Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Orange coat or safety vest?

I only wear orange if required by law or hunting on state hunts.

It is a known fact that firearms related hunting fatalities dropped to near zero in Maine once the orange requirements went into effect. Had a camp neighbor who lost his dad to such a tragedy when he was a teen in the 50s.

I hunt out of a shooting house on my farm. I'm lazy in my old age, and sit in the warmth of a heated house, usually without a coat on. There is no need to wear orange, but I do have a vest with me, although I do wear an orange cap. On the other hand, when one of my grandkids is hunting with me, they wear an orange hat and vest at all times.

If I were to hunt in the woods, even in a place like my farm where no one else was hunting, I'd be wearing orange at all times. It's really a no brainer, especially here where the deer and the Mennonites roam.

On private land, with hunters I know and trust, neither. Just an orange Stormy Kroger hat.....very similar to the one worn by that handsome gentleman in a previous post. On public, or with hunters I don't know, I wear an orange and black camo Cabelas vest.

Very true, I remember the first year of Hunter safety courses. Up until then I had worn a red hooded sweatshirt and cap. It was about 1971 or 1972

A BIG, light vest with two side pockets. Being big, it’ll fit over my heaviest coat so it allows me to dress for whatever the temperature requires. I always keep a pair of light gloves, a face mask and a headlamp in one pocket and a cartridge wallet with some extra cartridges in the other.

When I hunt Maine the rule is 100 square inches of orange plus an orange hat. Connecticut just 100 square inches so its a vest only for deer. I always wear an orange hat bird hunting.

It was 1970 in CO. Fatalities went from around 20 a year to an average of less than 1 per year today, with a lot more people hunting.

I will not hunt in any big game season without orange. And always wear an orange cap during any other season regardless.

Doing deer drives during gun season always just did vest but with age i feel better with full orange sweatshirt and hat. Side profile of a vest is pretty limited. State land orange hat even during bow season. Switch in the stand. My 2 cents

We are mandated to wear a solid orange vest or coat and solid hat. I have no problem with that.

I layer a good vest for warm or colder climes.

Black and red plaid, or if in a camo mood, black and green. I once followed a group of does for a day in the black and green, in hemlock woods. Hoped a buck would come in, but no.
To warm where I live now for the wool.

I need really good camo, head to toe...while sitting in my box blind drinking coffee!

I generally wear an orange vest and an orange hat (hat is required). With a vest, it’s easier to manage temperature, and I’m able to remove my coat and wear the orange vest while dragging.

Neither if I can help it.

Neither if I can help it.
Since you hunt in MN, you might want to take that down.

It doesn't do much good wearing blaze orange when you are sitting inside of a camo tent or box blind. Here in Wisconsin they want you to have 144 square inches (12"x12") of blaze orange on each side of your blind during gun season. Not a bad rule imo.

Neither an orange coat or vest. My home state requires as of last year an orange hat. I wear that sometimes, but I have a real problem with the whole nanny state thing. Last fall I ran into a game warden in the Adirondacks. We were about 4 miles from the nearest blacktop. I figured I was getting a ticket for no clown hat. He never even mentioned it.

Orange hat here

For still hunting/stalking I go with the traditional New England wool setup with a blaze vest. This year I will be substituting a 1/2 vest by Stagr on top for the regular "full" vest. Tha Stagr one covers the upper 1/2 of the jacket front and back.

That plus a blaze orange jones hat. (old school)

If I'm in a stand, I'll leave a bit of blaze orange showing behind me. Such as a kids (grandkids!) vest, that I got a few of on clearance some years ago. The bonehead in front of me I can usually see and act accordingly, the one behind, not so much.