Young Oregon Hunters Soon Must Wear Orange Apparel
Beginning Aug. 2, hunters 17 or younger must wear a fluorescent orange outer garment or hat when hunting game mammals or upland game birds (except turkeys) with any firearm.
New rules from the Oregon Fish & Wildlife Commission take effect Aug. 2 that require any hunter who is 17 or younger to wear a fluorescent orange outer garment or hat when hunting game mammals or upland game birds, except turkeys, with any firearm.
In a news release, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife said archery, turkey, and migratory bird hunters are exempt from the regulation, which was adopted "to protect youth hunters from vision-related firearm incidents," according to the department. It said turkey and waterfowl have excellent eyesight, so wearing hunter orange could reduce hunters' success.
The release provides these details from the regulation:
- Exterior garment means a shirt, jacket, coat, vest, or sweater.
- Hat means any head covering (hat, bandana).
- The upper garment or hat must be visible in all directions (360 degrees of hunter orange).
- Hunter orange camouflage patterns are acceptable.
- Game mammals are deer, elk, bear, cougar, pronghorn antelope, Rocky Mountain goat, bighorn sheep, and western gray squirrel.
- Upland birds are forest grouse (blue and ruffed), chukar/Hungarian (gray) partridge, pheasants, quail (California and mountain), and sage grouse.
- "Hunt" means to take or attempt to take any wildlife by means involving the use of a weapon.
The department strongly urges adult hunters to wear hunter orange when in the field, as well.