Hey asshole - why should the onus be on us NON-hunters to wear orange? We have the right to be out hiking and not get shot. Who hunts out of necessity these days? Screw you.

I don't think you're going to stop people from hunting on public lands anytime soon. But if you have congress in your pocket Mr L, just let me know I have some other things I'd like to get passed there. In the meantime, I'd recommend wearing some bright colors if you're hiking during hunting season.

But feel free to wear a bear suit during bear hunting season Mr. L. I'd pay to see that.

Hopefully L will get shot when he is hiking during hunting season.

Hi Wade,

Thanks for the link and mention.

I'm not sure what the problem is with L - kind of over-the-top don't you think? I had a similar response at Sierra Blogging Post from people really upset I suggested they wear orange - or even brightly-colored clothes. Yes, it's a small inconvenience, but well worth it when you think that orange may be the only thing distinguishing you from a bear or a deer. The same principle applies when you put an orange flag on your bike trailer or on your boat when someone is water skiing. It just lets people know you're there.

Anyway, thanks again. Have a great day!

Best,
Allie Comeau
Sierra Blogging Post

I agree Allie. It's kinda like wearing a PFD when on the water... common sense.

Well I'm keeping my bright orange/yellow quick-dry shirt on hand when I head out in hunting season.

[...] kills me about these articles about hikers who get murdered by bear hunters is that they always give hikers advice on how not to get shot—things like “wear orange” or [...]

Word Jmac, WERD! I hope that stranger dies a terrible, nasty death.
Lets take into consideration how difficult it is to nail any beast from distance with a high-powered rifle. Next, let's take into consideration how hard it would be to mistake a person for a bear (regardless of the color of said person's clothing [note: bears are the ones wearing non-orange clothing]) at a close distance.
The fact that more people aren't upset with the idea that an innocent 14-year-old hiker was shot and killed by an irresponsible gunman is what's really bothersome. Chances are, orange clothing wouldn't have helped that kid anyway...
Not shooting humans seems more akin to 'common sense' to me.
I don't want anyone to die..., don't know about the rest of you.

But what are we to do when the bears catch on and start wearing orange too? Or worse yet when they start wearing human suits to hide themselves from the hunters.

Utahrd , the hunter was 14. I think L is right in that the responsible person in any hunting situation is ALWAYS the hunter. This is 3rd degree murder. The kid should get locked up for it....and whoever gave him the gun. Maybe some 14 year olds are mature enough to hunt. This one isn't. There needs to be consequences when someone screws up. The kid and his/her parents screwed up and someone is dead.

Instead of making non-hunters wear orange, make a law that says if you shoot someone when hunting, you will be put to death or probably more appropriately, 50 cents of every dollar you make for your entire life will go to their family...and you can never own a gun again. It will make them more careful.

You make a good point Ben. The constitution gives us the right to bear arms... but we should be able to easily revoke that right if someone abuses it or can't handle the responsibility.

I don't see what the big deal is to wear bright colored clothing during hunting season. I guess those that are against it might think they don't look cool enough in the woods, or their The North Face shirt didn't come in bright orange. I'd rather wear orange than get shot at.

"...but well worth it when you think that orange may be the only thing distinguishing you from a bear or a deer."

I would think that there are MANY things that distinguish me from a bear or deer. I'm bipedal, I'm not covered in brown or black fur, I don't have antlers...

Maybe it's because I'm a non-hunter, but if I'm hiking, I know there's plenty of things to because careful of, but how am I to know to be careful of this, or why should I have to? If you are wielding a deadly weapon, maybe YOU should be careful. I just don't understand how firing a rifle at something you cannot see clearly is even defensible. in any other context, firing a gun and killing someone would be considered a serious crime. And we don't go blaming the victims for getting shot, or not wearing the appropriate clothing, whether it be orange vests or flak jackets.

If you are aiming a gun, you are responsible for whatever that bullet hits. City or woods; hunter, cop, criminal, whatever. If you can't handle that, then you should be able to handle a firearm.

I agree with L and Ben. The kid and his parents should be held responsible regardless of what the victim was wearing.

Though it may be a good idea to wear safety orange in the woods during hunting season, that is not really the issue here. Blaming the victim for not wearing orange is like blaming someone who is killed by a drunk driver for not wearing a seatbelt. In either case, the victim would probably do things differently if given the chance, but the fault lies with the irresponsible party who took another life through gross negligence.

I think the post was right to suggest wearing bright colors, but it is still important in this case to punish the person(s) truly at fault.

This incident clearly did not happen because of what the hiker was or was not wearing. If it matters, she was wearing a light blue jacket and dark pants. She and her companion (wearing a royal blue jacket) were hiking on a busy, open, heavily traveled hiking trail. Sauk Mt. is one of the most popular family hiking trails in the state. She was killed 10 minutes from the trail head. The boys (14 and 16) were dropped off in the trail head parking lot by their Grandpa. The boys were perched on a ledge overlooking the trail, sighting down on the trail. She was killed instantly by a direct hit to ther head by the 14 year old from 120 yards away. The boys both had scopes on their rifles. What in the world difference would it have made what she was wearing? The 14 year old is negligent and he must be held accountable for his deadly error in judgement. The State of Washington should rethink its law allowing children to hunt while unaccompanied by an adult. Notices should be posted on public lands that alert users that hunting is allowed and when seasons are open. This entire situation is truly tragic.

This is an unfortunate incident, but also unfortunate is people don't have to take an IQ test before being issued a hunting licence, and are allowed to consume alcohol while hunting to boot. while I am not saying this 14 year-old hunter was consuming alcohol, it is clear that he was out of his league by being dropped off on a bear hunt by his "responsible guardian" and was clearly not ready. A 14 and 16 year old should not be allowed to hunt without an adult. My house is about 100 yards from game lands, and shouldn't have to wear blazing orange to take out the trash because some dumbass with a gun thinks I am a 5'5 120 lb bear. Besides how the hell do I know it's huntin' season, I DON'T HUNT. Forcing me to buy an wear certain things, you should be enforcing more rules on the people who actually participate in the "sport".

Living in a hunting area has seriously made me hate hunters, who roll up in their huge trucks, park wherever, set up all their fancy gear, drink, litter and shoot at anything moving. Some may be respnsible, but from what I have seen it scares me that these people are allowed to have a gun.

Anyone who blames a hiker for "being shot" is a total asshole. Most people are not hunters, so why in the world should they have to take a course on how not to get shot, for just going a trivial hike. Anone caring a fire arm is responsible for what they hit, no if's, and's, or but's.

Hiking should not be an activity where one worries about be torn apart by the bullet of some careless hunter.

I am a huge supporter of the right to bear arms, but I am also a huge supporter of throwing the book at people who cause injury to another by abusing that right.

Ok, I have read this blog and would like to add my comments.

If you want to change hunting laws then offer laternatives! This young man shot what he thought was a bear and wronglfully killed an innocent Human being. I am sure he feels horrible but he did own upto it unlike hit and run drivers. Futhermore this young man was not stealing tire, raping other, drinking or doing drugs. He made a terrible mistake and I am sure he will be made to suffer the consequences. What I do not agree with is your ascertion of the "onus". If I swim with sharks I should be prepared to get bitten or at least hang out in a cage. If I go for a bike ride I am supposed to wear reflective tape, have lights and obey the laws while riding. Am I taking these precautions because I think I might hurt myself? No I am taking these course of actions to stop others from hurting me intentional or not.

To all. I hunt. I am 65 years old. I got my first hunting licence at 14.. I took the hunting course.. I grew up in a house with loaded guns, [ Cops ] I have had guns my entire life. As a young man, I wore generic "Green" in Asia. I had no scope on my rifle and I could tell the difference between a black cow and a man dressed in black with an AK 47 at half a mile and could hit him at same destance. WITHOUT Scope. Today, I wear glasses and shoot a muzzleloader with no scope... I still shoot a tight group at one hundred yards with a patched round ball. I belong to the NRA, the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Assco. and Washington State Muzzle Loaders Assco. and a local club... This young man deserves the max. that the law will allow. His brother should be charged as an accessory as should be the grandfather who dropped them off. To mistake a person wearing blue plastic rain gear as a bear at 120 yards with is scope is murder. Simple and plain. There is no excuse for this. None.

Did the police take a blood sample from the boy? How do we know he wasn't "high" on anything? Also, he probably has a computer @home, that needs to be checked, what kind of websites has he been visiting, surfing? Check out his MySpace page...all of these things can give some insight if this really was a "accident" or not. How come not one word from his family? No statement to the victems family? What are they hiding? I smell a cover up.

It's pretty much common sesne to wear bright colors during drunken redneck shoot anything that moves seasons. I know plenty of responsible non drinking professionals that hunt, then there are the others!! and it's the others I'm worried about there are parts of california where they pretty much tell you if your not going to wear bright colors prepare to be shot at do I think that's OK? no but I would rather be alive than be right...

Wear orange? I guess that works about 95% of the time according to the CDC. So what do you tell the people that wear orange and still get shot, wear more orange next time? Do not squeeze the trigger unless you know what you are shooting at. Be responsible hunters.

Just out of curiosity - who ever said that the hiker wasn't wearing orange? It's just been assumed that she wasn't. What if I were to tell you that she was indeed wearing orange? This hiker followed every rule there was from wearing bright colors to staying on the trail... Now what do you think of this poor 14yr old hunter??? Still think that it's an accident?

Heck, why wear orange when you can just shoot back at the stupid red neck hunters instead? Let's pass a law allowing hikers to fire back with immunity at anyone who takes a shot at them while they are outdoors during hunting season? I'm sure the orange worn by their attackers will help the hiker's aim.