you? I bet I know the answer.There are 20k bear hunters on average every year in Washington with a season that is months long. This new regulation has nothing to do with making anyone safer. There is no crowding in the bear woods like you’ll see when deer and elk hunters are crammed into a small window of opportunity to hunt those species.To answer your question....not all the time. Let me explain. With the exception of maybe 6 bears, all my bears have been killed on private property or in Canada. When on private property (large parcels), I know who and where the other hunters are. Usually there are only a couple people hunting the property and we sit in pre designated areas (depending on feed / time of year and wind), we aren't out beating the brush so to speak. When on public ground hunting bears, we are usually hunting other animals, so "YES" am wearing my hunters orange. One spring hunt (my first) I had a guided bear hunt in the NE corner. I didn't wear hunters orange for that trip, though I had it in my backpack. We primarily road hunted, stopping to glass large hillsides and cuts....never get more than 100 feet from the truck. It was a great hunt, and I learned a ton about spring bear hunts (cover ground and use your glass). If I was hiking ridges I would have felt more comfortable in orange. I've heard the whistle of bullets go off over my head and it is very unnerving to say the least. I also wear hunters orange when hunting with my son, even though I am not the hunter. At the end of the day.....I guess it is to each their own. Am I excited to wear hunters orange when hunting private property....NO. Is it a deal breaker....NO. I guess I'm just not as emotionally vested in this fight. Just curious why so many are willing to dig there heals in when (to me), it just doesn't seam like that big an issue. It's kind of like all the celebrities that say if "Trump gets elected, I'm moving to a different Country." Never happened.... If I have to wear hunters orange, It's all the more reason to not hunt in this state, Bet that doesn't happen either. As for your example, with numbers of hunters during bear season.....I get it and hear you loud and clear!! I may refute that argument by giving an exaple....as poor as it may be....Most kids that run with scissors don't fall and impale themselves, but we still tell them to not run with scissors. Point being, even though it would be exceeding rare for a kid to fall on scissors, the outcome of such event can be catastrophic. Same if you are not seen and you get shot by a careless hunter. Yeah, the careless hunter should have had better judgement......doesn't change the fact you may be severly wounded or dead.