Rathdrum Prairie News: Wearing orange may have saved hunter’s life

Nobody knows how many lives are saved each year by hunters wearing fluorescent orange clothing – but it is time for Idahoans to find out. In the words of one hunter, “If wearing orange would save even one life, it is worth it.”

Last week, a 22-year old Bayview man was killed in North Idaho while out hunting with two buddies. He was not wearing hunter orange, and the survivors’ lives will never be the same. One of them pulled the trigger, and the other witnessed the entire thing. Would this accident have happened if the victim had been wearing hunter orange? We will never know.

Most states have hunter-safety education programs and 40 have laws requiring hunters to wear hunter orange. The laws are based on the fact that, while most hunting injuries are associated with the violation of basic firearms safety rules, most hunters injured as a result of being “mistaken for game” or “in the line of fire” were not wearing hunter orange at the time of injury. Idaho does not require hunters to wear hunter orange in the field.

Every time legislation concerning enacting hunter orange requirements is considered, a few become vocal.

“These people don’t want to have it mandated by the Legislature what they should and shouldn’t be wearing,” said Vicky Runnoe, conservation education supervisor for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. “It’s one of those personal rights things, like motorcycle helmets. You’ve got a group of people who say, ‘By gosh, I know it’s good for me, but I don’t want to do it because I don’t want anybody to tell me I have to do it.’ ”

Others fight the legislation because they incorrectly assume animals see orange like humans do. According to scientists, blaze orange is unique, and it immediately draws the human eye because it does not occur in nature. Conversely, animals, like deer, see the fluorescent orange that is so vivid to our eye, as a color similar to green, due to a red-deficiency in their vision. Sustained hunting harvest records following enactment of hunter orange requirements stand as proof that the color does not frighten animals.

Although there is no legislation requiring it, state and local hunter educators say they stress the importance of wearing hunter orange as part of their hunter safety education.

“We stress knowing your target – knowing what you are pointing your weapon at,” said John Gribbin, hunters education coordinator for the Panhandle region. “We stress making an ethical and safe shot over, and over and over again. We also promote wearing hunter orange 100 percent.”

“As a state agency, we strongly recommend that hunters wear orange,” said Runnoe. “Each instructor recommends students wear hunter orange. Every graduate also receives an orange hat and is encouraged to wear it.”

Between 1979 and 2006, 51 hunters were killed in Idaho. Twenty-five were fatally injured through careless gun handling, and/or accidents. The other 26 were either mistaken for animals, or shot by fellow hunters. Of these, all except one wearing an orange cap, were dressed in dark colors or camouflage.

Would any of these hunters, or the young Bayview man, be alive today if they had worn blaze orange? We will never know. But, while nothing can undo the tragedy of last week, the incident can spur Idaho hunters to put on those hunter orange vests, and encourage Idahoans to ask legislators to enact laws requiring hunters to wear blaze orange. It is time for Idaho to follow the example of 40 other states, and the advice of its own hunting educators.