How much Orange is enough?

[J_McLeod]

I'm a new hunter and living in Korea right now until the summer. Going to live in Florida and hopefully hunt there next season. A lot of the Korean markets sell lightweight synthetic vests in orange and other bright colors. The attached picture, or something like it costs about $9 here and looks like it would be lightweight, useful and meet the requirement. Would this vest or something like it meet the legal requirement?

 

[Double Naught Spy]

You tell us.

Hunter orange requirement

It is unlawful to hunt deer or to accompany another person hunting deer on public lands unless each person is wearing a minimum of 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange material as an outer garment. Such clothing must be worn above the waistline and can include a head covering. This rule does not apply during archery season.

http://myfwc.com/hunting/regulations/general-information/

 

[jmr40]

Most states say 500 SQ inches. Some states also state that it must be a solid color, others allow orange camo as long as the total amount of orange meets the 500 sq inches. Colorado and possible others also require an orange cap or hat.

It also has to be "Hunter Orange". Not just an orange article of clothing. The Hunter Orange is slightly brighter especially in low light.

Without seeing a tag I can't say for sure I'd think the vest in the photo would be OK.

 

[Captcurt]

Head too.

Some States require an orange hat or head band too. Here in Arkansas a blind used on public land must have 144" on each side. Best check your local hunting regs.

 

[Patocazador]

If memory serves me right, 144 sq. inches. Easy to do.

That looks like it might be on the warm side for early-season hunting here. I use one of the perforated road crew vests that you can pick up for about the same price at ChinaMart.

Edit: I just looked it up. My memory sucks. It's 500 sq. in. (Maybe it's the diver's flag that's 144 sq. in. )

 

[stoky]

Wyomin simply says:
All big or trophy game hunters must wear a hat, shirt, jacket, coat, vest, or sweater of a fluorescent orange color in a visible manner.

 

[FL-NC]

Anywhere I ever hunted (including federal management areas like military bases) there is a specific number of square inches given as a requirement, with the written regs saying a hat and vest makes the requirement. LOTS of road guard vests in use at Ft Campbell lol. I doubt most people have any idea what 500 or whatever square inches even looks like, esp. when manufactured into a garment. IMO, the more lightweight the better. you can always put the vest or whatever OVER your other cold weather gear. Expensive gore tex or down clothing in bright orange may not be what you want in early bow season, or ever in a place like Fl or Ga. Check the actual regs of the state(s) you plan to hunt in.

 

[J_McLeod]

Thanks. They are plentiful here, and I can buy them in solid orange and a slightly brighter shade as well. Koreans wear them in the summer (not sure why) so they're very light. Is it ok to be bright orange, but maybe a slightly different shade than the blaze/hunter orange commonly sold?

 

[FL-NC]

In the end, its going to be what the local/state laws dictate. Sometimes its not even that simple. Specific management areas or public land areas may have different requirements, or there may not be any requirements on private property. Those same laws may only apply during gun season, but not during bow season. You just need to do the research as it applies to your location/situation to insure that you are in compliance. You should be able to locate the applicable regs online through state fish and game websites, but in addition you need to insure you are in compliance with additional laws imposed by specific areas management areas- state/local/federal. These regs may or may not be listed within state regs. On a military base, you often have regs that only apply on that base, broken further down to specific areas on that base. Not a simple answer, I know. But its on you to be informed and in compliance with all regs.

 

[Patocazador]

From the FWC website: It is unlawful to hunt deer or to accompany another person hunting deer on public lands unless each person is wearing a minimum of 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange material as an outer garment.

 

[ants]

I know $9 sounds inexpensive but a soft vest and hat here are also cheap.

If it were my money, I'd wait until arrive in Florida (or wherever you're headed)
and make wise decisions about the right gear.


In first sentence I said "soft". Depending upon conditions, a soft material that
doesn't make sounds when you move or when you scrape against brush or blinds
is a gazillion billion zillion quadgazibillions superior to a nylon or other material
that makes a scraping sound. Scraping sounds travel for miles and every deer
with big 'ol ears will just laugh as they walk the other way. You'll go home saying
"There were no deer today" without ever knowing that they were there, but laughing at you.

Not that I want to say I'm the biggest deer hunting expert, but Dad and Uncle Joe and Grandpa
took me on my first deer hunt in 1960. They taught me a lot. And I've learned even more after.

Soft is quiet.
Quiet is what you gotta be.
Buy the right hunting gear for the conditions.

 

[illinoisburt]

In first sentence I said "soft". Depending upon conditions, a soft material that
doesn't make sounds when you move or when you scrape against brush or blinds
is a gazillion billion zillion quadgazibillions superior to a nylon or other material
that makes a scraping sound. Scraping sounds travel for miles and every deer
with big 'ol ears will just laugh as they walk the other way. You'll go home saying
"There were no deer today" without ever knowing that they were there, but laughing at you.

I will wholeheartedly agree with you on the quiet aspect with one small but important distinction for me. The material must be smooth or else every thorn, sticker, and seed in the county will adhere to you. I've had the "quiet fleece" sound like velcro moving through the underbrush.

As for color, best advise is call the game department. They are usually quite helpful on the phone.

 

[ants]

I concur, burt.