Seen and Safe: The Case for Blaze Orange

Many states require hunters to wear a minimum amount of blaze orange — often called hunter orange — during firearm deer seasons. The details vary: some states specify square inches on the chest and back, some require a hat, and some apply the rule to other seasons as well. Check your state wildlife agency's current regulations.

The reason is simple. Fluorescent orange stands out sharply to the human eye in forests and fields, even in low light. Hunter education programs teach it as one of the most effective ways to prevent mistaken-for-game incidents.

Deer, by contrast, see color differently than people do, and wildlife researchers generally describe them as less able to distinguish orange from surrounding greens and browns. Movement and scent tend to give hunters away far more than color.

Wear orange on your upper body and head where it is visible from all directions. Add orange to your pack or tree stand when you leave it. When you are moving through the woods at dawn or dusk, more visibility is always better.

Blaze orange is also a courtesy to hikers, landowners and others sharing the outdoors in autumn. It signals that hunting is under way and helps everyone enjoy public land safely.