To the editor:
The Daily Journal’s “Your Views” section recently included a letter titled “Hunters wearing orange won’t spook whitetail deer (Jan. 13).” In the letter, Mr. Jim Curry stated that Indiana deer hunters aren’t required by law to wear an article of blaze orange (also known as hunter orange) clothing.
Had he picked up a copy of the Indiana hunting laws that are provided by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, he would have learned the facts. Listed below are the requirements for the 2014 deer-hunting season, as specified on the IDNR website:
Hunters, including those using archery equipment, must meet hunter orange requirements while hunting for deer during firearms (Nov. 15-30, 2014), muzzleloader (Dec. 6-21, 2014) and special antlerless firearm (Dec. 26, 2014–Jan. 4, 2015) seasons.
Hunter orange must be worn during the special youth deer season (Sept. 27-28, 2014).
To meet fluorescent orange (or “hunter orange”) clothing requirements, hunters must wear one or more of the following items that is solid fluorescent orange in color and exposed at all times as an outer garment: vest, coat, jacket, coveralls, hat or cap. Minimal logos or patches are allowed.
Camouflage-patterned fluorescent orange garments do not satisfy the requirement.
Fluorescent orange must be worn when hunting:
- Deer
- Rabbit
- Pheasant
- Ruffed grouse
- Quail
- Turkey (when fall turkey season overlaps a deer firearms season)
- Woodcock
- Squirrel
As you can see, it is not an opinion but a fact and law of Indiana that all deer hunters have to follow during the scheduled hunting seasons. I have deer hunted for 30 years and have always been required to follow this law.
Craig VerSteeg
Franklin
