Hunter orange in Calif.

[Jim D]

Are any other Calif. hunters wearing hunter orange on public land? I hunt most of the time alone and have reached the point that I won't go on public land without wearing it due to the amount of road hunters that will shoot at any movement they see in a canyon.--Jim

[Redhawk1]

Are any other Calif. hunters wearing hunter orange on public land? I hunt most of the time alone and have reached the point that I won't go on public land without wearing it due to the amount of road hunters that will shoot at any movement they see in a canyon.--Jim

I don't live in California but if I hunt public land and hunter orange was not required, I would wear it anyways. (I think) and it is just my opinion, every one should wear hunters orange during any firearm season. The only time hunter orange should not be required is bow season.

[Castaway]

Don't live or hunt in California, but do hunt in Florida on private land.  Although not a requirement, I wear orange to and from my stand.  Once I get there, I leave it on about half the time any way.  Orange on my body is good, bullet holes are bad and deer can't see the difference.

[Mike Buchholz]

South Dakota requires hunter orange during deer season, but not during pheasant season.  Each fall the state prints a list of all hunting accidents from the year before.  Generally there are around 30 accidents and the vast majority (80%) are during pheasant season.  Many would most likely be prevented if the victim was wearing orange.  My hunting partner and I always wear orange not matter what or where we are hunting

[Dave in WV]

"I don't live in California but if I hunt public land and hunter orange was not required, I would wear it anyways. (I think) and it is just my opinion, every one should wear hunters orange during any firearm season. The only time hunter orange should not be required is bow season."

I couldn't have said it better. WV requires at least 400 sq.in. of blaze orange and that's a cap and vest. On public land you can't wear too much IMO.

[Hooker]

Castaway I feel the same way about them bullet holes. It's Orange for me except for bow season and dove season.

Pat

[Dusty Miller]

I don't deer hunt here in the PRC for the exact reason you stated, too many road hunters who'll shoot at anything that moves.  Not everybody who owns a gun is one of us.

[Mikey]

Wear it.  I've had too many close calls not to wear orange, even on my private lands.  There are far too many idiots out there and they are as thick as liberals in new yawk city- you will find them anywhere.  It is best they see you coming so you won't have to shoot them inself defense.  Also, I doubt your Conservation Department will issue you a 2nd tag if you use the first one for a hunter.  Mikey.

[RCL]

I've been wearing blaze in Pennsylvania since the mid 70's, before we had to. I've had deer feeding almost under my tree and not notice I was there. I'm a firm believer in it for any firearms season, even turkey if you are up and moving around.

[Lawdog]

All the California hunters that I know wear blaze organ when hunting public lands.  Ever if we are hunting far from any area where "road hunters" can reach with their vehicles.  Dumb to do other wise.  Lawdog
 

[TCBrian]

I live in Southern California and firearms season is the biggest joke I have ever seen. First of all, not only are there a lot of road hunters that shoot at everything that moves. We now have a population of illegal aliens that like to hunt. There is already way too many tags given for these areas and the illegal aliens make the problem worse by bringing out 20 people for every guy with a tag. We heard about 30 shots and saw them bring out one deer last year in D-11. I don't know how many bullets hit that deer, but that is an aweful lot of stray bullets flying in all directions for me to feel very comfortable being in the area even if I was covered in Orange from head to toe. We have not nearly enough Game wardens, so the problem will only get worse before it gets better. That incident was not an isolated one, we have seen the same sort of thing over and over in the last few years.

My advise for hunting in CA, is get permission on private land or get as far back away from drivable roads as possible and even then, you have to be extremely careful.

Good hunting,
Brian

[Lawdog]

TCBrian,

the illegal aliens make the problem worse by bringing out 20 people for every guy with a tag.

It happens but DFG wardens are trying to put a stop to this.  During the early season this year I got to see two DFG wardens, with the assistance of seven Sheriff’s department officers, catch, arrest and confiscate the firearms of 14 illegal aliens that were hunting with 5 naturalized “hunters” :-D .  They also impounded the three SUV’s(one Jeep Cherokee & two Ford Explorers)  that the illegal aliens were driving.  Had a nice talk with one of the wardens a few days later and he told me that so far this year INS had deported over 100 illegal aliens that had been caught the same way.  With our illustrious Governor “Wimpminator” cutting back on DFG wardens this problem is only going to get worse.  We need more wardens not less.  Lawdog
 

[Questor]

Jim D:

I don't live in CA, but would never go hunting without orange, even on private land.  There's no reason not to, unless you're hunting turkey, waterfowl, or something else that can see color.  Even for bow hunting, I use orange.

[mr.frosty]

Here in Tenn it required to wear a minum of 500 sq.inches of blaze orange
on head and upper body during any big game hunt with a gun.

[TCBrian]

Lawdog,
That is good to here that they are at least trying to crack down on the problem. It is very discouraging when US citizens have their hunt ruined by people that are not here legally.

I'll be up your way in a few days, got to work up north, then we are going to hunt pigs on private land up near lake Sonoma. I will have my trusty super redhawk in hand. My buddy took a little pig there a few days ago with his Encore and he said a bunch are still around.

Good hunting,
Brian

[Lawdog]

Lawdog,
That is good to here that they are at least trying to crack down on the problem. It is very discouraging when US citizens have their hunt ruined by people that are not here legally.

I'll be up your way in a few days, got to work up north, then we are going to hunt pigs on private land up near lake Sonoma. I will have my trusty super redhawk in hand. My buddy took a little pig there a few days ago with his Encore and he said a bunch are still around.

Good hunting,
Brian

And considering that not very many are hunting Hogs in Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties the population is growing.  Deer and Black Bear populations are growing too.  Lawdog