BEND, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has decided to require young hunters to wear orange when they’re in the field pursuing big game or upland birds.
The regulation approved Thursday in a unanimous vote takes effect next Aug. 1.
Debate focused on whether to require the 17,000 hunters younger than 18 to wear orange hats and orange vests or coats. The commission rewrote the regulation to make the type of gear — hat or garment — a choice.
The rule does not apply to adult hunters, bow hunters or turkey hunters.
Forty states require gun hunters to wear orange; until Thursday’s vote, Oregon was one of 10 that did not mandate orange for any hunter. The Oregonian says opponents of the proposal say Oregon is second only to Nevada in hunting safety.
Oregon has required hunter education for those younger than 18 since 1973.
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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com
