wearing a hat during riftle season

[Jameson]

There was some discussion about if it was necessary to wear a hat during firearm's deer season. I e-mailed the DNR, and the response was IF you wear a hat it needs to be orange. We are not required to wear a hat.

copy of e-mail with my contact info removed:

Quote:

Hello

Sorry for the delay. You do not need to be wearing a hat. But if you do it does need to be blaze orange.

jim

From: Jameson

Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 10:12 AM

To: Abernathy, Jim M (DNR)

Subject: RE: is a blaze hat required for deer hunting?

We have already read the regs several times and are in disagreement about what they say. Having us read them again is not doing any good. We need further explanation.

During firearms deer season, can we legally hunt without a cap?

A yes or no answer may be best.

Thank-you

--- On Tue, 6/29/10, Abernathy, Jim M (DNR) <[email protected]> wrote:

From: Abernathy, Jim M (DNR) <[email protected]>

Subject: RE: is a blaze hat required for deer hunting?

To: Jameson

Date: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 9:19 AM

Hello

blaze Orange Requirements

Small Game Seasons: You may not take small game unless a

visible portion of at least one article of clothing above the waist is

blaze orange, except when hunting wild turkeys, migratory birds,

raccoons, predators, when hunting by falconry, or while trapping.

Deer Season: Also, you may not hunt or trap during any open

season where deer may be taken by firearms (including special

hunts, early antlerless, youth seasons, and muzzleloader) under

applicable laws and ordinances unless the visible portion

of your cap and outer clothing above the waist, excluding

sleeves and gloves, is blaze orange. Red is not a legal color, except for those

who qualify under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.

Blaze orange includes a camouflage pattern of at least 50 percent

blaze orange within each square foot. This restriction

does not apply to migratory waterfowl

hunters on waters or in a stationary shooting location

or to trappers on waters. Times and zones for

firearms are shown in the map on next page. Muzzleloader season

is open statewide, except for closed areas.

jim

From: Jameson

Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 8:35 AM

To: Info (DNR)

Subject: is a blaze hat required for deer hunting?

Hello,

Could you help settle a disagreement. Some folks think that a blaze orange hat is required for deer hunting during firearms season. Others think it is if you wear a hat it must be blaze orange. Could you please clarify this?

Thanks

Jameson

[picksbigwagon]

interesting.........I wonder if this will change for next year....not saying it will but it might not have ever come up before.....

[jay83196]

No

[Jameson]

change in which way?

Allow other colored hats? Require the wearing of a hat?

[picksbigwagon]

yeah, I should re edit my response. although I could see state legislature requiring the wearing of a hat I doubt that the DNR would love it.....

[KG243]

I wear a blaze hat... to me it is like wearing a helmet when riding a motorcycle.

[Boar]

What i never understood was the allowing of that camo blaze orange, so if 50% of the abouve waist is orange an 50% is that black camo break up patern, when you enter the woods that 50% orange is now diminished even more because of the brush an trees breaking up whats left of the orange. Wont catch me wearing that stuff. Boar An I wear a hat.

[pulleye16]

My hat has multiple resources when I'm hunting. It keeps the sun out of my eyes, keeps me warm, I will place it on my stand after I shoot a deer so I can easily view where my stand is at in refrence of where I shot a deer, I can use it for a blood marker, most importantly, I like to make myself as visible as possible when afield. Like KG said, like wear a helmet on a motorcycle....

[Jameson]

I am all for wearing a blaze orange hat whenever it's below 70 degrees out. What really bugs me is seeing someone hunting in a black or camo hat during rifle season. I do believe that gives that hunter poacher an advantage over someone wearing a blaze hat.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

So someone that wears a camo hat during rifle season is a "poacher"? Really? Kind of a harsh label to place on someone just because of their hat preference, don't you think?

[bogwalker]

I remember how we laughed when blaze orange ( Ten mile cloth ) first came out. Man, it looked like you could see it from outer space. Not many guys wore the stuff until it was made mandatory.

[nonteepical]

I am all for wearing a blaze orange hat whenever it's below 70 degrees out. What really bugs me is seeing someone hunting in a black or camo hat during rifle season. I do believe that gives that hunter poacher an advantage over someone wearing a blaze hat.

whats the advantage, deer can't see orange.

[NaturesRespect]

I can careless about what the reg says i always try to wear a blaze hat and if not I will always have a cheap $4 blaze outer vest over my camo jacket... my life is not worth trying to hide from a deer or a small game animal. The regs there to protect us either way the blaze orange is not going to make a whole lot of difference to what the animal sees either they see you or not thats it