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

Regs for where I hunt require 400 sq in of solid blaze orange on the upper body and a solid blaze orange hat. Any vest that fits me easily meets that requirement! Lol! I too use the Cabela's vest and have for a very long time.

South Dakota only requires one article of visible clothing to be blaze orange. I usually just wear a hat. The only time I've had people shoot in my direction they could see me plain as day, more strange wouldn't have made a difference. Right after he shot he yelled and asked me if he hit it(public land).

I carry a light, cheap spare too. So far, all I’ve needed it for was to loan to strangers who forgot theirs, or who show up to bowhunt during special gun seasons without one. I just tell them to hang it on my antenna when they leave.

Just a hat, which is minimum requirement here in Maryland. When traipsing into Pennsylvania I add a cheap cotton orange vest over my decades old Woolrich coat, but I hate that thing (the vest). It constantly snags on stuff, twists around, and has interfered with shouldering a rifle. Safety pins and extra velcro help but not enough to overcome the added hassle of putting on over a coat. Did I say I hate that thing? (Not to mention a gov't that is hellbent on saving me from myself.)

I once encountered an Amish kid wandering around the woods in upstate PA dressed in black from head to toe, on opening day of bear season (!). I gave him a spare $2 vest I had in my day pack and strongly advised him to vacate those woods.

A blaze cap and a vest here. I take both off once I get into my hunting house.

Orange hat and vest. Love to see the circus peanuts coming through the woods, though.

I just wear a cheap vest that goes over whatever I'm wearing.

Idaho doesn't require any orange. They recommend it but leave it up to hunter, as it should be. If your state requires orange, do they require it for hikers and bikers in hunting areas during the season? If not, why not? They're in as much, if not more, danger than a hunter.

I go in the woods looking like a carrot. Ive been misidentified while wearing orange jacket/hat and the guy still managed to empty his mag before he realized I didnt have horns... I typically wear a set of blaze camo bibs and a hat. Usually an orange puffy vest over the top of everything.

I’ve got an orange vest that say “Don’t shoot, I’m a man”.

In my financially strapped youth I would use a cheap "safety vest"- Usually the vinyl, or polyester mesh construction types, they hardly ever made it more than a full season.
My home state (and neighboring states I have drawn tags for) require 400 inches of orange or a hat or more, and I accepted I was going to have to have something every year and get used to it..
I finally adopted the buy once cry once philosophy and purchased a durable Cabelas heavy material hunting vest with built in pack and pockets, not that they were readily available when I first started hunting, but with vests of such quality and durability I wish they were available then.
I've had that vest for 20+ years, it securely holds gear and hunting necessities well without loosing them, and nice to keep all on me and in a convienient package. that vest has been on antelope, deer and elk hunts in many western states and all kinds of weather conditions, it works well over a T shirt, or insulated coveralls and it quickly became a beloved article of my hunting kit-

My nylon version of the cheap plastic vest must be close to 10 years old now and should be good for many more. These days they cost about $10.

Georgia requires 500 sq. inches of blaze orange above the waist at all times during primitive weapon and rifle season. I always wear a blaze orange hat. I always wear my blaze orange vest due to the fact it has a bunch of pockets and I store stuff in them. In early season I’ll wear an orange shirt under my vest. I also wear a blaze orange hoody or jacket underneath my vest. The only time I don’t wear a blaze orange jacket is when we get into the 30’s in temperature, then I’ll bring out my Sitka incinerator jacket. As far as deer seeing orange……urban legend. They see movement.

Not always the case. One time I was sitting in the shade under a sagebrush while wearing an orange vest. A forky came over the hill about 300 yds away. I didn't even wiggle my nose but he instantly spotted me. I don't know what he saw but I was tapioca - made in an instant.

Far from a controlled experiment, but a buddy and I were hunting Michigan opening day and he was sitting on the ground and complained that every deer saw him sitting there in his blaze orange. That night he took a black Magic Marker and drew oak leaf patterns on his orange hoodie and the next day in the same place, none of the deer reacted to seeing him. It could have been wind direction, but he was convinced that camo orange is better. I wear that too where legal.

For Texas public hunting, I wear a vest and hat. I couldn't imagine using a coat since I make use of layers. Even if it's really cold in the morning, I tend to walk a good ways in without the warmest outer layer or I'll overheat. I put it on once I get where I want to be and start feeling the cold.

Regardless of color(s) or game...on a broken background, a solid pattern will stand out more than a broken pattern.

The minimum. Either an orange hat or an orange vest.

Orange vest and hat, have had numerous deer within 10 ft of me many times

Years ago I bought a heavy parka, orange camo. It's too heavy to wear except in the coldest weather.
It seems like I have more interactions with deer when I wear it.I

My normal hunting coat is a Dulth Trading shore line jacket, for a short time they where available in orange. If the vest is ever available I'll get one to replace my LL Bean vest.

Filson jaq shirt orange plaid with a polar pile full orange vest. Sometimes columbia wool camo coat.