I saw this posted on another forum and wanted to see what everyone here had to say about this subject.

Should government make us hunters wear hunter orange or should it be up to the individual.

I for one wear orange and think in most areas people should wear orange.It helps you stick out and helps people identify you as a human faster than wearing camo or a pair of blue jeans.I wear orange for the same reason that i wear a seatbelt in the car.Im not woried about me causing a accident.Im woried about the other guy.
I don`t want Big Brother to make me wear it.I think we have enough interference from him in our lives as it is

Riflemen10x

It's not required in Alaska, and I don't know of any hunters that wear it. I try to stay away from areas where there are concentrations of hunters, especially in heavy brush. I realize that isn't possible in most areas, so orange does make good sense. However, if the hunters are on a lease and everyone knows where one another is, I don't think it should be mandatory.

I don't think it's mandatory in parts of Texas, either (but could be wrong about that). When I hunt with friends in Tennessee, I do wear a vest and cap that are blaze orange. In some spots that we hunt down there, I don't think I would if it wasn't required, but in other places I would regardless of the law.

I really hate it too when the goverment tells me what to wear, thats my moms job! However I think making it manditory in the states where there are a large concentration of hunters raises the awareness of what you might look like to other hunters.

Most of the states I hunt don't require it, so most of the time I don't wear it. There are times, however, when prudence would say to have something on of that nature so you can be seen. Small game and bird hunting are a couple of instances where you should probably wear it, especially if party hunting.

Sitting in a Texas deer blind or packing in with an outfitter miles from the nearest road would normally be considered safe enough not to need it unless regulated.

I mainly hunt on federal and public lands. YOU do want to wear it then. Think it should go no higher then state. Big brother needs to keep out, for some areas its too remote to see another hunter.

Not required in Texas. Mostly we hunt from fixed blinds anyway.

I have worn it in other states on public land (and on private land where required), and also once in Texas where I was walking around on an unfamiliar property. Doesn't bother me and it does save lives. Only time I wore orange in Texas I shot a deer so it's certainly no handicap to the hunter in my opinion.

In a larger sense...no.

IT's available, the benefits known (although somewhat questionable), and if you decide not to wear orange, it's your choice. Your wearing it or not wearing it doesn't endanger others, just yourself.

Pretty much the same argument about motorcycle helmets....it really doesn't matter much to whomever a biker crashes into.

The couter argument is that any increased danger to ones self eventually does touch the rest of us in terms of increased medical insurance costs (someone has to pay for the wounded that need treatment...sometimes years and years of full time care).

Hunter orange is law during firearm deer season in Maine. Am sure it's prevented some "accidental" shootings. I'm not fond of the government regulating my wardrobe, but there are a lot of idiots out there who don't identify thier target before pulling the trigger. Several years ago, a local hunter shot and killed a young woman in her back yard. She was a new mother of twins. Part of the defense was "She was wearing white mittens".
You don't have to wear orange during small game season, but I still wear an orange cap partridge hunting just in case.
Bought my ex a nice mink jacket and matching hat and mittens to wear hunting. Didn't work out as planned, but there a lot more rumors of Big Foot sightings in the area now!! :D

In New Brunswick, even bowhunters have to wear blaze orange! I questioned the province on this and their answer was that it was for safety and passed me a link to a report or article about some tragic accidents that have occurred where inexperienced and ill-taught hunters, in tree stands with bows, fired at and killed other hunters in camo coming down the trail before legal shooting time. Personally, I categorize this as criminal negligence, pure and simple.

My personal feeling is that blaze orange may save lives in areas that are subject to large numbers of hunters working in small patches of cover during short seasons. I avoid such places for my own safety since bullets can get flying pretty fast and furious, regardless of what you wear.

The policy as it exists in New Brunswick is, I am convinced, more to be able to keep track of those in the woods with firearms (for conservation enforcement reasons) than safety, otherwise all pers working or using the woods during an open season would be required to wear blaze orange. While I am all in favour of being able to enforce conservation measures and the game regulations, blaze orange is just for those honest enough not to violate the regs anyway.

Here in Wisc we are required to wear Orange during deer season. Unfortunately we don't have the wide open space that some other states enjoy. I would rear orange even if it wasn't mandatory; the reason being that there are over a million hunters in the woods. Accidents (SOMETIMES SPELLED NEGLIGENCE ) HAPPEN! I have a coworker whose father just had a $950,000 judgement against him for accidently shooting a 15 yr old in the face (and permanently blinding him) while turkey hunting on his own land. (Sound shot?)
Get This...The kids were trespassing! I used to be able to hunt on this chaps land... no more!
He has to face criminal charges next. (I thought that civil suits happen after criminal court) I have seen some older gents/youngsters/mid age folks in the woods with rifles that shouldn't be out there....
Its my choice to get the heck out of there!
The gov't just passes more laws.

This hurts all gun owners. We can't even get a CCL in this state. The restrictions get worse all the time.

I don't think that the GOV'T should have to tell us to do anything, I can think for myself. The flip side If you don't wear orange and you get shot...your problem. end rant.

Michigan, Hunter orange is mandated. Before it was, we had to prove a good reason to get a divorce it sorta came along with the no fault divorce law. There was less meddling in-laws. Seriously, I do believe that the current hunting anywhere you should wear orange to and from your hunting station once there it should be up to the individual. Especially when hunting from elevated stands, you should have a choice.

There seems to be a lot of good arguments both for and against the orange issue.

I once sat under a tree in my camo and watched a hunter come down the trail in front of me. He appeared loaded and ready to shoot anything that moved.

I was to scared to even breath hard. Even though I was in plain site not 20 feet from him I don't believe he ever saw me. I'm not so sure that he wouldn't have shot at me if I had moved.

I don't know if orange would have helped identify me as anything but a deer to this fella, but I was sure glad when he was long out of my site. Because I am handicapped I mostly still hunt and shure have seen some strange things.

In my state of Idaho we do not have to wear orange so I havn't, but encounters like the above make me wonder if it might be a little more sensible.

I don't like the government telling me what to do either. Guess I should look up some of the statistics of the states that do require it.

Hey Kanuck, you don't have to tell us how bad things are up in Kanaduh, we know that the Kommrads are in charge up there!!

I'm not against the wearing of orange. I AM against a government mandate.

DC

I'm not against the wearing of orange. I AM against a government mandate.

DC

I'M WITH YOU THERE BROTHER

I have read this post and monkey brained whether I should reply or not. Please accept that I am speaking from the heart and if I insult anyone then I apologize. I have been hunting since I was 6 years old (56 years by last count). Some of my oldest memories are pass shooting ducks with my dad on a wind blown dike. He taught me not to take a shot I was unsure of under any conditions. I think this is the right way to be and I resent the fact that this conversation even has to take place, as much as I resent the fact the government thinks it has to tell me how to do it. Imagine if it is actually necessary!!!! (No insult intended here, you guys make sense to me, and I know it has to be discussed or you wouldn't be discussing it.) Bottom line is, if you need orange I don't want you to see me, and if you are who I think you are (mostly) it doesn't matter. I believe the most important thing about hunting is that it is the last place that a man can truly make a decision that matters. You know what....we let 99% of what we see go. That is where we stand. By and large we aren't some idiot that just has to shoot something!!! Mandating orange plays into this and legislates for idiots, it often is an insult to us all. Faucettb your story was very important to me. I don't know if you are a brother from another life, but I know whereof you speak. I let a guy walk right by me on a game trail once. He never saw me. He was walking like an automaton and I swear I felt at the time if he saw me he would shoot me. Do you know that there is a world class fishing stream up north with a sign on it that points out a cliff!!! You've got it...it says "cliff"!!! My heart breaks!!! Fred

orange required on public lands, optional on private lands...don't see why there is even a question about that. I don't mind if they set the rules for public hunting units, it is common sense to wear orange on them anyway. I DO MIND if they try to tell me how to dress while hunting on my private property!!!!

Chk this out guys http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/sportsed/safety.html
I was quite suprised when i read the stats on the DEC web sight about 18 hunters being killed since 92 and out of the 18 that were killed none of them were wearing orange.Now Remember they just say the ones that were killed wern`t wearing orange.People were shot that were wearing orange but they didn`t die from the shooting.

Riflemen10x

Here in Wisc we are required to wear Orange during deer season. Unfortunately we don't have the wide open space that some other states enjoy. I would rear orange even if it wasn't mandatory; the reason being that there are over a million hunters in the woods. Accidents (SOMETIMES SPELLED NEGLIGENCE ) HAPPEN! I have a coworker whose father just had a $950,000 judgement against him for accidently shooting a 15 yr old in the face (and permanently blinding him) while turkey hunting on his own land. (Sound shot?)
Get This...The kids were trespassing! I used to be able to hunt on this chaps land... no more!
He has to face criminal charges next. (I thought that civil suits happen after criminal court) I have seen some older gents/youngsters/mid age folks in the woods with rifles that shouldn't be out there....
Its my choice to get the heck out of there!
The gov't just passes more laws.

This hurts all gun owners. We can't even get a CCL in this state. The restrictions get worse all the time.

I don't think that the GOV'T should have to tell us to do anything, I can think for myself. The flip side If you don't wear orange and you get shot...your problem. end rant.

I'm not sure I understand your position about the shooting.
Did the guy shoot the kid in mistake for a turkey? Was the kid in the line of fire behind a turkey? You said it could have been a sound shot. So because the kid was tresspassing, the shooter should not be held accountable because he took a shot at a noise and shot a person instead. PLease clarify.

Orange is required for big and trophy game seasons, except in archery only areas/seasons, in Wyoming. It only has to be one item of external wear and orange camo qualifies. For small game hunting it is "recommended" and required on certain state managed hunt areas.

I comply but wear more or less depending on where and when I am hunting. I always wear it when bird hunting alone or with others.

It helps me be safe by maneuvering around and away from other hunters. As a hunting fraternity we owe it to ourselves to reduce firearms "accidents", injuries, and deaths to the absolute minimum. It's a matter of protecting our own self interest in the sport we enjoy.

That being said, most "accidents" happen in or around vehicles or camps and usually involve friends or close relatives. That's a tragedy any way you slice it.

"Sound shots are a disgrace...period and the person who takes one has screwed up...period! Furthermore, I wouldn't expect anyone who has done this, who is a true hunter in any sense of the word, to defend it except as a mistake he didn't ever expect to make and why. There is no...repeat no...rationale for taking one that makes any moral or ethical sense to me. I can remember hearing about sound shots at five years of age and seeing a moose shot in through the antlers as well as the hind foot. It didn't make sense to me then and it doesn't now. Do you really think legislating for such things will help? Furthermore I don't believe that rapid fire in the East, where hunting pressure is heavier, provides any rationale for this either. Financial judgments doesn't make a particle bit of difference...Taking a sound shot is just wrong!!! It is a violation of one of the fundamental tenets of hunting, i.e. being sure of what you are shooting at. If you begin to legislate for this, you will destroy any meaningfulness in hunting. Every sport has a mortality rate. What is the point where attempts to make things safe destroys the meaning of the sport?

Some years ago a women in Porto Rico and her husband were pulled over for her not wearing a safty seat belt and holding her baby in her lap ! She pleaded not guilty and took it to the Supreme Court there which comes under the US court system ! Her defence was Roe Vs Wad or it is my body etc. ! She won the case , as the court ruled in her favor ! I wonder ! Most or the laws in this country are Ilegal , but where do you find an Honest Judge ? I have been shot at while wearing Orange as people have become brain dead since we have had to wear Orange ! JAGG

Folks -

I would ask you to try and stay on the topic at hand, namely - should hunter orange be mandated.

The unsportsman conduct and negligent "sound" shooting are totally different topics.

Thank you.

To clarify (Pa shooter) Yes, the the land owner thought he saw a turkey coming thru the brush, and he shot. I agree with you that the boy was on the land owners land with out permission, and the land owner should not be liable. I was not on the jury, nor am I an expert with Wisc statutes, but the sad part is that there is a permanent injury that MAY have been prevented if Orange had been used. Orange is not a good color for turkey hunting. Dilemma! This man will no longer let others hunt his land with good reason.

I don't agree with the results of court, just stating the facts.
Any solutions?????

Dunno. I've hunted ND (where its mandatory), never hurt my success there. I remember in NM one year that a hunter was shot & killed. He killed a deer, threw it over his shoulders (and over his orange) and started walking. Another uh..person shot him, thinking he was a deer. Maybe the orange being visible would have saved him, maybe not. In AL, you must wear orange until you're at least 12' off ther ground in your stand. Although i don't like being dictated to either, i comply, its cheaper and safer.

My opinion:
Where there are large numbers of hunters in the woods the likelyhood of an idiot being in the mix increases, so in those areas it should be common sense to wear orange.
In remote areas, or on limited access private land I find little reason to wear orange.
Wearing orange offers only marginal protection from idiots/accidental shootngs, but it seems better than nothing.
If people would just calm down and take their time the problem of most "accidental" shootings would be resolved as well as that of missed shots and wounded game.
Common sense should not have to be legislated.

Required by law here (400 square inches) during rifle season. Not required in stick and string season, or in spring turkey season, required in spring bear season.

I'd like to see it mandatory. Prior to MT requiring it there were 18 firearm related accidents, the year after it was implemented, 1976, there was one accident, and since then, there has never been more than two accidents per year, and in the last three years there haven't been any.