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Al Brown | Tracking the Seasons
Overlapping seasons create color conundrum
Serious waterfowl hunters don't wear blaze orange while keeping watch over their decoys anymore than gun-toting deer hunters dress in their best camouflage clothing before heading for their deer stands.
The reason? Because it's not mandated in the rules book, even though the seasons overlap from time to time.
According the Dave Walz, Conservation Warden of the South Central Region, "Birds can see color, so we recommend all waterfowl hunters wear blaze orange while going to or from their blinds during all gun deer seasons, but once they are in their blinds, the blaze can come off."
Deer are considered color blind and see blaze orange as white. To see what the deer see, look at a black and white photo of hunters wearing blaze orange clothing. It will appear white, while red garments will appear black.
On the other hand, birds, including waterfowl, see color as we see it, providing we aren't color blind. This presents a dilemma for some hunters who are going by the "book" if they are seeking game other than waterfowl.
If they are targeting "puddle" ducks such as teal, mallards, widgeon and wood ducks around potholes or wooded river bottoms as well as squirrels and maybe pheasant, they could also be bumping elbows with gun deer hunters working the same area.
The same could hold true for goose hunters working cut-over corn and soy-bean fields bordering wood lots frequented by deer and turkeys.
On pages 22 and 23 of the 2011 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations, Blaze Orange Requirements are clearly spelled out, followed by frequently asked questions and answers regarding the use of blaze-orange material on ground blinds.
"In any area of the state where a firearm deer season is open (including the regular 9-day hunt, muzzleloader season, Oct. 8-9 Youth Hunt, October and December 4-day antlerless-only hunts and CWD hunts), no person may hunt any game, except waterfowl, unless at least 50 percent of the person's outer clothing above the waist is colored blaze orange. A hat or other head covering, if worn, must be at least 50 percent blaze orange. Faded or stained blaze orange clothing is unsafe and may not meet law requirements. Camo-blaze that is 50 percent blaze orange is legal, but is not as visible as solid blaze clothing. One-hundred percent solid blaze orange is recommended."
In addition, "during any gun or muzzloader deer season, ground blinds (except waterfowl blinds) on DNR owned or managed lands must have a minimum of 144 square inches of solid blaze orange material visible from all directions."
By the time the regular gun deer season opens Nov. 19, every Wisconsin deer hunter should be aware of the rules and regulations that will govern the hunt. Ignorance of the law will be unacceptable.
Slow start
Foul weather during the four-day antlerless deer gun hunt in the CWD Earn-A-Buck Units, which ended last Sunday evening, was a big contributor to a low kill, according to reports from three area registration stations.
By Monday evening, Five O's Holiday Station in Oconomowoc had registered 22 deer, Cruisin 16 B.P. of Ixonia reported tagging 21 "baldies," while Detjens Northern Trails Meats in Watertown reported checking 20 antlerless during the gun hunt.
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