Hunter Orange Necessary?

woodchopper said:
oh binos.... I don't use them.

If I can't see that its an animal then its too far to shoot anyways.

but I do have excellent eyesight :) genetically blessed, I can read the second from the bottom line on the eyechart.

if you can't tell what something is then you need to get closer, thats just part of hunting, the stalking part.

3 years ago I ended up stalking up on 3 quaders all dressed in black having a rest stop in some thick bush. I just saw some black things moving around so I got closer, never even bothered to load my rifle it just stayed slung over my sholder.

now I know that others will find my hunting methods strange.

I've been told of camps where no slings are allowed you have to be ready to shoot and a slung rifle is not ready, and you need to have your rifle loaded and safety on and be ready.

me well the mag is normally loaded and often in my pocket.
I've stalked up and taken pictures of deer before I shot them.
I've had animals wander off into thick bush while I think about shooting them, and I've gone home with unfilled tags.
Last year was a poor year, I only filled 2 of my 6 tags, but I'm still eating moose, I ran out of deer about a month ago.


so to each their own, I try not to tell people how they need to hunt or what is right and what is wrong, unless they are dangerous.
Click to expand...


Now that's a new one on me. Sounds like the old SAS when they were hunting communist guerillas in the jungles of Borneo and Malaysia and such-like places. Whose business is it if you personally miss out on a shot, and why keep people so keyed up in the first place. It actually seems anti-safety if anything.
 
Big Bad said:
Back to orange, it occurs to me that when someone sees a man with a rifle or shotgun nowadays, they call the police. If that person is wearing blaze orange, the police will know it was someone who has no evil intent... even past posts on this forum has shown that they are still required to respond. But to go positive again, orange might prevent such a call in the first place.
Click to expand...

Great, you gave away our secret. Now all those committing mass shootings will start wearing blaze orange.
 
I once used my rifle scope to identify an animal. In 2002 I was moose hunting on (remote) Lemoine Lake, a fly-in location north of Foleyet, Ontario. If anyone here is familiar with the location I was on watch at Carty Creek. We had a bull tag - no cow tag. I had been calling periodically and at about sunset a moose came out of the tree line on the far side of the creek about 100 yds distance. My natural first thoughts were that it had to be a bull but it didn't have a distinguishable rack. Light was failing and the moose was in heavy shadow from the tree-line backdrop. With my 7x50 binos I scanned its head for several minutes as it walked back and forth and always within view. By times I was sure I could see short horns in front of those massive ears but I wasn't 100% sure. Finally I used my rifle with safety on and finger outside the trigger guard with the rifle resting on an old stump and looking at the moose through my 10X Swarovski I could see the horns. If that makes me an irresponsible hunter then have it at me.

 
Last edited:
ronecol said:
I once used my rifle scope to identify an animal. In 2002 I was moose hunting on (remote) Lemoine Lake, a fly-in location north of Foleyet, Ontario. If anyone here is familiar with the location I was on watch at Carty Creek. We had a bull tag - no cow tag. I had been calling periodically and at about sunset a moose came out of the tree line on the far side of the creek about 100 yds distance. My natural first thoughts were that it had to be a bull but it didn't have a distinguishable rack. Light was failing and the moose was in heavy shadow from the tree-line backdrop. With my 7x50 binos I scanned its head for several minutes as it walked back and forth and always within view. By times I was sure I could see short horns in front of those massive ears but I wasn't 100% sure. Finally I used my rifle with safety on and finger outside the trigger guard with the rifle resting on an old stump and looking at the moose through my 10X Swarovski I could see the horns. If that makes me an irresponsible hunter then have it at me.

Click to expand...

I think that it's fair to say that almost all of us have done it, it's just far from the best way of checking things out.
 
3macs1 said:
I would say for sure. It is night and day as far as hunter density and the type of terrain from where we hunt to Alberta

Any way WTF is wrong with hunters orange :)

Click to expand...

Now thats what I'm talking about! I bet all the jack off's that shot someone because of "mistaken identity" would have zero issues identifying this lady in the bush!
 
3macs1 said:
Same here in Nova Scotia even though the number of hunters has dropped 60% over the last 25 years and the woods is not as saturated with hunters as it was. I am still a head to toe orange pumpkin during rifle seasons for sure. I got one lucky break being shot at years ago and don't want to have that happen again if I can prevent it by the color of my hunting clothes
Cheers
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, this decline has occurred due to the devastating mis-management of wildlife in NS by provincial authorities. There is more revenue generated by hunting "taxes" in NS than in some US states. Yet those states have larger populations, similar land area, healthier wildlife herds. Why is that?

Ted
 
Now, I have gone through this thread. I must say, that in nearly 40 years of hunting, I have only been shot at in NS. I stopped hunting in NS because it wasn't worth it. My father shot at sounds! I am not a baiter, which is the only way to ensure a successful season. My family would eat a deer in less than a month. Grocery savings? Nope.
People in NS are far too jumpy. Too many hunters, not enough game to be worth it.
12years of hunting here in AB. No blaze orange, just whatever I am wearing. Never been shot at in this province. Never even been "scoped" to my knowledge.
Usually hunt alone or with my wife. There are some idiots out here as well, and I only hunt with them once (4 people now). I have orange gear I brought here, but don't use it, now. Even if I went back to NS (heaven forbid!), I would not hunt there, it's just not worth the effort.
 
Speaking of Binos. My father considered them as effeminate. Same as slings. I use both. Someone said that if made mandatory, cheap Binos would go in a pack, never to come out, just to comply. I can attest to this. Neither my father, nor his hunting buddies, knew how to use a compass, but all carried one because it was the law. Fortunately, the part about "and can demonstrate its use" was lost on them. Especially since I have never seen a CO in the woods in NS, so who would ask them to show how to use it?
They didn't actually break any laws, but sure stretched a few.
I am glad I had a different view.
 
rookie wildcat said:
Now, I have gone through this thread. I must say, that in nearly 40 years of hunting, I have only been shot at in NS. I stopped hunting in NS because it wasn't worth it. My father shot at sounds! I am not a baiter, which is the only way to ensure a successful season. My family would eat a deer in less than a month. Grocery savings? Nope.
People in NS are far too jumpy. Too many hunters, not enough game to be worth it.
12years of hunting here in AB. No blaze orange, just whatever I am wearing. Never been shot at in this province. Never even been "scoped" to my knowledge.
Usually hunt alone or with my wife. There are some idiots out here as well, and I only hunt with them once (4 people now). I have orange gear I brought here, but don't use it, now. Even if I went back to NS (heaven forbid!), I would not hunt there, it's just not worth the effort.
Click to expand...

Speaking of Binos. My father considered them as effeminate. Same as slings. I use both. Someone said that if made mandatory, cheap Binos would go in a pack, never to come out, just to comply. I can attest to this. Neither my father, nor his hunting buddies, knew how to use a compass, but all carried one because it was the law. Fortunately, the part about "and can demonstrate its use" was lost on them. Especially since I have never seen a CO in the woods in NS, so who would ask them to show how to use it?
They didn't actually break any laws, but sure stretched a few.
I am glad I had a different view.
Click to expand...

I had very little desire to ever hunt out East before reading your post, now I have even less. It makes a person question whether if it even worth hunting if that is your only option. But at least it provides some perspective as to why Easterners are so keen on wearing orange.

Many new hunters are taught bad habits by their mentors, thankfully you had enough sense to think for yourself and not do this.
 
Does any one here believe that wearing blaze orange is in any way a disadvantage to the hunter wearing it ( I'm talking about deer moose and elk hunting)

-- and if so could you please enlighten me as to what that / those disadvantage(s) is / are?

I mean if you simply don't like it when the government tells you what to wear -- that's cool and I have no argument with you
I also don't like when they mandate I wear a helmet on my quad, a seatbelt in my truck or a life jacket in my boat -- but I do it for my own reasons and would do it even if they didn't mandate it.

My guess would be that if one was to poll CGN as to if hunters today are as safe to be around as they were in the past (whenever that was lol) -- I would expect the response to be "No today's hunters are (aggregate) less skilled, less courteous and less safe to be around. Though perhaps I can't back that up and it flies along the train of thought as kids today etc.

Ignoring the no one would / should shoot at any animal they haven't identified -- It is very difficult to argue that some orange would make someone down range more easily identified for a hunter. A still hunter stalking a ridge who sees a deer stand up or bolt away, a guy siting in a blind who sees a deer approach or even a "hunter" that jumps out of his truck to take a crack at a deer he spots -- if I'm standing, sitting or walking beyond any of these animals it's easier to see me if I have some blaze Orange on -- unlike the guys in a lay out blind or camp that have recounted stories of people stopping and shooting at their decoy spreads in this very thread.

Anyway I understand why a waterfowl hunter would believe blaze orange would put his chances in his blind at a disadvantage -- my question again was does anyone here believe that wearing the orange puts them at a disadvantage hunting deer, moose or elk ? And if so what disadvantage is it that they alleviate by not wearing it.

Again if it's just about not liking being told what to wear -- groovy

I suppose the opposition could also simply be that someone doesn't like how orange looks from a fashion point of view -- that's cool , I mean there are folks that think camo from head to toe looks stupid too and simply choose appropriate colors / materials for their hunting clothing.
 
Brad34340 said:
Does any one here believe that wearing blaze orange is in any way a disadvantage to the hunter wearing it ( I'm talking about deer moose and elk hunting)

-- and if so could you please enlighten me as to what that / those disadvantage(s) is / are?

I mean if you simply don't like it when the government tells you what to wear -- that's cool and I have no argument with you
I also don't like when they mandate I wear a helmet on my quad, a seatbelt in my truck or a life jacket in my boat -- but I do it for my own reasons and would do it even if they didn't mandate it.

My guess would be that if one was to poll CGN as to if hunters today are as safe to be around as they were in the past (whenever that was lol) -- I would expect the response to be "No today's hunters are (aggregate) less skilled, less courteous and less safe to be around. Though perhaps I can't back that up and it flies along the train of thought as kids today etc.

Ignoring the no one would / should shoot at any animal they haven't identified -- It is very difficult to argue that some orange would make someone down range more easily identified for a hunter. A still hunter stalking a ridge who sees a deer stand up or bolt away, a guy siting in a blind who sees a deer approach or even a "hunter" that jumps out of his truck to take a crack at a deer he spots -- if I'm standing, sitting or walking beyond any of these animals it's easier to see me if I have some blaze Orange on -- unlike the guys in a lay out blind or camp that have recounted stories of people stopping and shooting at their decoy spreads in this very thread.

Anyway I understand why a waterfowl hunter would believe blaze orange would put his chances in his blind at a disadvantage -- my question again was does anyone here believe that wearing the orange puts them at a disadvantage hunting deer, moose or elk ? And if so what disadvantage is it that they alleviate by not wearing it.

Again if it's just about not liking being told what to wear -- groovy

I suppose the opposition could also simply be that someone doesn't like how orange looks from a fashion point of view -- that's cool , I mean there are folks that think camo from head to toe looks stupid too and simply choose appropriate colors / materials for their hunting clothing.
Click to expand...

As has already been posted, there are idiots in the woods that will scope people, including people that are wearing orange. I would rather that those idiots not see me at all , rather than have them point loaded firearms at me, because the can see me.
 
stubblejumper said:
As has already been posted, there are idiots in the woods that will scope people, including people that are wearing orange. I would rather that those idiots not see me at all , rather than have them point loaded firearms at me, because the can see me.
Click to expand...

OK gotcha you believe wearing the blaze orange is dangerous ... Or makes you less safe.

In terms of the game you are hunting would you say it doesn't make a difference one way or the other or do you think it effects one's probibality for success ?
 
Brad34340 said:
OK gotcha you believe wearing the blaze orange is dangerous ... Or makes you less safe.

In terms of the game you are hunting would you say it doesn't make a difference one way or the other or do you think it effects one's probibality for success ?
Click to expand...

I don't believe that orange will keep me safer where I hunt, and I would rather the idiots not be tempted to scope me. As far as affecting my success on game, I don't believe that it is a factor for much of my hunting, but although game animals can't see colors as we do, they do see different shades, and they do see contrast, so at very close range, and with animals such as pronghorn, bighorn and mountain goat, that have extremely good vision, I believe that dull colors that blend in may be an advantage.
 
Brad34340 said:
Ignoring the no one would / should shoot at any animal they haven't identified -- It is very difficult to argue that some orange would make someone down range more easily identified for a hunter. A still hunter stalking a ridge who sees a deer stand up or bolt away, a guy siting in a blind who sees a deer approach or even a "hunter" that jumps out of his truck to take a crack at a deer he spots -- if I'm standing, sitting or walking beyond any of these animals it's easier to see me if I have some blaze Orange on -- unlike the guys in a lay out blind or camp that have recounted stories of people stopping and shooting at their decoy spreads in this very thread.
Click to expand...
Orange or not, hunters in NS don't wait to identify their prey. As a teenager, I worked for a dairy farmer up the road. Every year he painted orange bull's eyes on both sides of every cow. He wasn't trying to stop people from shooting his cows (that would be impossible), he just wanted them to die when shot and not suffer. Each and every year he lost several cows. Most were shot in the "8-ring" and died. But, shot in the middle of an orange bullseye!!
 
stubblejumper said:
I don't believe that orange will keep me safer where I hunt, and I would rather the idiots not be tempted to scope me. As far as affecting my success on game, I don't believe that it is a factor for much of my hunting, but although game animals can't see colors as we do, they do see different shades, and they do see contrast, so at very close range, and with animals such as pronghorn, bighorn and mountain goat, that have extremely good vision, I believe that dull colors that blend in may be an advantage.
Click to expand...

A lot of it is a mental thing, at least with me. I feel like an idiot trying to be a "stealthy" hunter while dressed like a glowing pumpkin. I hate wearing orange.
 
rookie wildcat said:
Orange or not, hunters in NS don't wait to identify their prey. As a teenager, I worked for a dairy farmer up the road. Every year he painted orange bull's eyes on both sides of every cow. He wasn't trying to stop people from shooting his cows (that would be impossible), he just wanted them to die when shot and not suffer. Each and every year he lost several cows. Most were shot in the "8-ring" and died. But, shot in the middle of an orange bullseye!!
Click to expand...

I agree many guys here are trigger happy but on the cows unfortunately I don't think the painted targets had anything to do with the idiots killing them
We had cows for years and no matter what we did one would lose at least 1/2 dozen or more every year to what called themselves hunters
Seems most would shoot them just to watch something die
We did once catch one group however and they were so drunk they didnot have a clue what they were shooting. What happened they got a slap in the end and never had to pay for the cows nor were charged with anything
Cheers
 
if wearing orange is to make someone easily identified and is truly about safety then it only makes sense to take all the aids victims and tattoo "INFECTED" in big red letters across their foreheads. But that's just me saying stupid $hit. Personally if I'm out in the bush I'd rather be able to just blend in and disappear than be the one thing that catches someone's eye.
 
I keep a blze orange vest and cap in my day pack in the event I really,really want to be seen in the event of an emergency like being lost, injured etc. There are many cases of people being shot while wearing blaze orange so if someone is that trigger-happy your in danger no matter what. Also I have no proof, but I suspect to an animal a hunter dressed in full blaze would appear as a solid glowing blop of white on the landscape.
Just my thoughts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom