Do ya wear blaze orange for safety or what?

[Oldshooter]

Is it me or does anyone else notice that on the hunt shows the "client" is wearing orange but the guide wears camo. No telling how the camera guy is dressed. I'm wondering if it is for safety, why wouldn't everyone wear orange? I saw one today set in Quebec where everyone was in orange. If you see one set in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming and such, the guides generally are in camo while the poor shmuck paying the big fee is in orange, and he is carrying the Gun.     We generally dont wear orange here in the republic of Texas unless its Federal land from what I can decipher.  Please educate an old redneck to ease my mind.

[Swampman]

I wouldn't wear it if they didn't make me.

[Ranger99]

texas state owned land (wma's- state parks) &
corps land all have to have minimum 400 square
inches of blaze with blaze headwear and
144 square inches each chest and back area
during daylight hours when hunting with
firearms is permited, hunting or not when in
hunting area.
exceptions: authorized dept personnel
                 turkey or migr bird hunting
                 within enclosed veh
                  within design campground,
                 parking area, desig boat launch
                 are, dept check station
i've been on some research hunts where i
felt like i didn't have enough. i've been on
a couple of feral hog hunts where the wardens
were wearing black jackets brush busting
through the woods with jumpy hunters
when the wardens should have had blaze on.
moving through the thick foggy river bottom
when everyone is looking for black hogs
isn't very smart.
           

[Oldshooter]

I understand the safety issues. I dont own any but have never needed it where I hunt. I hunt private land and it is not a requirement. If I thought my life was in danger I would not hesitate. The issue , my issue is that on the video shows the guides dont wear it, the guys(clients) carrying the guns do. Now that may not be a hard and fast rule but it is my observation, and I have seen it more often than not.

[Ranger99]

i don't wear any on private land either.
i came to realize that half or more content
on modern hunting shows is mostly scripted
content and mostly for "entertainment"
value rather than educational purpose.
you see the guide and the "star" low
crawl to a wary animal for a hundred yards
and they talk and move (not so stealthy)
the whole time " do you see him billy-joe?
yep- he'll make the book for sure. we've
only got another fifty yards to go. well. . .
i'll bet this new ultra zipper mag rifle from
my show's new sponsor will surely blow
him off his feet. ok. . . .a little farther. . .
. . . .ok. . .shoot him now! "


you get the idea. . .

[Ranger99]

i should also say that when you look
close you can see that it's all filmed
from an angle that shows that the
camera man has to be standing upright.
my belief is that they've already shot
the deer, elk, etc. and all the crawling
stalking etc. is done after the fact.


i don't watch 'em anymore anyway.
the modern "hunting" show has just
about ruined deer hunting in texas.

[Oldshooter]

i don't wear any on private land either.
i came to realize that half or more content
on modern hunting shows is mostly scripted
content and mostly for "entertainment"
value rather than educational purpose.
you see the guide and the "star" low
crawl to a wary animal for a hundred yards
and they talk and move (not so stealthy)
the whole time " do you see him billy-joe?
yep- he'll make the book for sure. we've
only got another fifty yards to go. well. . .
i'll bet this new ultra zipper mag rifle from
my show's new sponsor will surely blow
him off his feet. ok. . . .a little farther. . .
. . . .ok. . .shoot him now! "


you get the idea. . .

Exactly... I thought it was just me that noticed that.
 
I like the part about the " new ultra zipper mag rifle from
my show's new sponsor "
 
Gave me a good laugh! Thanks

[PowPow]

I meet the minimum orange requirement for my state, but don't rely on orange to keep me safe; signout board, club safety rules, texting each other.


My favorite line on those hunting shows is "it was the last day of the hunt..." They never shoot anything in the first 30 minutes of the hunt. Only my guests and my friends' wives can see and shoot a nice buck in the first 30 minutes of a hunting weekend. Then they are ready to leave.

[Ranger99]

you never see anyone with a 60-70
year old gun that paw-paw bought
new, or a bow that's scratched up from
wagging it through the bush or pulling
it up a tree, or using anything other
than the sponsor's 55 dollar a box ammo

[Oldshooter]

I meet the minimum orange requirement for my state, but don't rely on orange to keep me safe; signout board, club safety rules, texting each other.


My favorite line on those hunting shows is "it was the last day of the hunt..." They never shoot anything in the first 30 minutes of the hunt. Only my guests and my friends' wives can see and shoot a nice buck in the first 30 minutes of a hunting weekend. Then they are ready to leave.

Aint it tha truth and then the last light to boot! but seriously check whos wearing orange on the guided hunt next time you see one on tha boob tube.

[TribReady]

i'm like PowWow on meeting the minimum required by the state.  i've always worn a vest only, my son wears a vest only.  of course, if we are hunting with another group, or any type of drive situation, I will make my son or daughter often wear a full orange jacket.  Like has been mentioned, jumpy hunters make me jumpy 
9/10 we are hunting private land with one other group-we talk beforehand, are respectful of each others "areas" and text often.  i'd go full-camo in that situation if allowed.
oh-and I refuse to have anyone wear orange gloves.  i know deer don't see color, but I want hands to be camo'ed since they are moving the most.

[spruce]

Can't stand to watch most of those hunting shows either - especially when they whoop and hollar and high-five all around when they shoot something.  Shows no respect for the animal.
 
As far as the guides not wearing blaze orange I would guess it's mostly just the law in the area they're hunting.  Probably some places only require the hunter (shooter) to wear orange and the guide isn't required to.
 
Here in Michigan they require a blaze orange hat, or a vest, or a jacket while hunting.  There are exceptions such as when waterfowl hunting, bowhunting, and a few others.
 
I'm not sure if a guide would be required to wear blaze here or not.  Non-hunters such as hikers, berry pickers, tree huggers, etc are NOT required to wear any blaze orange even during the hunting seasons. 
 
Ever notice on those hunting shows that no matter how cold it is they're all wearing just a baseball cap with the main sponsors logo on the front?  Don't know about you, but when it's below freezing and the wind is howling I like something a little more substantial covering my head and ears!

[Oldshooter]

Can't stand to watch most of those hunting shows either - especially when they whoop and hollar and high-five all around when they shoot something.  Shows no respect for the animal.
 
As far as the guides not wearing blaze orange I would guess it's mostly just the law in the area they're hunting.  Probably some places only require the hunter (shooter) to wear orange and the guide isn't required to.
 
Here in Michigan they require a blaze orange hat, or a vest, or a jacket while hunting.  There are exceptions such as when waterfowl hunting, bowhunting, and a few others.
 
I'm not sure if a guide would be required to wear blaze here or not.  Non-hunters such as hikers, berry pickers, tree huggers, etc are NOT required to wear any blaze orange even during the hunting seasons. 

Ever notice on those hunting shows that no matter how cold it is they're all wearing just a baseball cap with the main sponsors logo on the front?  Don't know about you, but when it's below freezing and the wind is howling I like something a little more substantial covering my head and ears!

I guess THATS MY PROBLEM. Seems to me if its a safety issue, all should wear orange, not just the shooter. What?... guides are bullet proof as well as all infallible

[IOWA DON]

The way I hunt, by myself or with with one trusted buddy who is very safe, hunter-orange is not needed but usually required by law. I think half the reason hunter-orange is required is so that game wardens can spot hunters from two miles away and then watch them through binoculars. I had a game warden lady (who was not lady-like) complain that I did not have hunter-orange on while driving down a public road. The state DNR had a game check on Interstate 80. Hunters who did not stop were identified by their hunter-orange clothing and then chased down. My buddy and I refer to our hunter-orange clothes as our clown suits. We have found them to be "un-safe" while driving as the bright orange reflects in the windows in bright sunlight, interferes with vision, and gets tiring after a while. However, it has saved the lives of some people who hunt with those who should not have a gun.

[geezerbiker]

It's not required here in Oregon but I usually wear an orange or bright red stocking cap since it's usually cold and I need one anyway during deer and elk season.

Tony

[jparedes]

Pigs, deer, dogs, etc., are color blind in the red/orange part of the spectrum, but can see extremely well in the blue/violet/ultraviolet part of the spectrum.
We humans use camouflage to hide from other humans or birds (turkey), so, if you want to become a possible target, please wear camouflage!

[Old Fart]

Deer rifle season required here. To be honest I think it's a good idea considering some of the fools out there. Just my opinion.

[LanceR]

I confess that this always is a topic on which one can hear a wide range of opinions.  Here in New York orange clothing is not mandatory.  I don't remember what the exact percentage of big game hunters is that voluntarily wears orange but seem to remember it being about 60% which is pretty high considering the number of hunters who hunt in pretty remote parts of the Adirondacks and Catskills.

There are roughly 800,000 folks in NY with hunting licenses.

The preliminary 2012 hunter related shooting incident report was published a few days ago.  While some of the cases are still under investigation the breakdown looks something like this:

There were only 24 incidents during 2012, a record safe year. 

Two of the incidents involved fatalities.

Of the 24 shootings, 13 were self inflicted.

At least a further 9 were shot by someone in their own party.  Remember that is 9 of only 11 two-party shootings.  Both fatalities were caused by someone in the victim's party.

At least seven shooters were already doing something illegal when they fired the shot(s). 

While the total number of shootings is bit less than the previous 5 year average (24 versus 28.6) the rough proportions of the incidents is fairly close to the average.

Clearly in NY you are at far greater risk from yourself or your companions than from strangers.

Lance

[mechanic]

It's required here in Ga., even on private land and even when in a stand.  The DNR will "sneak" up on you to cite you if you're in a stand without orange.
 
I have no problem with it if it's not reflective.  Some of that stuff reflects light light tinfoil.  I wear something other than plastic, and the deer don't seem to have noticed.
 
I had a DNR make a LONG walk around to come up behind me one day, and he was in full camo.  I came down and showed him my credentials, and offered up the advice that he should be in orange as well, even though I watched him for 20 min. or more.  Some folks aren't as experienced in the woods as I am, and for them you need to wear a flashing strobe light.
 
Ben

[PowPow]

Of the 24 shootings, 13 were self inflicted.

Wonder if any of the self-inflicted were because the guy was not wearing orange; the guy just didn't see himself.
 

...for them you need to wear a flashing strobe light.

I do wear a flashlight around my neck when its dark, not to see but to be seen.
 

[Oldshooter]

It's required here in Ga., even on private land and even when in a stand.  The DNR will "sneak" up on you to cite you if you're in a stand without orange.
 
I have no problem with it if it's not reflective.  Some of that stuff reflects light light tinfoil.  I wear something other than plastic, and the deer don't seem to have noticed.
 
I had a DNR make a LONG walk around to come up behind me one day, and he was in full camo.  I came down and showed him my credentials, and offered up the advice that he should be in orange as well, even though I watched him for 20 min. or more.  Some folks aren't as experienced in the woods as I am, and for them you need to wear a flashing strobe light.
 
Ben

 
That's kinda what I'm getting at.... if its a good idea for safety sake anyone in the woods during gun season should have it on. if its just for hunters then whats up with that?

[spruce]

I think one of the reasons that in most (if not all) places the law was written to apply to hunters only, and not other people who may happen to be out in the woods, is that the majority of accidents that are NOT self-inflicted involve other members of the same hunting party.
 
It kind of makes sense when you think about it.  Depending on what kind of hunting you're doing you would be with, or in reasonably close proximity to, the other members (hunters) of your hunting party for an extended period of time.  Could be an hour or an all day hunt.  The odds of an accident occuring would increase proportionate to the amount of time you're hunting together.
Whereas a hiker, for example, would only be in the "danger zone" for a brief time.  In other words there would only be a few minutes where an accident could happen, as opposed to a chance of it happening at any time during a several hour period.
 
Another reason, especially where it's required on both public and private lands, is the lawmakers may have considered the backlash of requiring it of ALL people in the field/woods.  Can you imagine the reaction from a farmer being ticketed for not wearing orange when he's out plowing his fields or mending fence?!  Or a logger while he's in the woods felling trees?
 
Another possible reason (and probably the most likely) is that the laws on blaze orange are somewhat arbitrary, just like most laws.  For example we have a law regarding discharging a firearm within 450 feet of an occupied dwelling - only the owner or someone with the owner's permission can legally do so.  Why 450 feet, why not 400 or 475 or....?

[Old Fart]

I think one of the reasons that in most (if not all) places the law was written to apply to hunters only, and not other people who may happen to be out in the woods, is that the majority of accidents that are NOT self-inflicted involve other members of the same hunting party.
 

I know most of the farm & ranch / feed stores around here start handing out free hunter orange advertising caps each fall just for this reason. You'll see lots of farmers/ranchers sporting new ones each year.

[SHOOTALL]

In Va. we need it in deer season for modern guns but not ML seasons if not at the same time as regular gun season. Now dove and water fowl hunters don't have to wear it during deer season  . It can be a safety thing and it can also give false confidence . I have heard shooters say if they don't see orange they shoot . IMHO a bad plan.

[Oldshooter]

Another possible reason (and probably the most likely) is that the laws on blaze orange are somewhat arbitrary, just like most laws.

Thats something I can agree with totally !

[FPH]

It depends on where at and who with I'm hunting.  Sometimes no, soometimes I bath myself and my horses in orange.  My friend shoots hit cattle with orange or neon green paint balls during hunting season.

[mcbammer]

Alabama  requires   you  to  have  144  sq.  inches  in  some  form  . I  prefer  a  cap  or  tobogan .  both  cover  the  requirement. Flouresent  green  is  a  better  color  than  orange IMO.

[FPH]

Alabama  requires   you  to  have  144  sq.  inches  in  some  form  . I  prefer  a  cap  or  tobogan .  both  cover  the  requirement. Flouresent  green  is  a  better  color  than  orange IMO.

NM has no requirement for me except on Military land.....CO required 500 sq in.

[PowPow]

Alabama  requires   you  to  have  144  sq.  inches  in  some  form  . I  prefer  a  cap  or  tobogan .  both  cover  the  requirement. Flouresent  green  is  a  better  color  than  orange IMO.

NM has no requirement for me except on Military land.....CO required 500 sq in.

Dang, McBammer, us Alabama boys' heads ain't big enough to wear orange in Colorado.

[FPH]

Alabama  requires   you  to  have  144  sq.  inches  in  some  form  . I  prefer  a  cap  or  tobogan .  both  cover  the  requirement. Flouresent  green  is  a  better  color  than  orange IMO.

NM has no requirement for me except on Military land.....CO required 500 sq in.

Dang, McBammer, us Alabama boys' heads ain't big enough to wear orange in Colorado.

No cammo orange either.  I've seen a few bama boys with heads swole enough for 500 sq in.  Especially after the pounding you  gave the Irish.