in the hiking community there's heated discussion between those that wear bright colors - personal choice, fashion statement, safety, whatever - and those that are horrified that someone would wear bright colors in the woods - offends their sensibilities.

nevermind a lot of critters are color blind.

i try to wear bright colors to avoid an accident like this:
go here.

thoughts?

Especially during hunting season(s).

(as I'm planning a hike for tomorrow my plan includes a hunter-orange boonie hat instead of my usual khaki one.

I like to wear muted colors most of the year, even camo, in case of a bird-watching opportunity.

Except during hunting season. Then I at least put on a blaze orange hat, and put an orange collar on my dog.

Reads like the hunter shot at movement in bushes without seeing what was moving? Color may do no good in the case of a dumb hunter.

I've spent far too much time searching for lost or injured people wearing those soft and muted colors. I firmly believe one should at least have some really bright options to deploy. It is much easier to lose a pack made with dull colors than one that has some bright spots. In the days when about all we could get was army surplus, we used to tie bright flagging ribbon to the pack so we could find the darn thing after we had set it down.

On a really good trip, you will be far enough into the back country that you are not going to encounter anyone, so the color you wear will be irrelevant.

I am more apt to avoid camo patterns than bright colors. And I am a veteran. I tend to wear blacks, khakis, light blues and greens but I'll wear a bright color no problem. I have a neon orange trail running pack that makes hunter orange seem faded.

I am not trying to hide from anyone when I am off adventuring, and if I want to color down it wouldn't be hard with most of my gear and ability to self camouflage.

Bright colors for me whenever I can. I buy bright red jackets whenever I can. Even navy blue is better than brown. Ran into two hunters out on the trail today. I'm not opposed to hunting per se -- I just don't want to be on the receiving end.

The tough thing in my area is that there is this patch work of "zones". Different zones frequently have different seasons. God only knows exactly which zone is in season for what animal when -- and coyotes are ALWAYS in season last I checked.. There are no signs or anything like that posted warning hikers.

HJ

"He saw what he thought was a bear, moving in the brush"

Another moron who will shoot at anything that moves, or looks like it might.

John Steinbeck: "The radios warned against carrying a white handkerchief. Too many hunters seeing a flash of white have taken it for the tail of a running deer and cured a head cold with a single shot."

Bright colors may save your life. Dull colors may scare the birds. Tough call.

Sue

I like lighter neutral colors because of mosquitoes, the sun, and so I can wear my hiking clothes around town and not look like an emergency beacon. I do carry a large orange bandana, flagging tape, whistles, flashlights, and a signal mirror so I should be okay. And of course I hike on well worn trails and leave a detailed itinerary of my hiking plans.

thats something i never/don't think about.on canoe trips i'm like LED and wear a tan,lightweight nylon outfit to hold off the bugs.in fact at the canoe tripping site it's sort of a joke that we all have that "uniform"..as far as just going out in the woods i just put on jeans and what-ever..that this is a issue is news to me----