YOUTH HUNTERS

  SALEM For young hunters, this season is all about orange.

   The states new rules requiring youth to wear hunter, or fluorescent, orange when hunting went into effect Aug. 1.

   Hunters age 17 and under are required to wear a hunter orange exterior garment or hat when hunting game mammals or upland game birds, other than turkey, with any firearm.

   According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Exterior garment means a shirt, jacket, coat, vest or sweater.

Hat means any head covering including bandanas.

The upper garment or hat must be visible in all directions.

Hunter orange camouflage patterns are acceptable.

Hunt means to take or attempt to take any wildlife by means involving the use of a weapon.

The law considers game mammals as deer, elk, bear, cougar, pronghorn antelope, Rocky Mountain goat, bighorn sheep and western gray squirrel.

Upland birds are forest grouse (blue and ruffed), chukar/Hungarian (gray) partridge, pheasants, quail (California and mountain) and sage grouse.

    Archery, turkey and migratory bird hunters are exempt from the hunter orange requirement. Turkey and waterfowl have

excellent eyesight and wearing hunter orange could reduce hunter success, according to ODFW.

   The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted the new rule last year to protect youth hunters from vision-related firearm incidents. Adult hunters are also strongly encouraged to wear hunter orange when in the field.

   Although most hunting seasons dont open until September or October, some controlled, limited-entry youth elk hunting seasons opened Aug. 1. The rule also holds for the general seasons for bear and cougar.

   Important fall 2011 general hunt season (unlimited entry) dates follow:

Sept. 1-Jan. 31, 2012: Grouse, some quail seasons.

Oct. 1-Nov. 4: Western Oregon deer centerfire (Cascade closure Oct. 15-21).

Oct. 8-Dec. 31, 2011/Jan. 31, 2012: Pheasant, chukar/partridge, remaining quail seasons.

Oct. 15-21: Cascade elk centerfire.  

Nov. 5-13: Rocky Mountain elk centerfire, second season.

Nov. 12-15: Coast elk centerfire, first season.

Nov. 19-25: Coast elk centerfire, second season.