Hunter Orange 3

I understand that I am on a rant, sucks for you guys lol. No one to talk with about it.


I went through the hunting accidents in Oregon '98-'09 and came up with 68 incidences. 48 were two party events, 14 were fatal. Looking over the reports and making a judgement call, it looks like 3 deaths where no H.O. was worn most likely would have been prevented if H.O. was required. 7 fatal events where no H.O. was worn is debatable if H.O. would have helped. 1 fatal H.O was worn. 3 fatals involved no H.O. but would not have helped.Using an average hunter rate of 210,000 per year (I think this is low) the rate for accidents was .000032 which is significantly lower than the national average and .0000066 for deaths which is slightly higher than the national average of .000005.What is interesting is that 19% of the 48 two party hunting incidents the hunters were wearing hunter orange and were still shot, many times when they were visible to the shooter.


If the stats are telling us anything, it is that bird hunters need to wear flak jackets and helmets! Many bird hunters getting hit, even though they are wearing H.O. I suppose this goes with that territory, one shell produces a lot of opportunity to hit a non-target.It will be interesting to hear the arguments at the commision meeting(Wish I had the time and money to make it there). I guess the question that needs to be asked of the commisioners is, would they support the legislature mandating speed govenors on every vehicle driven in the state of Oregon and the speed is set at 45 mph and every occupant must wear helmets? Why not? It is the same logic they are applying to hunting, that we must understand.I am a little concerned that these so called brush shooters are going to catch a glimpes of H.O., just enough to draw their attention and then shoot at the first movement they see. Really sad reading the reports and the number of people that just shoot at movement. H.O. might make that scenario worse.

There is a big game rifle hunt going on 365 days a year statewide. Also known as "cougar season." There are numerous other rifle hunts taking place for most of the fall, starting in August and going through the end of the year and beyond. Even if they mandate this only for big game rifle hunts, it will be a complete mess.


Ok, i'm done for now.