RALEIGH, N.C. — The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Home From The Hunt™ safety campaign is reminding hunters to follow blaze orange requirements and making safety recommendations to others who spend time outdoors.
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. Anyone hunting deer during a deer firearms season, regardless of method, must wear blaze orange. Hunters also are required to wear blaze orange while hunting with a bow on Sunday during the black powder and gun seasons.
“Wearing blaze orange is an easy and effective step for safety,” said Travis Casper, the state Hunter Education Program coordinator. “Blaze orange, also known as hunter orange, isn’t a color found in nature, making it instantly recognizable as a human presence. It is instantly recognizable and signals caution to the viewer. Going a step farther, in low-light conditions hunters should consider using a flashlight when changing locations.”
The Home From The Hunt™ campaign recommends everyone wear blaze orange when 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.
