Blaze Orange Legislation, Yeah or Neah

[htrjv]

Certain elements within DEC and the Legislature want to mandate the wearing of Blaze Orange.  I have my personal feelings on this matter, but I was wondering what other hunters and non-hunters feel about this issue.  Personally, it really bothers me, that all of the thousands of hours I , and other Hunter Safety Instructors, have spent trying to educate new and experience hunters isn't good enough.  We have reduced injuries and fatalities dramatically.  Is "0" fatalities realistic? What do you think?  Do you wear blaze orange, when you are in the woods?  Would you wear it if it was against the law NOT to wear it while hunting?  Should All hunters wear it, or only some?  Thanks, Joe

[savageT]

htrjv,
You hit my HOT Button!  I've always felt Blaze Orange should be worn in the woods, but since bow and turkey seasons began, stealth has demanded that you dress in camo.  I honestly feel threatened when in the woods and always wear at least something in solid blaze-orange or orange/camo.  I remember what my dad said (in an era where all there were was heavy, red & black Malone Classic wool clothes):  "Never carry anything on you that is white, like a hankerchief" he would say.  The thought being if it looked like a deer's white flag, you were an instant target in the woods!  Back then, Yes, there were "Crazies" with itchy trigger fingers!
What do you feel is the trade-off: Safety or Stealth?  Me, I want to be the hunter not hunted!

Jim

[htrjv]

savageT, I am a firm believer in Blaze Orange.  I would rather educate the public, than legislate.  Think of it kinda like gun control in New Jersey.  Here you are an law abiding owner of a 10/22, and then they pass a law that makes it illegal to own one. Now you're an outlaw.
I have done alot of in-field research on Blaze Orange.  Deer can see it! But so can other hunters.  Deer will see movement more. Turkeys are fixated by it.  I think all hunters should wear it while in the woods.  Bowhunters and turkey hunters alike can utilize Blaze Orange to and from there stands, and they can tie it around the tree that they are sitting or standing against.  This provides an instant sign that there is a hunter in the woods, without compromising his/her presence unless they move.  Unfortunately, we hear too much about people being mistaken for game, or being shot down range beyond the game, being shot at.  Like I said in my original post.  It is the hunter's responsibility to identify the target AND what is beyond it.  If you can't, you DON"T shoot!  Just my $.02.  How is a law mandating Blaze Orange going to keep someone from using poor judgement?  Are we so stupid that we have to have a law, threatening us with fine or penalty, before we smartenup?

[NYH1]

I alway wore blaze orange with camo in it. A few years ago I switched to Realtree Hardwoods camo (no orange). I have no idea way I switched. Just to do something different I guess! This year I'm wearing blaze orange with camo again. I have no plans on not wearing blaze orange again either. I really feel safer when wearing it either big game or small game hunting.

I don't know how I feel about a law requiring it. It really wouldn't effect me. I tell my kids (11, 7 and 3 years) they have to wear blaze orange, and I want then to continue wearing it when it makes sense too! By that I mean I would were some sort of blaze orange when big game season is open for firearms of any kind, or when hunting when your on the move as in bird or rabbit hunting and that king of thing. I don't turkey or bow hunt but if I did I would wear camo when hunting but would wear blaze orange when I was moving around. Same with waterfowl hunting. Again this is just me!

[Graybeard]

If I'm in woods where deer hunting with guns is legal I have lots of orange on. Even on a piece of private land where I'm parked within 150 yards of the stand I'll use and it's all open enough I'll not be mistaken for anything but me. Still I wear it.  I think these days a person is insane not to. But I'm dead set again legislating it even tho they have in Bama. Like seat belt laws and helmet laws on motorcycles. If you're stupid enough to not do it then I don't think it is the government's place to force you to.

I also think it is a crying shame we need to wear orange. A person should be totally safe roaming the woods in a gilly suit during deer season if they want to do it. It's our responsibility to KNOW what the heck we're pointing our guns at. As far as I'm concerned I think anyone who shoots another in the woods and claims they "thought" it was a game animal should be tried for first degree murder. They fully intended to KILL what they shot at. What they shot at was a human, ergo, first degree murder is the ONLY appropriate charge to bring.

Now I understand hitting a person beyond your line of sight. Say you acturally see an animal legal to shoot. Fire at it and hit or miss as the case might be and there is someone unseen the bullet may then later impact. That's a different situation all together. But if you shot in a dangerous direction such as at an animal sky lined and didn't know what was beyond you're still guilty of a serious mistake and getting off completely free is not apropriate.

[Mikey]

I prefer to wear blaze orange, just for safety's sake.  Just after the war I always went camoflaged, until I had a coouple of fellas tell me that they didn't see it was me, they thought it might be something else moving through the brush.  That's ok when it's a bad guy your looking for but not when you're hunting.

And, there are always stupid people out there and I prefer not to chance stupidity.  

Yes, whitetails see Orange, but they don't see it as orange.  They have a low light visibility range that is higher in the infrared range than our vision is.  They don't see the same colors we do.  They may see something like blue, as blue (lower visibility range), but may see orange as brown or even a dirty white.  Some of our colors appear to be blazing to them and that is what might spook them.  They see movement much better than we do and that also alerts them.  

I have seen whtetail walk to within 50 yds of a coyote I was trying to get a bead on.  The Yote was perfectly still in the short grass and the deer didn't see the clear difference in colors that I did.  But, when that Yote brought his head up the deer spooked for the magic mile and the Yote never had a chance.  

Somewhere there is a chart that identifies what human visibility colors translate to in deer visibility.  Now, all I have to do is try and find it.  Mikey.

[bubba]

I am not fo rlegislating it, In fact I rarely wear it. If however it is legislated I want it for all deer hunting. whether it is done with a bow muzzleloader or high power rifle. The thought that deer can not determine orange is fine. The reason for not legislating it for archery and muzzleloading is that they need to be closer to the deer. This was told to me by a DEC official. If the deer do not see it then why the worry. In this day and age of supposed 200 yard muzzleloaders, I could kill someone just as dead with that as I  could with my 25-06. The argument has no basis. I am in total agreement to educate not legislate I guess that may be because I do educate in my safety classes.  My only other point is that people get traine dhat of it isnt orange it is not a person. Some of the places we hunt have public access. Not everyoen there is a hunter. Will they need to wear orange to be safe, or, should the hunter be responsible for himself and his actions and know what he is shooting at not have to make everyone else responsible for him

[Daveinthebush]

Heard that Pataki reqected the last bill as the way it was stated: All hunters including duck hunters and bow hunters had to wear orange and it was impossible to wear the number of inches required by the bill.

[Will_C]

I'm with Graybeard. I just don't like laws about my safety. I wear orange when I hunt in Pennsylvania because we hunt on the ground and we drive deer. In NY, I hunt on private property, from a tree stand, and I don't orange on stand. I do have a hat and vest in my pack, and I wear it to the stand and if I have to follow up a shot, etc.  I feel comfortable with what I do.
Will

[Raging480]

I like to wear blaze orange....sometimes.  I would not like it to be law, I like to have the option.  Also, Bubba's point is critical.  Let's say the law becomes active.  Some may get complacent, and think "Well, I don't see any orange down there, that means it must be ok to shoot."  What about people who aren't hunting?  They have the same right to use the public land woods as the rest of us.  But maybe they are walking their dog and wearing a brown carhart jacket...

[ironglow]

If blaze orange were made mandatory, it should certainly be at most, only for smokeless powder big game hunting.
   Truly, I would rather "educate not legislate".
 
  When I hunt 'chucks, I am a bit concerned about the back of my head showing just over the top of a rolling hill....

   One time, only my emphatic insistence of "identifying my target" kept me from putting a .22 Hornet slug in another hunter's head...since just the top of his head was peeping over the crest of a knoll.
   He had brown, woodchuck colored hair...and looked just like one..

   I would like to find a baseball type hat that is camo in front and blaze orange in the back half...haven't found it yet though!

[Graybeard]

So make your own. Pin or sew some orange fabric on the back of a camo hat or cap.

[Varmint Hunter]

ironglow,

A blaze orange hat is mandatory for hunting woodchucks in PA. I normally shoot them from a bench which I set up just off the road so I am not concerned about being mistaken for anything. I can also easily see everything around my shooting area. However, it's the law so I wear a vented blaze orange baseball cap.

Unfortunately, I NEVER see anyone else do the same. Most of the distant woodlines are where the groundhog holes are. If someone were to come through the woodline they would be much easier to see if they had an orange hat on.

There is no doubt that NY's Blaze Orange Law will be in effect for next years biggame season. If it further eliminates accidents/fatalities then I'm all for it. One thing people don't realize about NY biggame hunters: according to the NYS DEC a higher percentage of hunters here wear blaze orange than in many other states where it is mandated. Adopting the law may be just another feel-good piece of legislation.

VH

[ironglow]

Yep VH;
   Unfortunately, we get a lot of "feel good" legislation in NY....
   Much of it not well thought out...then later it doesn't feel so good...LOL
Although I have some centerfire .22s, I prefer hunting the 'chucks with rimfires, so it is necessary to "watch your back".
   
     Yes GB, guess that's what I'll have to do, sew on some orange; no real problem...but a complete hat would be nice...
  Of course,i t would seem like someone would already have done it!

[Chuck White]

I wear a Blaze Orange hat (cap) along with Hardwoods Camo shirt and pants for two reasons!

1. To be seen by other hunters "as a hunter, not a target"!  
When I'm moving, I have the hat on and when I'm sitting, I have it sitting on the ground next to me, or on a tree limb!  If I am sitting and I see another hunter, I put the hat on!

2. I had a heart attack nearly 10 years ago and if I were to have one while hunting, that blaze orange will be easier to find than Hardwoods Camo!  I would like the people looking for me to find me before the coyotes do!

[htrjv]

ironglow, There are many hats available.  Wally World is one of the best places to pick one up, especially at the end of the season.  They mark those hats wayyyy down (less than $2.00).  Even when they are the regular price, they are under $5.00.  I even go so far as to buy those hats and give them out in my Hunter Safety classes, to ALL students under 16.  Last year I gave out over 70 blaze orange vests I picked up at Wally World for $.50 each (regular price was $.97). The kids really appreciate them.  I even had parents asking me if they could have one.  My contribution to the sport!  Joe