In terms of general colors, I always hear people say, “Orange is not my color.” I tend to giggle when I hear this, immediately seeing a mental image of a prison jumpsuit. I have actually had a lot of time to rethink the color orange. And, I have found that blaze orange is totally my color.
For public land hunters, orange is a universal signal to others that makes you visible and NOT a target. The goal is to stand out and be distinctively different than your surroundings, and in no way mistaken for an animal. My first orange vest was a ridiculously too-big mesh vest that I borrowed from my husband and it got caught on everything. I knew that I had to wear it during rifle season. So, I just thrived on archery hunting season since I didn’t have to wear it.
Fast forward 8 years, and I own a multitude of incredible orange pieces that I really enjoy wearing. Heck, I even wore my Kryptek Inferno hoodie to a Halloween haunted house and received compliments from the crew of vampires in the black light room. They loved my orange too.
Wearing Blaze Orange
My purpose is to share that there are vests, coats, patterns, different shading (some states allow highlighter pink instead of blaze orange), pack covers, beanies/hats, and even complete packs that sport this safety orange shade. The hunting industry has developed many products for deep-woods hunting, pheasant and chukar hunting, and even snow camo with orange highlights.
My go-to pattern is the Kryptek Typhon. I have a fleece hoodie, a thin vest, and a fuzzy-lined vest as well as a beanie and gloves. I wear this pattern mostly when out hunting deer and elk while a rifle or muzzleloader hunt is in progress. For bird hunting, I really love my Slumberjack bird vest It holds lots of birds, and tons of shells, and even has a zipper pocket for my gloves and phone.
Read More: Muzzleloader – Why You Should Clean Yours
For a good array of safety hunter orange, feel free to do a Google search or go directly to your favorite camo brand's website. Cabelas, Browning, Beretta, Slumberjack, and various other companies have a great assortment of orange items as well. If you have a great love of bird hunting, then you will love ALPS Outdoorz, Final Rise, and Chief Upland have some amazing customizable options to keep you safe and carry all of your birds and gear.
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Embrace the safety and fun of wearing Blaze Orange. Other than helping others be able to see you, it really adds another layer of protection and warmth for those like me who freeze every time you stop to listen and glass. We hear horror stories of people being shot at or even injured or killed while out hunting because they were not wearing safety orange (outside of being shot without the shooter being sure of what they were shooting at).
FAQs About Blaze Orange Visibility for Hunting
Can deer see blaze orange?
Deer have dichromatic vision, which means they see blue and green but cannot distinguish between red and green hues. This makes blaze orange visible to deer as shades of blue, which are less noticeable in their natural surroundings.
Can squirrels see blaze orange?
Squirrels have dichromatic vision like deer. But, they have better visual acuity and can detect colors in the yellow and green spectrums. Blaze orange may appear as a muted shade of green or brown to squirrels.
Can turkeys see blaze orange?
Turkeys have excellent vision and can distinguish between many colors, including red, orange, and green. Blaze orange may appear as a bright, fluorescent color to turkeys, but they may not associate it with danger.
Can bears see blaze orange?
Bears have dichromatic vision like deer and squirrels, but they can also see some colors in the red spectrum. Blaze orange may appear as a dull shade of brown or gray to bears.
When is blaze orange required for hunters?
Blaze orange is required for hunting in many states during firearms seasons. The specific requirements may vary, but hunters are generally required to wear at least a certain amount of blaze-orange clothing to increase their visibility and safety in the field.
What is the purpose of wearing hunter-orange clothing?
The purpose of wearing hunter-orange clothing, also known as blaze orange, is to enhance hunter visibility and promote safety in the field. The bright orange color stands out against natural backgrounds, making hunters more visible to other hunters and reducing the risk of accidental shootings.
Hunter-orange clothing is particularly important during hunting seasons when multiple hunters may be present in the same area. It helps distinguish hunters from game animals and prevents potential incidents of mistaken identity. Many hunting regulations and laws require hunters to wear a minimum amount of hunter-orange clothing for their safety and the safety of others.
By wearing hunter-orange clothing, hunters increase their visibility and contribute to a safer hunting environment by allowing other hunters to easily recognize their presence, thereby reducing the chances of hunting-related accidents.
