Free: Contests & Raffles.
Just an opinion; if it's really all about safety and hunters have to wear hunter orange or pink then why wouldn't anyone out n about in the hills during an open season where firearms are being used be required to wear orange or pink? Hikers in Washington have to have a discover pass to park at most trailheads. There's plenty of opportunities to get the info to them. They could be instructed that on or after such and such a day, you must wear x amount of square inches of these colors. Mailers could be sent, the evening news could cover it, signs could be hung at all trailheads and REI stores. If you don't wear it, you'll be ticketed. Period, Simple! Otherwise, doesn't it seem as though the state is indicating that hunters lives are more important than hikers, mushroomers or berry pickers. Making the argument that it would be difficult to require others to wear bright colors during a certain time period, doesn't say much for the others or the state. Probably wouldn't take many tickets before all the hiking clubs and groups would get the message. If they get all worked up, so be it. Hunters pay a hundred bucks or more for license and tags. Hikers pay 30 or 40 for their discover pass. If it's too much to ask of people to take some precautions that the state says makes everyone safer, then how about anyone not hunting stay out of the hills?
I'm sorry, I obviously need to work on my sarcasm. I thought hunters lives being more important than hikers lives would have gave it away. I know that whatever the law is, the states not changing it. I do find it odd that hunters have to wear the bright colors and we're the ones with the guns.
Quote from: chukardogs on April 14, 2024, 05:24:20 PMI'm sorry, I obviously need to work on my sarcasm. I thought hunters lives being more important than hikers lives would have gave it away. I know that whatever the law is, the states not changing it. I do find it odd that hunters have to wear the bright colors and we're the ones with the guns.As I said before I don’t like it.But if you look at hunting accidents, you are most likely to shoot yourself or someone in your hunting party or of coarse be shot by someone in your party. Shootings involving unknown parties while hunting are a low percentage.In the end we are the ones with the guns.
Quote from: ghosthunter on April 14, 2024, 05:45:27 PMQuote from: chukardogs on April 14, 2024, 05:24:20 PMI'm sorry, I obviously need to work on my sarcasm. I thought hunters lives being more important than hikers lives would have gave it away. I know that whatever the law is, the states not changing it. I do find it odd that hunters have to wear the bright colors and we're the ones with the guns.As I said before I don’t like it.But if you look at hunting accidents, you are most likely to shoot yourself or someone in your hunting party or of coarse be shot by someone in your party. Shootings involving unknown parties while hunting are a low percentage.In the end we are the ones with the guns. Shootings that are going to be prevented during bear season by wearing hunter orange are zero. I'd actually say it does give people a false sense of security and could result in more accidents. For example everyone in your group is wearing hunter orange, and no one saw the hiker come in to pick berries in a black rain coat
Just an opinion; if it's really all about safety and hunters have to wear hunter orange or pink then why wouldn't anyone out n about in the hills during an open season where firearms are being used be required to wear orange or pink?
I'm pretty sure I remember a berry picker in Montana a few years back wearing a black jacket was shot by a couple bear hunters. If he'd been wearing a bright pink coat, maybe he's still pickin berries.
Quote from: chukardogs on April 14, 2024, 04:42:10 PMJust an opinion; if it's really all about safety and hunters have to wear hunter orange or pink then why wouldn't anyone out n about in the hills during an open season where firearms are being used be required to wear orange or pink?The main reason there isn't such a regulation (hikers being required to wear orange) is that WDFW lacks the jurisdiction over hikers, the only exception would be WDFW could say anyone hiking on WDFW lands is required to wear orange. The DNR would have to adopt a similar reg for their lands, Forest Service for their lands, etc. The only way around this would be for the state legislature to actually adopt a law requiring the wearing of orange during hunting seasons, and that just isn't going to happen.
Quote from: bigtex on April 14, 2024, 07:29:13 PMQuote from: chukardogs on April 14, 2024, 04:42:10 PMJust an opinion; if it's really all about safety and hunters have to wear hunter orange or pink then why wouldn't anyone out n about in the hills during an open season where firearms are being used be required to wear orange or pink?The main reason there isn't such a regulation (hikers being required to wear orange) is that WDFW lacks the jurisdiction over hikers, the only exception would be WDFW could say anyone hiking on WDFW lands is required to wear orange. The DNR would have to adopt a similar reg for their lands, Forest Service for their lands, etc. The only way around this would be for the state legislature to actually adopt a law requiring the wearing of orange during hunting seasons, and that just isn't going to happen.And any rule would be ruled unconstitutional.
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.