Michigan Hunter Orange Bill for Blinds not Necessary
By Glen Wunderlich Outdoor Columnist Member Professional Outdoor Media Association
Since the legalization of raised platforms for firearms deer hunting, one sees them strategically placed along woodlot edges overlooking deer travel routes, while driving most anywhere. More pointedly, the popularity of customized “shacks” has grown significantly, as dedicated hunters personalize them beyond belief. They may contain modern amenities not thought of in hunting terms years ago, while at the same time are designed to be aesthetically pleasing in their natural surroundings. Now comes Joel Sheltrown with House Bill 4897 and he wants to tell such craftsman how their hunting blinds must look.
As I perused the bill, it seemed innocuous enough: Hunter orange is defined; hunters don’t have to wear it when using a crossbow during archery season nor does a person engaged in the sport of falconry; while stationary, hunters don’t need it when hunting coyote, bobcat, or fox. Fine.
Subsection (3) is where my mind’s internal anti-locks involuntarily engaged: A person shall not use a blind to take deer with a firearm unless 144 square inches of hunter orange is visible on the exterior surface of the blind from all sides. A blind means an enclosure used to help conceal or disguise the occupant for the purposes of taking game. The failure of a person to comply with this section is not evidence of contributory negligence in a civil action for injury to the person or for the person’s wrongful death.
The obvious intent of this legislation is to protect hunters but what deer hunter wants orange targets pasted on his blind? If this is such a good idea, why aren’t blinds – portable or otherwise – already made to these specs? Simple: Nobody would buy them! If hunters like the concept, let them add as much orange material as they desire to their hideout on a voluntary basis.
However, by the language defining blind in the legislation, concealment and disguise are elements of a blind. Adding blaze orange anywhere, let alone a minimum of 4 square feet to its exterior, makes it contradictory in nature, so to speak.
Nannyist leaders have allowed no exclusions for those on private property, or for those in elevated blinds. What deer hunter in an elevated blind must be protected from stray fire? Although deer can be hard to find at times, I’ve yet to see one climb a tree, which would require bullets to be shot skyward! If anything, raised-platform blinds offer an inherent protection to occupants far better than any orange mandate.
If protection of hunters is the goal, maybe the legislation doesn’t go far enough. Nannyists could do a much better job of keeping hunters safe if each hunter would be required by law to stick his blaze orange head out the window of his blind, and scream every 10 minutes, “Don’t shoot me Bro!” while flailing his orange gloves in the air and tooting an air horn. Strobe lights can be programmed above all blinds to coincide with the touching of triggers to make sure hunters in the area have a chance to take cover. Glow-in-the-dark, bullet resistant vests could also be required gear.
There’s simply no limit to how safe we could all become, if we just continue to permit our legislators to decide what’s good for us!
