Fluorescent Orange Reqmts

Tigereye

Tigereye

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Lehigh Gorge
Seems like a prudent change to the dates. Thanks for the heads-up!

I may have missed it, but the regs seem to include only State Game Lands. I hike daily at Lackawanna SP where some sections are not only open to hunting, they are stocked with pheasants. This should apply to those areas as well.
 
Dear Tigereye,

This is another rule that lacks clarity. What about Clarks Creek FFO section? The entirety of the section is on SGL 211. I have a ginormous head, but it ain't 250 square inches. Will I need to wear a tarp to fish?

I'm being sarcastic, mostly because Clarks isn't worth the 20-minute drive from home, but it would be nice to know what exactly is required to meet the rule? If a hat works, it should be clearly stated in the rule!

To further compound the issue, there are many streams in State Forests where hunting is allowed. It appears they haven't even been considered. If I don't wear a hat in Bald Eagle State Forest and get shot dead, is it my fault? Twenty years ago, I never gave a thought to fishing on State owned property during hunting season. Now, it may be a matter of life or death.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

Edited to add: I'm not busting on you for calling attention to the rule. I'd just like the rule to be clearly defined and applied to ALL State-owned property where hunting and fishing and any outdoor recreation is allowed. That really isn't that big of an ask.
 
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Looking at the “safe hunting” PGC page on PA.gov, the linked “fluorescent orange requirements” states 250 sq in OR a solid orange hat will satisfy the requirement for non hunters from Oct-Jan. A similar requirement is also in effect for part of Apr-May (turkey season?)

I stay out of SGL during deer season, but I do fish some state forest lands and state parks during the start of archery deer. I’ll wear an orange cap, better safe than sorry. Agree that there should be an extension of the rule to apply to all public lands which allow hunting.
 
Dear nd1001,

Thanks for providing some clarity. Looks like my Tennessee VOL's ballcap that I won in a bet will keep me in compliance! 😉

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
Dear Skook,

Nah, I won it on a bet with an internet friend who was a University -"of Rocky Top"-Tennessee graduate after the 2007 Outback Bowl. It's bright orange so it's good enough for me!

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
This is another rule that lacks clarity. What about Clarks Creek FFO section? The entirety of the section is on SGL 211.
Click to expand...
I was fishing Clarks a few years ago when the game commission released pheasants. Everyone seemed to know about it. The parking areas were packed. There was a lot of shooting.
One of the stocked birds followed me along the creek. I believe he was hoping that I would feed him.
 
barrybarry said:
I was fishing Clarks a few years ago when the game commission released pheasants. Everyone seemed to know about it. The parking areas were packed. There was a lot of shooting.
One of the stocked birds followed me along the creek. I believe he was hoping that I would feed him.
Click to expand...
This reminds me of stocking rainbow trout and following the white trucks, only with shotguns. So fun. 🙄
 
News articles are a terrible way to try to get a grasp on actual regulations.

I don't think you'll ever see the game commission mandate orange for non hunters outside of game lands. I'm pretty sure they can only enforce hunting and game violations if they don't control the land. That is going to limit their power to sgls for non hunters.
 
This time of year I'll wear Fl orange anywhere outdoors. Accidents happen and there are some people who shoot before they're unequivocally certain of their target or the background. I can't tell you the number of times I let deer walk away because of potential safety issues with taking a shot. Killing a deer doesn't mean anything to me but for some .....

From just a couple days ago:
6abc.com

Hunter charged after fatally shooting woman he believed was a deer

A Maryland hunter is facing charges after a fatal shooting in Sussex County, Delaware.
6abc.com 6abc.com
 
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TimMurphy said:
Dear Tigereye,

This is another rule that lacks clarity. What about Clarks Creek FFO section? The entirety of the section is on SGL 211. I have a ginormous head, but it ain't 250 square inches. Will I need to wear a tarp to fish?

I'm being sarcastic, mostly because Clarks isn't worth the 20-minute drive from home, but it would be nice to know what exactly is required to meet the rule? If a hat works, it should be clearly stated in the rule!

To further compound the issue, there are many streams in State Forests where hunting is allowed. It appears they haven't even been considered. If I don't wear a hat in Bald Eagle State Forest and get shot dead, is it my fault? Twenty years ago, I never gave a thought to fishing on State owned property during hunting season. Now, it may be a matter of life or death.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

Edited to add: I'm not busting on you for calling attention to the rule. I'd just like the rule to be clearly defined and applied to ALL State-owned property where hunting and fishing and any outdoor recreation is allowed. That really isn't that big of an ask.
Click to expand...
Im with ya Tim. The rule posted Bam in 135.41 (c) 21 states

"Be present on State game lands from October 1 through January 31, inclusive, and from April 20 through May 31, inclusive, when not engaged in lawful hunting, trapping or fishing and fail to wear a minimum of 250 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange-colored material on the head, chest and back combined or, in lieu thereof, a hat of the same colored material. The material shall be worn so it is visible in a 360° arc. Persons using shooting ranges are exempted from this requirement.

States 250 square inches or a hat? WTF. Why not just say a hat? In the game code, which i know means nothing here, a hat is considered 100 inches. A rule stating solid orange hat is the mininmum requirement would be much clearer.
 
and that is 250 square inches on head, chest, and back. I used to wear just a orange hat until ran to a PAGC officer who was kind enough to let me know and just let me know.
 
Daylight fluorescent orange shirts,vests and jackets will be the new hip in rural PA this winter.
Not a bad rule due the amount of traffic State game lands are receiving from non hunters.
 
Can I fish a Class A stream on SGL that is stocked elsewhere in the county of listing during the closed period, if I am wearing the minimum amount of orange as required?

Just wanted to add another layer to our analysis.

In all seriousness, I was a “just a hat” guy too. My recollection (which may be wrong) was that it was always an “or” for the hat. So that’s what I did. I don’t like the idea of adding another layer to what I’m wearing so I’ll probably be looking for something I can affix to my pack. Note I don’t fish at all on public land during rifle deer season.
 
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