ADD A
TOUCH OF ORANGE TO ASSURE YOUR EQUINES ARE "HUNTER SAFE"
By SUSAN
DUDASIK
Hunting
season is upon us and all over the country hunters are flocking
to the foothills and mountains in search of those elusive elk
and deer. During this time, many hunters ride horses and mules
to their destination but once there, tie them to a tree or turn
them out to graze while they are hunting. When standing among
the brush and trees, most equines are hard to make out. To help
keep your animals from becoming a hunting statistic, there is
one simple but major thing you can do; add some bright orange
ribbon to their manes and tails. Imagine a hunter looking through
his binoculars. He spots "something" moving in the
trees but can't quite make it out. Suddenly he spots a bit of
bright orange in the center of his target's neck. Wow! Close
call. It wasn't an elk but a brown horse tied in the middle
of a clump of trees.
For safety
reasons, most hunters wear bright colors like orange or yellow,
but they don't always remember to mark their stock, thus making
them a target for an inexperienced hunter. The simplest way
to protect your animals is by adding bright colors. Some horseman
use bright orange or hot pink halters while others use non-toxic
paint to put orange brands, numbers or designs on their animals.
The larger amount of color, the better. Today there are a number
of fluorescent orange horse products, from fly sheets and masks
to leg boots and hobbles as well as fluorescent orange halters,
bridles, saddle bags, pads and stirrups. Or, you could simply
make your own by spray painting various parts of your equipment.
Another advantage of using bright colors on your horse is that
it is easier to locate when you return from your hunt and can
also serve as a beacon for a lost hunter.
If you
are a trail rider and use areas that are popular for hunting,
you should also make yourself and your horse as colorfully visible
as possible. Wearing a fluorescent vest and hat cover as well
as using bright colored saddlebags, pads and tack will help
distinguish you from any elk or deer. Another good idea is to
attach a bell to the saddle cinch's dee-ring. This way you can
be seen and heard. It may be a bit of an inconvenience to wear
fluorescent clothes and tack, but remember, hunters are only
allowed to use the area for a few weeks each year, whereas most
places are open to riders year-round.
Even if
you don't take your horses into the hunting area, if you live
near a popular area and your pasture borders on that land, it
would be a wise idea to still "orange-up" your horses
by putting ribbons in their manes and tails or adding colored
markings. With just a little bit of color, you can keep your
horses "hunter safe" throughout the hunting season.
archives
Susan Dudasik
Shadow Rider Equine News
srider@salmoninternet.com
Member: Idaho Press Club
North American Saddle Mule Association
