Hunter Orange and Animal Eyesight

[LordDunsany]

I'll be hunting in a different area this year that is managed by the forestry service. One of the requirements is that I wear a vest with at least 144 square inches of orange and also a hat with orange on it.

I have not had to wear this in the past and am wanting to know how it will affect me in still hunting for deer and also walking the woods for squirrels and other small game. Supposedly animals can't see the orange but I want confirmation (or better information) on whether this will make me more visible to animals.

No desire to get shot by a fellow hunter so I'll be wearing it for sure, but want to know if it will make a difference from the normal camo that I usually wear.

Ron in Texas

 

[rcmodel]

Supposed to not bother deer because they can't see color.

Sure wouldn't work for Turkey hunting though.

They do make cammo orange which might help break up your outline more then solid orange.
http://www.cabelas.com/mens-blaze-o...7-001B21631C34&mr:referralID=NA&mr:adType=pla

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/prod...erralID=NA&mr:adType=pla&WTz_l=YMAL;IK-960398

rc

 

[jmr40]

Deer see color, just not the same colors that humans see. While the hunter orange color stands out as much diferent than most natural areas to humans, it does not to deer. They will not notice the orange any more than most any other color.

 

[matrem]

Ohio started mandatory orange for gun hunting deer about twenty or so years ago.
After countless close range encounters with deer while wearing orange, I'm convinced that they sure don't see it as we do.

 

[Skyshot]

In Tennessee we have to wear 500 square inches of hunter orange. I've had serveral deer within 5 yards of me this year while hunting on the ground. Ive never had a problem with it with the exception of turkey's and they will spot you.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Dude
for thousands of years
guys in regular old clothes
nothing camo about them have brought home the bacon, and venison and turkey....

So, I'd just as soon wear something comfortable without spending an extra $100 to pay the RealTree corporation.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I laugh at the "hunters" on the TV shows wearing hundreds of dollars of cammo clothing and either wearing orange vest or sitting in a box blind. I usually hunt in blue denim and always have deer around me, as long as they dont smell you or see you move you are OK. like a previous post said, for hundreds of years or more hunters had to get in range of primitive bows etc. (you know they didnt smell too good). Hunter orange is the result of a history of idiot hunters that shoot anything that moves. Cammo is money driven.

 

[Bobson]

They do make cammo orange which might help break up your outline more then solid orange.
http://www.cabelas.com/mens-blaze-o...7-001B21631C34&mr:referralID=NA&mr:adType=pla

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/prod...erralID=NA&mr:adType=pla&WTz_l=YMAL;IK-960398

Careful with those. I posted something about this type of orange blaze in a past thread, and numerous people chimed in that their states require the orange to be a solid pattern, which means these types of "camo orange" patterns don't meet the state requirements.

Make sure to check your state's requirements before going out wearing these.

 

[jmr40]

Camo is certainly not needed for most big game. Their eyes have developed to see much better in low light or at night than human eyes. As a result they percieve colors much differently than we do.

Turkeys, ducks and many other animals have eyes much closer to human eyes and see the same colors as us, and many birds have much sharper clear vision than we do. Camo is certainly helpful.

Since I don't buy separate clothes for each species hunted I have no issue with wearing orange over the same camo clothes I will use after deer season for duck season and then for turkey season after that.

 

[jbkebert]

You can't wear the camo orange in Kansas. Texas is I remember right it is okay.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

orange is not required in Texas, maybein the National Forests in East Texas maybe.

 

[gbran]

I'll tell you what amazes me...... when I go out into the wilds for fun or scouting (assume pre-season here), I see all manner of wildlife no matter what I'm wearing and they don't seem the least disturbed I'm there. Yet when I return during season wearing camo and carrying a gun, they get real sensitive and tend to stay away from me.

I don't think it has anything to do with color or scent or noise or anything else. I think it's the gun and the fact that it is hunting season.

 

[glock36]

Camp orange is not allowed in Missouri eather, must be solid vest type and hat.

 

[Dmitri Popov]

WV does not accept Camo-Orange as part of the 400 sq.in. required. My papaw used to always hunt squirrel and such in a pair of brown cover-alls, the same ones he wore to work in.
He didn't need no stinkin' camo!
lol

 

[natman]

I'll tell you what amazes me...... when I go out into the wilds for fun or scouting (assume pre-season here), I see all manner of wildlife no matter what I'm wearing and they don't seem the least disturbed I'm there. Yet when I return during season wearing camo and carrying a gun, they get real sensitive and tend to stay away from me.

I don't think it has anything to do with color or scent or noise or anything else. I think it's the gun and the fact that it is hunting season.

Bingo. Animals recognize the changes that happen when it's hunting season and act accordingly.
..................

Here's a list of requirements by state:
http://www.ihea.com/hunter-education/hunter-orange-requirements.php
Check them out here for starters and then confirm with your local authorities.

Deer and similar animals don't see orange as the attention grabbing traffic cone we do. To them it's just another shade of green. Birds are another story. I don't know about squirrels.

 

[Sav .250]

Never give it a second thought. Wearing "orange" is for others (hunters) to see.

 

[der Teufel]

orange is not required in Texas, maybe in the National Forests in East Texas maybe.

Orange is not required when hunting on private land, but is in many circumstances on public land in Texas.

All persons on public hunting lands (state, national forests, and grasslands) during daylight hours when hunting with firearms is permitted must wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material with orange headgear, and at least 144 square inches appearing on both chest and back.

Exempt from these requirements are:

persons hunting turkey, migratory birds, alligators, or desert bighorn sheep;
persons within the enclosed passenger compartment of a motor vehicle; or
persons within a designated campground, designated vehicle parking area, designated boat launching facility, or departmental check station.


http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hunter_education/blaze.phtml

 

[CollinLeon]

Orange is not required when hunting on private land, but is in many circumstances on public land in Texas.

All persons on public hunting lands (state, national forests, and grasslands) during daylight hours when hunting with firearms is permitted must wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material with orange headgear, and at least 144 square inches appearing on both chest and back.

Exempt from these requirements are:

persons hunting turkey, migratory birds, alligators, or desert bighorn sheep;
persons within the enclosed passenger compartment of a motor vehicle; or
persons within a designated campground, designated vehicle parking area, designated boat launching facility, or departmental check station.


http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hunter_education/blaze.phtml

Interesting... It appears that you are being required to wear an orange hat... Seldom do I wear a hat while hunting, so I guess I'm not legal... I usually just wear a orange sweatshirt...