Annual Hunter Orange Reminder (Hermon, Loring AFB: home, to live, law)

[Maineah]

Bear Season has already started in Maine, bird hunting and archery for deer starts in a couple of weeks, and open rifle season for deer starts the end of October. This is my annual "friendly" reminder and plea for folks to please remember to wear florescent orange hats, or vests when hiking, biking, walking or even doing yard work in an area where hunters frequent.
Hunting boasts a very good reputation as a safe sport. This is in no small way due to the law which demands all hunters wear two articles of florescent orange clothing during the open firearms season for deer. Most hunters are responsible people who know their target and what's beyond it before taking that shot. There have been tragic accidents, some preventable, with a little common sense. Most people who use the woods in the Maine autum understand the tradition of hunting that lies deeply rooted in Maine. Most will not complain about wearing an orange hat or a vest just to be on the safe side. Many folks routinely don the orange hat when raking, cutting wood or other late fall yard work. To most of us it's just plain common sense. There are others who through complacency or just arrogance believe they are under no obligation to be corteous to hunters(or anyone else for that matter) and feel no need to wear any orange regardless of thier proximity to hunting areas. Their mindset is hunters should know the difference and they need not participate in the fashion of the Maine fall. They are well within their rights no not wear any orange though they do so at considerable risk.
Hunters do not fire at florescent orange ....it's that simple. I know of no case of mistaken identity where a person was shot if he/she had on a piece of florescent orange clothing in good condition.
A person riding a white mountain bike on a woods trail on Saturday in November with a gray spandex suit on, off white helmet, and tan vest (I have seen this person in Pownal BTW) is really taking an unnecessary risk. A simple orange vest from Walmart for 99 cents is all that is needed to ensure one's safety in the Maine woods in autum. Wearing orange is not mandatory (yet) for any fall activities other then deer hunting. It does ,however, make a lot of sense to wear it regardless of what you are doing in the fall woods. Florescent orange clothing.....Don't leave home without it!

[msina]

Great thread Maineah, I remember a few years back a woman was hanging laundry in her own yard but, she was wearing white mittens. She was shot (by an indiscriminate person) and died of her injuries. Remember people, not all hunters are local and, not all pay as much attention to where they are as they should.

[RANGER.101ST]

of course you all know me and i like to live on the edge so its almost time for me to pull out the deer suite and freak some hunters out.
thanks for the heads up and the safety tips maineah.
you all be safe out there.

[FNolan]

Sound advise Maineah, the wife and I like taking walks at the local Wildlife Refuge. Altho you shouldn't need it there, there is still hunting going on all around it right up to it's borders.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by msina

Great thread Maineah, I remember a few years back a woman was hanging laundry in her own yard but, she was wearing white mittens. She was shot (by an indiscriminate person) and died of her injuries. Remember people, not all hunters are local and, not all pay as much attention to where they are as they should.

Here's how time flies msina....her name was Karen Wood and the incident happened in Hermon 21 years ago!!

[msina]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Here's how time flies msina....her name was Karen Wood and the incident happened in Hermon 21 years ago!!

OMG!! I am getting old!

[Nor'Eastah]

Originally Posted by Maineah

There are others who through complacency or just arrogance believe they are under no obligation to be corteous to hunters(or anyone else for that matter) and feel no need to wear any orange regardless of thier proximity to hunting areas. Their mindset is hunters should know the difference and they need not participate in the fashion of the Maine fall.

Great thread, Maineah! Point well taken.

Sometimes I think some of those arrogant folks who refuse to wear blaze or "ten mile cloth" are animal rights activists who'd rather DIE than wear what they perceive as "hunting gear". And they literally could die, as you pointed out.

Ah well, a few less of them...

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Here's how time flies msina....her name was Karen Wood and the incident happened in Hermon 21 years ago!!

OMG that was 21 years ago! Seems like yesterday.

Good thread by the way. I always toss in a NEW cheap orange vest in my vehicle this time of year as well. That way it is there, it is bright, and I would rather be out a couple of dollars than in a Carhartt jacket checking something out in the woods.

Don't laugh, I once was out by Black Lake just north of Loring AFB hunting, when this wingnut walked by wearing an older set of Carhartt coveralls and those white knit gloves with the blue rubberized palms for grip. He was proudly carrying a new rifle and was out hunting. I had to stop him and politely ask WTF he was thinking. Never gave it a thought was his response. I gave him my vest and told him to lose the gloves, walked back to the truck and got out my spare vest and went along my merry way.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Anybody not wearing an orange vest should be playing bagpipes.

I carry five orange vests in the truck and an orange bandanna for the occasional dog visitor.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

Anybody not wearing an orange vest should be playing bagpipes.

I carry five orange vests in the truck and an orange bandanna for the occasional dog visitor.

Why.....don't they make florescent orange kilts??? LOL!