Blaze Orange

[orchardhills]

I'm going deer hunting for the first time and was wondering if the collective forum would recommend wearing blaze orange in any amount. The buddy that invited me said he never wore it before but due to the large amount of hunters that were there (D-7 near Wishon) he was going to wear a camo blaze orange hat. He said last year some guy was aiming right him.

Thanks in advance.

 

[gwhunter69]

I wear a blaze orange camo hat as well.  While most hunters are careful, I do it just to be on the safe side especially if I am going to be walking through brush.

 

[Qbn Hunter]

I would wear it cause there are many yahoos out there.

 

[One Track]

Anything to prevent being shot by some dumbass.  

 

[Wheelchair Bandit]

Not to scare anyone,but statistics show that about 95% of hunters shot while hunting were wearing at least one large peice of blaze orange-and a good percent were wearing all blaze orange (hat,coat,pants).

This is why I wear full cammo,head to toe-I figured it's hard for someone to shoot me if they can't see me.

WB.

 

[Kickaha]

Hey WB, do you recall where you saw those statistics?  I'm personally torn between not wearing orange and carrying around a 30' flag pole with a dozen orange flags fluttering in the breeze and a large "Don't Shoot Me" sign.

 

[storm]

I wear camo orange hat also. That's my way of telling others to find their own spot, besides the safty factor.

 

[Wheelchair Bandit]

I belive it was in "Deer and Deer Hunting" around a year ago.Don't quote me on that though.

It is common knowledge that most hunters shot while hunting are wearing ample hunter orange.

Just last year back east somewhere,a hunter shot another hunter by accident.The victim was less than 100 yards away,in fairly open timber,and was wearing a blaze orange cap and vest.The bullet him in the head.The shooter,upon figuring out what he'd done,had a heart attack and died also.

My dad and a few friends of his once witnessed a hunter shooting at a young hunter wearing full blaze orange,walking across a prarie.The kid was lucky enough to get behind an old fallen log.The hunter then continued to pelt the log,while the kid franticly waved his blaze orange hat in the air.My dad and his friends yelled and screamed at the guy.The guy just looked up at them (about 250 yards away),and then went right back to shooting.My dad sat down to take a rest and shoot the SOB when he jumped up and took off down the hill.They chased him all the way back to his rig but never caught him or got his license plate number.The kid walked away unharmed exsept for having a very,very bad scare.

 

[doghouse95]

In some states it is the law that you wear a certain amount of blaze orange while hunting.

 

[wavesfr]

I wear a camo orange hat Myself. I know I can spot it very easy when someone else is wearing it. I started awhile ago when something scared Me kinda. I was pig hunting. I got to My spot above a water hole before sunrise. Set up & was waiting. The sun started to come up. I was glassing covering the whole area.  Time went on then all of a sudden. A guy stood up straight across from Me. Down bye the water about 25 feet from the edge. He was so camo'd & blended so well I never seen him. Had His legs tucked up underneath himself. With grass & stuff pulled up in front of him. Which made Me think. I am very careful & have been doing this long enough to know better. But still that could've went wrong fast & it would've been an accident. So this is why I wear it & hopefully you do to.

 

[AJ]

In Wyoming it's the law, unless you're bow hunting. I think it's a good idea to wear some orange, I've seen folks riding horses thruogh the timber wearing a carhart coat that was the same color as an elk. As far as the Game goes, I don't think it makes a lot of difference.

 

[DanV]

Been wearing a blaze orange vest for at least ten years now. Did not until one year we hunted Utah and saw hunters miles away, 5-7 miles easy with binos. Too many hunters, many unskilled in CA, think its a good idea and maybe should be law. Only time I don't wear it is later in the season when my son is not with me, he ALWAYS wears it when deer or upland bird hunting. Also I will wear it later on if I see more than one or two vehicle's parked within a couple of miles of where I start hiking. Thinking of going to a orange hat also as my vest is blocked by my pack I have been using the last couple of years.

Hunt Safe

 

[jackrabbit]

I always dress in camo, but keep a blaze vest and hat in my camo daypack; then I put one or both on when situations get me a little nervous, especially if I am near dry brush which might make me look like I've got a huge set of antlers on my head!

 

[Bishop]

I always where a orange hat.  I just feel there's too many hunters in Calif. and orange really stands out from long distances.  I've got the reversable boonie hat that bass pro and big 5 sells.  That way you can wear  orange when your walking, and switch to the camo side when you want to stalk close up or hide on a trail.  I mostly handgun and bow hunt. But if I was rifle hunting where distance isn't so critical I'd wear orange all the time.    

 

[Sporty]

Archery-No
Rifle in a X zone-not usually
Rifle in a B or C zone-Hell yeah!
Just my thoughts,
Sporty

 

[Shep]

Sporty hit the nail on the head.

 

[Buick 270]

I've never worn it. I've been shot once dove hunting and I still dont feel that it's nessicary for me to wear it. I have no idea how some of those people who shot other people with orange did it. I didn't have my glasses last season but I could still see people with orange on and my vision was at -250. But i noticed when you are wearing orange u can still hide cause when i shot my buck in X-1 last year I looked around and saw about 6 or 7 other people in orange standing up and walking away cause they were stalking the same deer. lol.

 

[shaginator]

Here are the 2001 Hunting Accident stats from DFG, based on reports collected over that season.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/ca2001.html

From what I've gleaned, most of these accidents were the result of the victim being out of sight of the shooter, and most of the victims were not wearing blaze orange. Also note that the stats lean towards dove hunters, where concentrations of hunters are expectedly high (be careful out there in El Centro, folks!). The two fatalities happened during rifle deer season.

The remaining accidents look like the result of the moron factor (leaning a loaded gun against a truck, for example).

I imagine the the number of unreported cases make these stats much higher.

Be careful out there!

 

[SoCalTed]

Wheelchair Bandit - maybe the shooter was pounding the rounds at the kid who brought his daughter home a little late??

Anyway - I'd don't wear orange when doving - as more often then not you will occasionally get pelted by shot from a distance regardless of what you are wearing. For Imperial, line of site is pretty open and everybody is looking to occupy right angles anyway. I recommend good sunglasses and a thick hat with a broadbrim to protect your neck from sun and shot.

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Watch your lines![/b]

 

[deadducks]

Its agood idea to wear a orange hat or vest of some type. How can you take the chance. It doesn't have to be some yahoo, might be a seasoned hunter just unable to see you all camoed out. Or, one might get caught up in the moment and take a dangerous shot. It would be real sad for the family to have someone hurt or killed because someone thinks they are too cool, or macho to wear a little orange. Be careful and good luck out there.