MONTPELIER, Vt. – Vermont Fish & Wildlife is reminding hunters to wear fluorescent hunter orange.

“Hunting is one of the safest outdoor activities, and it’s getting safer thanks to advances in education as well as science,” said Nicole Meier, Vermont Fish & Wildlife information and education specialist. “Our volunteer hunter education instructors stress that wearing orange during hunting season is important, and studies prove that wearing fluorescent hunter orange keeps hunters visible to other people in the woods, but it keeps them relatively invisible to deer.”

“Every year we should strive to be the safest we can be by wearing at least a hunter orange hat and vest,” she added.

Meier says hunters moving into the line of fire of other hunters and mistaking other hunters for game are common causes of the state’s accidents.

The time that deer are most active, during the dawn and dusk hours, are times of especially low visibility. You can improve your chances of being seen by other hunters by wearing hunter orange, which can be seen even in low-light situations. 

“While it isn’t recommended to wear orange during waterfowl and turkey seasons, we certainly still recommend hunter orange when you are going to and from your blind, treestand or calling spot,” said Meier. 

Concerns that deer are scared by hunter orange are unfounded. A deer’s vision is based on movement, patterns and color variations. Unlike humans, deer do not have multiple color receptors in their eyes. They can see color, but their spectrum is limited. This means deer must rely heavily on their ability to detect movement over the ability to interpret color variations and patterns. 

Regardless of how well deer see orange, ample anecdotal evidence suggests they aren’t bothered by it. Remember, hunting in Vermont is very safe and you can help keep it that way by choosing hunter orange. 

Hunt smart. Hunt safe. Wear orange.

 

For Immediate Release: October 19, 2017 
Media Contacts: Col. Jason Batchelder, 802-828-1483; Lt. Dave Gregory, 802-751-0103 

WESTMORE, Vt. – A Go Fund Me campaign has been started to raise reward money for an unsolved moose poaching case that took place in September. The campaign was started by Craftsbury Common resident Cindi Bollettieri.

A cow moose was shot from the road out of season and at night on Saturday, September 23. Vermont’s regulated moose hunting seasons are in October, and are limited to a small number of hunting permits that are allocated through a lottery system.

After the moose was shot in Westmore, it was attached to a vehicle and dragged on the road more than 11 miles to the town of Orleans. The animal was left by the side of Hollow Road off Route 58 in Orleans. The cow moose was lactating, indicating that she likely had a calf with her.

The fundraising campaign is available at www.gofundme.com/moose-poacher-reward.

“This action was particularly heinous, so I can understand why people are outraged,” said Col. Jason Batchelder, Vermont’s chief game warden. “The fact that people are giving to this campaign shows that Vermonters will not stand for poaching in our state.”

Members of the public with information about the incident should notify Operation Game Thief at 1-800-75ALERT (1-800-752-5378) or online at www.vtfishandwildlife.com. Operation Game Thief also pays rewards to members of the public who identify poachers.

Bollettieri has personally donated $2,000 to the effort, both through the Go Fund Me campaign and directly to Operation Game Thief.

“These poachers demonstrated tremendous disrespect for the law and for this moose,” said Col. Batchelder. “We’re asking for anyone with information about this incident to come forward so that we can hold the people who did this accountable.” 

With forests covering three-quarters of our state, and the highest percentage of vibrant maple trees in the country, Vermont explodes with colors once the leaves start to turn. Whether you are touring the state on a scenic byway, or enjoying a crisp autumn hike outdoors, almost everywhere you look in Vermont during the fall months is alive with bursting reds, oranges and yellows.

Adding to the natural beauty of autumn in Vermont are a variety of festivals, events and activities that help celebrate the season. Harvesting fruits and vegetables, visiting farms, pumpkin patches and corn mazes, and game hunting are among the host of outdoor things to do that make this such a special time of year.