Orange during Muzz season?

W

WontQuit

New member
Aug 12, 2015
35
Veteran Colorado hunters ~ the regs say you have to wear orange as an archer if you hunt during a rifle season. However, a muzzleloader is not considered a rifle, is it?

I\'m trying to find out if we need to wear orange if we bowhunt during the muzzleloader season. Anyone know?
 
Depends on the type of license carried.

If you have an Archery tag, no orange.

If you carry a ml or rifle tag, must wear orange.
 
Pop Quiz on this topic:

Let\'s say you have a ML cow tag and an ES archery tag.
You are going to hunt the week of ML season since ML and archery overlap.
You go out opening morning with your bow.
Do you need to wear orange?
 
\"cnelk\" said:
Pop Quiz on this topic:

Let\'s say you have a ML cow tag and an ES archery tag.
You are going to hunt the week of ML season since ML and archery overlap.
You go out opening morning with your bow.
Do you need to wear orange?
Click to expand...

If said archery hunter is hunting with a bow during muzzle loader season with MZ tag in pocket I believe he has to wear orange.


That said, my son and I wear an orange hat during muzzle loader season. Doubt the animals care and I\'d rather be safe but since us archery guys and MZ guys need to be relatively close to their prey I feel the hat is enough of an indication that hunter\'s are present.

Hell, after almost losing my camo wrapped windicator bottle last year I put bright pink athletic tape on my \"losable\" items this year. I am seriously doubting the animals care what color our camo is.
 
\"Lark Bunting\" said:
\"cnelk\" said:
Pop Quiz on this topic:

Let\'s say you have a ML cow tag and an ES archery tag.
You are going to hunt the week of ML season since ML and archery overlap.
You go out opening morning with your bow.
Do you need to wear orange?
Click to expand...
\"Lark Bunting\" said:
If said archery hunter is hunting with a bow during muzzle loader season with MZ tag in pocket I believe he has to wear orange.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I agree with Lark. If the firearm tag is in your pocket, you must wear orange, regardless if you carry a firearm or not.
\"Lark Bunting\" said:
That said, my son and I wear an orange hat during muzzle loader season. Doubt the animals care and I\'d rather be safe but since us archery guys and MZ guys need to be relatively close to their prey I feel the hat is enough of an indication that hunter\'s are present.

Hell, after almost losing my camo wrapped windicator bottle last year I put bright pink athletic tape on my \"losable\" items this year. I am seriously doubting the animals care what color our camo is.
Click to expand...
When I started out hunting, I wore an orange vest during ML. It was still unlimited ML during those years, so the sea of orange was more pronounced. Now that ML is all limited licenses, I keep it in my field dressing kit to wear for any pack out of a head and/or antlers.

I have pink fletchings. The only downside are the hummingbirds attacking me until they all finish migrating south. Around September 15th they have all left CO. Last week, I was attacked at the archery range...ok, she hovered next to my bow within 2 inches. Next, she flew off and landed on each of my arrows in the elk 3D before flying away. Opening week, we are getting the ones coming down from Canada...thanks Canada.

Pink, purple, red, coral: attracts hummingbirds Guess what color are my non-hunting clothing and hunting & hiking backpack ...yep, I get attacked while scouting, hiking and opening week. Imagine sitting still for an elk setup and having a hummingbird hover near you. Sometimes they try to land on my bow while I am holding the bow. Scares the hell out me. The rufous hummingbird (orange-red throat) is really aggressive.

Lark, lets us know if you have to fend off the hummers while checking the wind :p
 
You don\'t have to wear blaze orange but I suggest you do. Accidents happen and required or not, nothing ruins an elk hunt like getting shot.
 
Brad\'s question - assuming this is for Colorado laws.

For the muzzleloader tag, there is only one legeal weapon to hunt with using this tag and it is the muzzleloader. You cannot hunt for the muzzleloadaer cow leagally with your bow. So, if you have that muzzle cow tag in your pocket but take your bow, you would only be able to hunt legally for your archery ES elk.

Since you are using your bow, then you are not hunting with a firearm nor a muzzleloader and orange is not required. With that thinking, I would say no, you do not need to wear orange if you take your bow and are carring a muzzle cow tag, as it would be illegal to shoot an animal utilizing the muzzle tag in your pocket.
 
Something else - if you have an archery elk tag and are carrying an any-weapon bear tag during September, you are technically required to wear orange, even if you are ONLY carrying bow. If you leave your bear tag in camp or your vehicle, you don\'t have to wear orange. I\'ve been round and round about this with the CPW. My local warden and DWM (District Wildlife Manager) advised me to keep the orange in my pack, carry the bear tag, and if I shoot a bear with my bow, which is what I\'d use anyway, to take hero photos wearing orange in case it\'s ever called into question.

This is one of those weird laws that\'s on the fuzzy side. I get the intent, but it still seems strange that I\'d have to wear orange even if I\'m primarily hunting elk and just happen upon a bear.

I would not consider wearing orange during ML season. Where I hunt, I\'d stand out like a neon light, as the ML hunters take their orange off as soon as they get into the woods. The \"danger\" isn\'t that at all - it\'s essentially nonexistent, statistically. You are in exponentially greater danger driving to your hunting spot than being shot with a ML. But I don\'t wear my elk hat or decoy in any way during that week, just to be sure.
 
I stay out of the woods when the ML\'s are in there. Once they get done road hunting and riding their ATV\'s around, the elk come back to life!! :shock: :dance2:
 
\"Jason Balazs\" said:
I stay out of the woods when the ML\'s are in there. Once they get done road hunting and riding their ATV\'s around, the elk come back to life!! :shock: :dance2:
Click to expand...

Too bad all the bow hunters don\'t do that.
 
I\'m to hunt every day of ML season this year with my bow.
I know 2 others that will too.
But just not in Colorado :)
 
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