Friendly warning about wearing orange in the deer stand

[Big Liar]

I know someone who recently received a $250 ticket. The officer road by his stand 4 or 5 times before he could spot him. He then walked 1000 yds accross a field to get to his stand, then ask him to come down. My friend unloaded and then lowered his gun, put his orange on and then climbed down from this his stand. The office checked that everything else was legal then hit him with the $250 ticket for not having his orange while in his stand. I have been guilty of the same thing in the past. I spend good money to buy great color camo with scent control to hunt starting with bow season. The last thing I want to do is keep blaze orange on while I'm 20' up in the air in my stand. I've always worn orange to/from the stand, but have removed it once I'm up in the stand. If another hunter mistakes me for a deer when I'm 20' up in the air as flat as it is on the shore, I don't think the orange is going to protect me from him. He might just as eaily mistake me for Bigfoot or an alien from outer space.

Anyway. The officer said that the DNR was specifically looking for orange being worn while in stands this year. Most likely a way to raise revenue. Just thought I would pass the info on. I also wonder if he would write you up while in an enclosed hut. I have one hut (the blynd) that I hunt out of. Hard to think that orange would somehow make a difference on someone mistakenly shooting you through the walls of the hut. I don't take orange off in there anyway because no deer or human could see it. Just wondering.

If it is a case of just raising revenue, I consider this to be abuse by our protection agencies. Similar to lowering the speed limit from 25 to 15 and installing speed cameras in front of empty schools during the summer. The american people inacted our government and these agencies to protect and serve, not to prey of the population. JMO.

[Bug Guy]

Orange is a safety requirement, not just for the person wearing it, but others around (on private or public land). It keeps me from walking up to someone and being shot myself because I did not make myself properly aware to the other hunters. It lets me know that there is another person near by while I have a loaded firearm in my possession just in case an accident would occur. It is imperative that during a firearms season (i.e., when using a weapon that has a long range) the other people around you know you are there so they don't do something stupid that could harm you or themselves. The DNR is enforcing rules that have a true purpose. If you and your friends feel you are above the law and can't follow safety rules, I'd prefer you stay home for my safety and the safety of my friends. To think this is a money grab by the DNR is preposterous, and I applaud them.

As a note, I'm a bit testy because of the number of nitwits I see in the woods on public land not wearing orange in this state is astonishing. It's ignorant and dangerous. JMO

[GMCfish]

well if you think this is not a crackdown for raising revenue your partially wrong because it is. .

thanks for the good read, if your not wearing orange you are an idiot(ecspecially on public land); however the wardens are trying to get revenue in any way possible > their has been budget cuts and writing tickets is the only way to make up for the revenue those budget cuts have imposed on these type of state agencies

[swampfox]

Blaze orange requirement in Virginia may be different.
Blaze Orange Requirements

When hunting any species during the firearms deer season and youth deer day, every hunter (see exceptions below), or persons accompanying a hunter, shall wear a blaze orange hat or blaze orange upper body clothing that is visible from 360 degrees or display at least 100 square inches of solid blaze orange material at shoulder level within body reach and visible from 360 degrees. Hats may have a bill or brim color or design other than solid blaze orange. Hats shall not be in "camo" style, since the latter is designated to prevent visibility. A logo, which does not detract from visibility, may be worn on a blaze orange hat.

Hunters using ground (pop-up, chair, box, etc.) or treestand blinds that conceal them from view must display a minimum of 100 square inches of blaze orange, visible from 360 degrees, on the OUTSIDE of such blinds. This blaze orange is in addition to any worn on the hunter's person.
Exceptions

Blaze orange is not required of waterfowl hunters, dove hunters, individuals participating in hunting dog field trials, and fox hunters on horseback without firearms.
Hunters hunting with archery tackle during an open firearms deer season, in areas where the discharge of firearms is prohibited by state law or local ordinance, are exempt from the blaze orange requirement.
Blaze orange is not required during the muzzleloading deer season(s).

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting...p#blaze-orange

[CaptNemo]

blind hunting you should hang your orange on the out side of the blind, thats what we do on public land, in the stand hang your orange very close to you if you dont want to wear it.

It has absolutely zero effect on the deer being able to see you, they cannot see orange any different then they can camo. Its always movement that will get you, so hang your orange on your gun hanger or whatever that way movement is always still.

I used to hunt with a guy that only ground hunted in a solid blaze orange pair of coveralls, swear on my life, when he came to my property I thought he was crazy, for the orange then he refused my stands. He stood dead still on the ground in his blaze orange and killed deer, seen it my self first hand.

On public land you would be crazy to not wear orange at all times, on private land its a real good idea,

[Big Liar]

Just to be clear. He was on private land. I myself have not hunted public land in 20 years, and orange never came off when I did hunt public. He did have the orange hanging in his stand behind him. I'm guessing it may not have been visible from 360 degrees or Maryland's law does not allow this. It use to be that agents could use their own judgement and common sense with regards to ticketing people. Now the shortage of funds seems to have taken some of that flexibility away from them.

I'm lucky, the woods I hunt is completely isolated. Big water on two sides and big fields all the way to the roads on the other two sides. If anyone else is trying to hunt the woods or even the fields, they are trespassing. I know it could happen, but I don't think you will have to worry about hunting in that woods with me Bug Guy unless you go trespassing a lot. You don't sould like that type of person.

[Offshore12]

I always find it interesting how some people think they can decide which hunting/fishing laws they want to follow and which ones they want to violate. When hunting or fishing, you must follow all laws and if you choose not to, then you will be penalized if you get caught. Its really very simple.

Regarding private vs. public land, it does not matter. It is to protect everyone. If someone enters private land by accident or on purpose, they need to know if someone is hunting so, as Bug Guy points out, the hunter doesnt do something stupid and accidently shoot a person. I am pretty sure that deadly force is not legal in Maryland for trespasing on land.

Maryland - THE POACHING STATE

[crabby and son]

When I hunt private property, I wear a solid orange hat from the time I leave my truck until the time I get back into my truck. I have a camo ground blind and I have blaze orange on the top of it visible on all sides. If I were to hunt public land I would wear a hat and vest. The law isn't what makes me do this. The will to live to hunt another day does...................Gary

[Big Liar]

Ok, I forgot that I was in the Hollier Than Thou Church here. Points taken. I know that there are lots of guys that do remove their orange and hang it on the stand when hunting. I thought it would be nice to pass the info along for those interested since the DNR officer stated that they were specifically targeting this action this year. If you don't do this, then you have nothing to worry about. If someone does do this, now they know if they read the thread.

[rhahn427]

Yes .......thank you for letting us know that the Police are going to uphold the law this year .......... we will make sure we are within the law when we see a police car ride past 3 or more times and watch a cop walk 1000 yds over an open field to our deerstands ........

Your probably right ....... it's just a big government plot to get our money and we should be up very upset over this abuse ........ we have to stop these police from preying on us by upholding the law ........... thank you for pointing out this injustice .......... we must be vigilant against this ...........