Michelle Dennehy
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
(503) 947-6022
The following is a news release from Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
New rules that require youth to wear hunter orange when hunting take effect August 2, 2011.
As of that date, hunters age 17 and under are required to wear a hunter (fluorescent) orange exterior garment or hat when hunting game mammals or upland game birds (except turkey) with any firearm.
Details of the regulation:
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Exterior garment means a shirt, jacket, coat, vest or sweater.
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Hat means any head covering (hat, bandana).
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The upper garment or hat must be visible in all directions (e.g. 360 degrees of hunter orange).
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Hunter orange camouflage patterns are acceptable.
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Game mammals are deer, elk, bear, cougar, pronghorn antelope, Rocky Mountain goat, bighorn sheep and western gray squirrel.
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Upland birds are forest grouse (blue and ruffed), chukar/Hungarian (gray) partridge, pheasants, quail (California and mountain) and sage grouse.
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"Hunt" means to take or attempt to take any wildlife by means involving the use of a weapon.
Archery, turkey and migratory bird hunters are exempt from the hunter orange requirement. (Turkey and waterfowl have excellent eyesight and wearing hunter orange could reduce hunter success.)
The Fish & Wildlife Commission adopted the new rule last year to protect youth hunters from vision-related firearm incidents. Adult hunters are also strongly encouraged to wear hunter orange when in the field.
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