A Reminder For NC Hunters

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is reminding hunters of the requirement to wear blaze orange during certain hunting seasons. As an aside, I wonder if this requirement will ever be expanded to include the safety yellow that you see so many highway workers and public safety personnel wearing nowadays.

RALEIGH, N.C. - The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's Home From The Hunt™ safety campaign is reminding hunters to follow blaze orange requirements.

In North Carolina, hunters are required to wear a cap, hat or an outer garment in blaze orange that is visible from all sides when hunting bear, feral hogs, deer, rabbit, squirrel, grouse, pheasant or quail with a firearm. Hunters are also required to wear blaze orange while hunting with a bow on Sunday during the muzzleloader or gun season.

"Blaze orange, sometimes known as hunter orange, fluorescent orange or, by some old-timers, as 10-mile cloth, is instantly recognizable and signals caution to the viewer," said Travis Casper, state hunter education coordinator.

The Wildlife Commission recommends everyone wear blaze orange if they are going to be outdoors in areas shared with hunters. Blaze orange clothing stands out against an outdoor background and studies have proven it increases visibility of the wearer in low light situations. Blaze orange also can be helpful in locating someone lost or injured.

"Throughout the various hunting seasons, the majority of folks are responsible and safe," Casper said. "This state has an excellent hunting safety record, which improves every year. But it isn't perfect and we want to eliminate preventable incidents."

All first-time hunting license buyers in North Carolina must complete a hunter education course successfully. Classroom courses are offered free across the state by the Wildlife Commission, with locations and schedules listed online at www.ncwildlife.org.

For information on hunting seasons and rules, consult the 2012-13 N.C. Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest, also available online at www.ncwildlife.org.