Blaze Orange vs Chartreuse Yellow

J

johnelmore

New member
High viz colors are important for hunting and range training.

Recently I was at a huge stadium and I looked through the large crowd. A few in the stadium had blaze orange shirts while a few more had on chartreuse yellow. My personal opinion was that those with chartreuse yellow were far more visible then blaze orange. In fact I could readily spot those with yellow on from about 200 yards among a crowd of people.

When I hit the range I choose the yellow instead of the orange. In fact, I use these shirts for more then just firearms training but also when Im traveling at an airport where my wife will pick me up. When I go out in a crowd with my children I also find a way to put some yellow on them whether it be a shirt or a hat. Its so much easier to find someone in a crowd with yellow.
 
In the uses you describe either is probably effective.
But in the woods neither should be depended on to protect the foolish from the foolish. In the woods even light brush can hide and camoflage those colors. I am a believer in the use of high viz clothing for hunting but neither should be depended on alone for safety. Common sense and caution must always prevail.
 
I have tried both the orange and green FO sights and the green is far easier to see for me.

Same thing on my bike. High visibility fluorescent green/yellow on my bags helps others see me.
 
High viz colors are important for hunting and range training.
Click to expand...
Blaze orange has reduced the number of accidental shootings during hunting season...however, I do not understand the reference to being important for "range training". Please explain.
 
It depends on background colors. Are you are referring to the bright lime green type shirts and vests worn by many road construction crews? If so it works better than orange in urban environments. But in some places in the woods, in certain light it can blend in pretty well with some greens found in nature. Many safety vests used by LE when directing traffic or working an accident now have some of both colors as well as refelctive strips. I wouldn't be opposed to hunting clothing with some of both colors. But don't think the safety green alone would be a good idea in many outdoor settings.

I also doubt if you saw anyone in a stadium wearing true hunter safety blaze orange either. It is not the same as common orange colored clothing. If it is a true safety orange it has a glow to it in low light when new, and should be discarded when it is faded enough that it loses that feature.
 
The question may be moot for many hunting applications because the color to be worn is often specified by law (or by rule when hunting on private preserves).
 
It's the law and a great color !!!

A few in the stadium had blaze orange shirts while a few more had on chartreuse yellow.
Click to expand...
I use to paint, front sights Blaze-Orange then Blaze-Red and not have gone exclusively to "chartreuse", unless another color is requested. It's important to specify chartreuse, not just yellow or green. ... ;)

The question may be moot for many hunting applications because the color to be worn is often specified by law (or by rule when hunting on private preserves).
Click to expand...
That is true and very specific as to not only color, but patterns. It's possible that in the future, it could changed but I doubt if we will see it, in the near future. .... ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
Last edited:
The reason Blaze Orange was chosen over every other bright color was during testing they determined that the BO was more visible to folks with varying degrees and types of color blindness...

That is what I was told anyway...

One guy I was speaking to on this said they tested all of the "day-glo" neon/florescent colors too... Ain't you glad day-glo neon pink didn't perform better than the orange???:D

Brent
 
Being involved with Emergency Medical and Search & Rescue, I have noticed a trend switching from blaze orange to that lime green color in vests and hats. There must be a reason for it. Personally, I can see the lime green color better then orange, but I’m sure other people and other circumstances differ.
 
The yellow/green appears as a dirty yellow to those with Deuteranopia or Protanopia. It appears as a light blue to those with Tritanopia and grey to those with Achromatopsia.

Blaze Orange appears as a muddy orange...almost brown..to those with Deuteranopia and Protanopia. It appears as a light red to those with Tritanopia and a grey to those with Achromatopsia.

The most common forms of color blindness is Deuteranopia and Protanopia which effects about 10% of the male population. Tritanopia is the rarest form effecting 10 in 1 million people. Achromatopsia occurs in varying forms and effects 8% of the male population. It is very rare for a woman to have any color blindness. The percentage is less than .05%.

Anyone who is color blind should seriously consider not involving themselves in hunting. I know I might get contrasting opinions on that statement but I just think its wise. In any event people who are color blind usually have gotten used to the condition and know how to work around it. If the red light isnt red to them they still know they are required to stop.
 
I use to paint, front sights Blaze-Orange then Blaze-Red and not have gone exclusively to "chartreuse", unless another color is requested. It's important to specify chartreuse, not just yellow or green. ...
Click to expand...
I have found a paint that I really like for front sights.
It's enamel paint from Model Master called Cadmium Yellow Light.
Very nice!
 
Anyone who is color blind should seriously consider not involving themselves in hunting.
Click to expand...

Why ? Put up some evidence that folks that have a physical issue of one kind or another are any less safe or conscientious than anyone else.
 
Blaze orange was actually chosen specifically because it is a color that does not occur anywhere at all in nature. Chartreuse on the other hand does occur although in limited quantities in nature.

For safety reasons it was better to choose a color that humans could identify with as being another human. After all when you're in the woods and you see even a small amount of blaze orange you know its either another person or something man made. If you see a splash chartreuse it could be a light bud from a plant, a feather color etc.

I'd posed this question to our local DNR warden and that was his answer - he said it was also the answer that was given to them back when the law was made. Whether or not it really is the answer it is a logical one and seeing that blaze orange hasn't negatively impacted my deer hunting at all I'm not going to worry much about it. As it has already been said - blaze orange requirements have greatly reduced accidental shootings during hunting seasons.
 
Common sense, is not so common !!!

I'd posed this question to our local DNR warden and that was his answer
Click to expand...
Here is a question posed by one of our hunter safety instructors at our spring workshop. After posing the question or problem, most of us just rolled our eyes. Others were too polite and said nothing. ..... :rolleyes:

The instructor questioned the use of Blaze-Orange on clothing when we then shoot Blaze-Orange clay birds. Thought that a hunter might get confuse and when seeing Blaze-Orange in the field, Just start shooting. ..... :eek:

Be Safe !!!
 
The instructor questioned the use of Blaze-Orange on clothing when we then shoot Blaze-Orange clay birds
Click to expand...

Gee, do you think it might be easier to see Blaze-Orange clay pigeons?

Remind me the next time I go hunting not to shoot those Blaze-Orange birds that go flying past me. Unfortunately, Dick Cheney does not follow those rules. (LOL)

Jim
 
Blaze orange was actually chosen specifically because it is a color that does not occur anywhere at all in nature.
Click to expand...
I'm not so sure about this statement.

I've seen autumn leaves that were blaze orange.
And flowers that were blaze orange.
And some peppers and carrots too.
And I think I recall seeing a blaze orange mushroom cap once.
And if you included colors found within the oceans I'm sure the statement is not true.
And I'm sure that there is some insect somewhere in the world that has blaze orange coloration.
Possibly a reptile too?

I can't think of any color that cannot be found somewhere in nature.
Even lava and fire are part of "nature".


PG
 
Last edited:
Im just saying if you have a limitation of any kind which might effect others safety then you should certainly reconsider and think about what you are doing. Safety is always first when it comes to firearms.
 
Without getting into any discussion or questions about what color hunting apparel should be...

The normal human eye is very sensitive in the green wavelengths, so any thing with a bright greenish hue is likely to stand out very well compared to other colors. It's why some emergency vehicles are chartreuse (bright greenish yellow) instead of red and why green lasers are more visible than red lasers even though the power output is the same.
 
Yep. And a big part of the reason for painting fire trucks chartreuse is that it's far more visible at night, while red appears black in very low light.

Nighttime visibility is generally less of a concern for hunters... :cool:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top