Good morning neighbors, this is a stupid question as the regs are straight forward, but as long as there is NOT a rifle season within my muzzleloader bull season (Box Elder, Grouse Creek unit), I do not have to have hunter orange......correct???
Hunter Orange
- Thread starter tdub24
- Start date
hoshour
Veteran member
Depends on the state. The hunter orange policy for any state is easy to find. it is almost always in the hunting booklet and if not, typing it in the search window of the F&G site will get it. If it's not clear, just call the G&F and they'll tell you.
Musket Man
Veteran member
I believe you are correct. Isnt the reg something like you only have to wear it in a rifle season? Its been a few years since I have ML hunted Utah but I dont remember wearing orange there.
Topgun 30-06
Banned
Here is a link for all the states for hunter orange and hunter safety classes. Utah does not require hunter orange for ML hunters unless there is a rifle season during that time!
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/safety/docs/US_Hunter_Orange_Requirements.pdf
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/safety/docs/US_Hunter_Orange_Requirements.pdf
Last edited:
Musket Man
Veteran member
TG, he is asking about Utah. The reg is not worded very clearly but I take it to mean you only have to wear orange if there is an open center fire season on the unit. Here is the link to the UT reg book.
http://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks/2014_pdfs/2014_field_regs_low.pdf
http://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks/2014_pdfs/2014_field_regs_low.pdf
Thanks, I was sure I was interpretting the regs right but for some reason was second guessing myself. Thanks for clearing it up, do not need the hunter orange unless there is a rifle season. Which in my case, there is not.......sweet! More Utah questions to come I'm sure.
CM_
New Member
You are correct. You don't need to wear hunter orange during the muzzleloader hunt (unless there is an open rifle hunt).
I've changed my mind about hunter orange. I am not so sure that deer can't see it. Even if the can, now I don't care. I do know other hunters can see it, and it's easily seen from the air. When I'm in an area where big game is killed, I'm wearing it.
For some reason I actually analyzed what a 130 grain .270 Win did to a buck. No human could survive such a wound. Were a hunter an hour from hospital and were shot in a non-vital area by a big game rifle, he'll likely arrive at an emergency room in time for physicians to harvest his organs.
I would much rather be seen by other hunters than be tagged by any big game rifle.
For some reason I actually analyzed what a 130 grain .270 Win did to a buck. No human could survive such a wound. Were a hunter an hour from hospital and were shot in a non-vital area by a big game rifle, he'll likely arrive at an emergency room in time for physicians to harvest his organs.
I would much rather be seen by other hunters than be tagged by any big game rifle.
ithunter
Member
I have to say I'm with this guy...I trust what I know and how I act. Others not so much.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I'll start this by saying "Hunter Orange.........I hate it" I'll tell you why I don't think it's needed and is way overboard in some states, like here in Colorado.
I've hunted for about 65 years, all over the western US. Shot my first deer when I was 12 (I am now 72). I taught Hunter Safety with my Dad for years (can't remember exactly how many) and am a NRA Instructor and Range Safety Officer. I also shoot competition pistol, rifle & shotgun in various disciplines. I guess I can say I am experienced enough to know something about safety.
I all my years hunting in the field and shooting at the range, I have seen only 2 people that suffered gunshots. One self inflicted, the other from crossing a fence and doing something really stupid. I have hunted in California for all of my 65 years (still do even tho I live in Colorado), a state with no orange requirement. Never seen a big game hunter shot by another hunter. Here in Colorado the "orange army" descends and we all know hunting season is here. Archers wear camo, gun hunters wear orange. Makes no sense, a broad head kills just as dead as a bullet. It is even more crazy as M/L hunters wear orange and archers camo in the field together. If it could be proved that wearing orange was safer, I have not seen it. Many years ago when there was no Hunter Safety training requirement, it probably helped some. But today with almost universal HS requirements in all states, it is really not necessary....just politically correct!
I also don't believe that the game animals can't see it, no matter what color they perceive it to be.
I know I'll get a lot of flak, but that won't change what I have seen and learned in my lifetime of hunting.
I've hunted for about 65 years, all over the western US. Shot my first deer when I was 12 (I am now 72). I taught Hunter Safety with my Dad for years (can't remember exactly how many) and am a NRA Instructor and Range Safety Officer. I also shoot competition pistol, rifle & shotgun in various disciplines. I guess I can say I am experienced enough to know something about safety.
I all my years hunting in the field and shooting at the range, I have seen only 2 people that suffered gunshots. One self inflicted, the other from crossing a fence and doing something really stupid. I have hunted in California for all of my 65 years (still do even tho I live in Colorado), a state with no orange requirement. Never seen a big game hunter shot by another hunter. Here in Colorado the "orange army" descends and we all know hunting season is here. Archers wear camo, gun hunters wear orange. Makes no sense, a broad head kills just as dead as a bullet. It is even more crazy as M/L hunters wear orange and archers camo in the field together. If it could be proved that wearing orange was safer, I have not seen it. Many years ago when there was no Hunter Safety training requirement, it probably helped some. But today with almost universal HS requirements in all states, it is really not necessary....just politically correct!
I also don't believe that the game animals can't see it, no matter what color they perceive it to be.
I know I'll get a lot of flak, but that won't change what I have seen and learned in my lifetime of hunting.
mnhoundman
Veteran member
The way I read it, I would say hat and vest and they have to be at least 400 sq. Inch combined. It does say hat and vest. Wyoming says hat or vest. My opinion anyways.
Topgun 30-06
Banned
Requirement to wear
hunter orange
Utah Code § 23-20-31
If you’re hunting in an area where a centerfire
rifle hunt is occurring, you must wear
a minimum of 400 square inches of hunter
orange material on your head, chest and back.
A camouflage pattern in hunter orange
meets this requirement; however, the Division
strongly encourages hunters to continue using
solid hunter orange whenever possible.
hunter orange
Utah Code § 23-20-31
If you’re hunting in an area where a centerfire
rifle hunt is occurring, you must wear
a minimum of 400 square inches of hunter
orange material on your head, chest and back.
A camouflage pattern in hunter orange
meets this requirement; however, the Division
strongly encourages hunters to continue using
solid hunter orange whenever possible.
mtnrunner260
New Member
- Aug 14, 2011
- 18
- 0