Hunter orange for rifle bear hunting

[Loup Loup]

Remember, we have 2A rights. This doesn’t just mean we can carry pistols. We can carry any firearm we want. Pistol, rifle, shotgun for whatever reason we want.
We are not hunting bear unless we say we are hunting bear. If we had a dead bear we have reduced to our possession, it would be illegal to be hunting bear at that time, until we bought another tag. So again, if we had been hunting bear that ended when we reduced that bear to our possession. Wear your orange as you see fit.

[Timberstalker]

This means one would have to wear orange/pink while cougar hunting as well.

[bobcat]

This means one would have to wear orange/pink while cougar hunting as well.

Well yes, it's also now required for cougar hunting.

[Bob33]

The ultimate determination of whether or not someone is bear hunting will come down to the judgment of the enforcement officer and judge. Saying "I wasn't bear hunting" won't change much.

[bobcat]

It's just one more reason for me to not want to hunt in this stupid state anymore. I only bought a deer tag because I have 11 quality points I'd like to use, and I'll apply for moose with 27 points, and that's it for me in this state. No elk tag, no bear tag, no cougar tag. I'll be hunting more in other states than I will here. Is there any other state that requires wearing orange when hunting cougars? Dumbest thing ever. If you're trying to call in a cougar you sure don't want to make it easier for them to see you.

[CarbonHunter]

Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe the last person shot on Washington by a bear hunter was a hiker wearing blue. How does making the one holding the rifle wear orange improve the safety of the hikers wearing blue, or worse the ones wear black?

[fishngamereaper]

Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe the last person shot on Washington by a bear hunter was a hiker wearing blue. How does making the one holding the rifle wear orange improve the safety of the hikers wearing blue, or worse the ones wear black?

It doesn't
As long as hikers, brush pickers etc are still wandering around without high viz requirements...
Stupid still exists and you can't "new" rule the negligence out of some people..

[Loup Loup]

And again I ask. When have you seen a game warden wearing orange or pink? If it were a safety concern, I would think they would lead by example and wear high vis.
Mandatory hunter colors is so game wardens can sit in their trucks on an over look and spot any hunters in the area, and they hope write tickets for non compliance. For something enforcement doesn’t comply with.

[Itsintheblood]

Looking up the WAC on the state webpage it still clearly states (exception 2) except bear or cougar. Until it changes there, I’m not going to follow a rule out of a pamphlet that is not completely stated.

[jrebel]

I'm ambiguous......Wearing orange is easy and if it keeps you visible / safe and within that law / rules.....who cares. 

Just curious why so many are opposed to wearing orange while rifle hunting? 

[Ridgeratt]

I have no problem wearing orange. But I also think that the state officials should also wear a color that doesn't blend in with the surroundings. I have seen movement and when I glassed it was a state official skulking around in the brush. Just for their safety they should wear it.

[fishngamereaper]

I'm ambiguous......Wearing orange is easy and if it keeps you visible / safe and within that law / rules.....who cares. 

Just curious why so many are opposed to wearing orange while rifle hunting?

Shouldn't it be a personal choice though..
Funny thing about these rules is only the person carrying the gun needs orange. How does that make sense... honestly from a safety standpoint...

I don't like orange because I prefer not to be seen. I hunt discreetly. That's why I enjoy bow hunting..
When I do rifle hunt I'll wear it because it's required..but I don't feel it lessens my chances of some idiot shooting me...back stop and beyond violations worry me more than being targeted or  mistaken for something..

[Bullkllr]

I'm ambiguous......Wearing orange is easy and if it keeps you visible / safe and within that law / rules.....who cares. 

Just curious why so many are opposed to wearing orange while rifle hunting?

I also find it interesting that the only person required to wear it is the person holding the gun. I really don't have any issue when basically every person in the field is hunting with a modern firearm, but that hardly seems the case during much of the bear and cougar seasons.

[dilleytech]

I'm ambiguous......Wearing orange is easy and if it keeps you visible / safe and within that law / rules.....who cares. 

Just curious why so many are opposed to wearing orange while rifle hunting?

Personally I don’t want people to be able to see me when I’m the woods, I don’t think orange makes you less affective while hunting. Bears seem almost blind as far as I can tell anyway. But what bothers me most about this new rule is the stupidity of it. So if I’m holding a rifle while bear hunting I’m at danger and should wear orange. But if I’m holding a bow or muzzleloader I’m perfectly safe and don't need to be worried about my safety because no one would accidentally shoot someone holding a bow.

If we people want to walk around hunting in a pink dress go for it. But we don’t need more of these nonsense rules.

[CarbonHunter]

I don’t have an issue with wear orange but if you want to claim it is about safety then everyone in the area of hunting should be wearing it not just the person holding the rifle. Why not the hiker, campers, berry pickers and let’s not forget the tribal hunters who don’t wear orange when they hunt. Clearly it is not about safety.