don't fear orange!

[dug]

That's it. I'm done.

Between the doom and gloom about global warming, hunting, being chased by rabid dogs, staying out overnight lost in the woods, and the drive to and fro to experience all this fun (and having the possibility of my car being broken in while it's in the parking lot), I'm not leaving my house.

I figure I can just go buy a climbing video game, eat potato chips, and have just as much fun. Safer, too.

 

[funkyfreddy]

I would venture that a lot of hunting accidents involve alcohol... as do a lot of auto accidents.

 

[Pete_Hickey]

That's it. I'm done. ....I'm not leaving my house.

Know how many people die each year in the bathtub/shower? Do you know that a surprising number of people die each year by choking on their toothbrush?

I figure I can just go buy a climbing video game, eat potato chips, and have just as much fun. Safer, too.

Radiation, trans-fat, dust-mite infections and lack of exercise.

Face the facts: You're going to die someday.

 

[DougPaul]

Know how many people die each year in the bathtub/shower? Do you know that a surprising number of people die each year by choking on their toothbrush?

I thought that most people died in bed...

Face the facts: You're going to die someday.

Gulp!

Maybe I'll see if I can stay awake so I don't have to go to bed...

Doug

 

[Gris]

I would venture that a lot of hunting accidents involve alcohol...

(political reference deleted by moderator)

 

[BorealChickadee]

Face the facts: You're going to die someday.

Next thing you'll be telling me there's no Easter Bunny!


Hunter orange-wore it in my younger days when I did a little hunting and now when I don't.

The last two weekends I've headed into the woods with hunters at the trailhead. We made it a point to chat with the guys and let them know where we were hiking. And in turn they'll generally tell you where they're heading.

 

[Neil]

Even if you stay inside the house don't but don't play video games remember that the building materials themselves are constantly emitting ionizing raidation. You might be better off going outside and risk getting smacked by a meteorite. DougPaul must know the probability of that happening.

 

[Mad Townie]

Gris, blaze orange is a legal requirement for deer hunting in Maine. Not for birds, though. So come on up and hunt with me sometime, don't wear orange, and I'll chuckle all the way down to post your bail. If you don't get shot first, probably by some outta stater!

Seriously (he said generally and not to Gris, who already knows this), just as there is a wide variety of "hiking" there is a wide variety of "hunting." Just as there are people who head up Mt. Washington without even water or a jacket, there are idiot hunters, too. Then there are hikers like many of us, and hunters like the people with whom I hunt. First rule is know exactly what you're shooting at, before you shoot. There are other rules, too, like no loaded firearms in vehicles, no alcohol, extreme caution and unloading when indicated to cross fences, brooks and other obstacles, keep the muzzle pointed where a shot won't do harm, etc., etc.

The woman in Bangor was wearing white mittens, yes--but the guy who shot her was hunting WAY too close to houses. Illegally close, in fact. I hunt way up north so that I won't have as many guys like that in the woods with me.

Oh, and most hikers would have absolutely no interest in hiking where I hunt. Pretty flat, usually pretty thick and hard to get to. Oh, except me--my wife says I'm really hiking with a rifle, not hunting at all.

OK, so now I've outed myself on VFTT.

 

[NewHampshire]

Or it may be because we hunt thm during their migration when they are spooked as everything is new to them...

If you do the majority of your bird hunting down south its most likely because you are down near the end of the flyway, and by the time they have reached you they have traveled across a dozen states (and portions of Canada), all with guys shooting at them along the way. By the time they get to you they are very wary. You boys down there have to get real sneaky .

I do wear hunter orange to hunt, during bow season too. As long as you do not wear large chunks of it without some kind of contrast pattern, you should be fine. For some reason I have not worn any orange in the few odd hikes Ive done during this past hunting season. But then again, the few hikes I HAVE done were to rather popular destinations that, unless your an idiot, no hunter would go near. Ive at times thought of hunting in the WMNF, but the areas Ive mulled over were well away from heavy traffic, used no hiking trails or lightly used trails only for a real short distance, or was accessed by logging roads and such. I would never think of planting my butt a couple hundred yards off the Wilderness trail because its pretty obvious that, while probably legal, is not very smart.

I guess there is no need to keep echoing what others have said so well already, but I just have to say: Don't fear hunters, fear STUPID hunters. (How is that for vauge ?)

Brian

 

[NH_Mtn_Hiker]

...All was fine until they noticed me putting on an orange hat and jacket. They suddenly stopped their preparations and stared at me as I draped my pack in orange and put on orange gaitors...

...and my hiking partner looked at me and said, "I'd rather go hike amongst the hunters than hike the same mountain as that freak."

 

[sleeping bear]

They suddenly stopped their preparations and stared at me as I draped my pack in orange and put on orange gaitors. I'm so sick of this. I walked past them and wished them a nice hike. They just looked at me and didn't utter a word.

Orange gaitors??! That's why they were staring!
Seriously, I'd stare! Kinda overboard don't you think?

What I don't understand is why everyone seems to be so anti-hunter. Not many have said it in so many words here, but it's been implied. Most of you eat meat don't you? So why the attitude towards those who choose to find and kill their own? .... venison yummy!

 

[Lawn Sale]

Deer actually see in a form of ultraviolet, not just B&W. I have a "deer eye", that is supposedly how the deer see (it was a prototype, I got it from the guy that developed it), and different clothing shows up differently using it. Some blaze orange will look neon blue, and some camo the same way, it all depends on how it was cared for and what it's made of.

That being said, I am a hunter, hiker, and used to teach Hunter Safety for the state of Maine. I have no problems going out at any time, but do wear orange during hunting season, it's only prudent.

Maine does have some stiff penalties for misidentification of targets. I know of a guy that shot a golden retriever during deer hunting season and spent 45 days in jail, and he can never hunt again.

Most of the paranoia regarding hunting is based on fear, not fact, just look at the statistics.

 

[DougPaul]

Orange gaitors??! That's why they were staring!

Maybe they protect the wearer from shooting himself in the foot...

Doug

 

[dr_wu002]

You would probably just get wounded but not dead. I think gaiters and also trekking poles provide added protection. Save the orange for when you finally find the canister on the summit.

-Dr. Wu

 

[Maddy]

Remind me to not hike near you if you've had that many personal experiences. .

Dug...you can still hike near me but not during this special season. I was a trauma nurse. This is why I saw so many victims.
It does tend to leave a lasting impression

 

[forestgnome]

Well, I thought this might turn into a hunter thread, but that's ok. Just wanted folks to realize that a person in orange on a trail or at a trailhead is not necessarily a hunter, so no need to be impolite. Now we all know that orange may be more likely to be worn by hikers than hunters!

So, don't fear the orange, and don't make fun of my orange gaiters My bushwacking is not to reach a peak, but to find and enjoy wildlife habitat, mostly moose and bear. I go where hunters might go, so I cover myself completely in orange, and I hunt only with a Canon


Happy Trails

 

[cbcbd]

and I hunt only with a Canon

Nice! Me too

Gets kind of messy, though.

 

[David Metsky]

Moderator Waring

No personal insults or gross generalizations intended to insult. We can have a conversation about hunting and hiking without resorting to that. Please think before you post.

-dave-

 

[Mike P.]

I skipped some so I'm sorry if this is repeated, In CT their is a blaze orange requirement when gun season is open, for the years I hunted, (age 12-25 or so) we wore at least a hat & if going someplace off of private land where we were more likely to encounter other hunters, a vest also.

The harder the terrain, the less likely you will see someone (who wants to drag a 100 pounds or more for Bear or Moose over rough terrain) or the more popular a place is the less likely someone would hunt there.

Orange Gaiters hmm, Now I have a red pair I have yet to wear, in winter I'm afraid of slicing them with crampons & in summer I seldom wear them, the old ones only have a small crampon slice. I have to think that if someone misses your orange hat, gloves, jacket & pants, they are not going to see your gaiters, in fact they are likely shooting at a sound, not sight which breaks one of the first rules of hunting, make sure of your target, then make sure again & then be sure the area behind your target is safe too. Any deer or moose that is only as tall as your calf is too small to shoot or laying down, that's not very sporting.

 

[Sheomet]

When I'm bowhunting I don't wear orange, but I do wear an orange/camo vest during muzzleloader and rifle season (I hunt in NH).