Off-RoadX Trail Report #6 - The Woods Are Wearing Orange

THE OFF-ROADX TRAIL REPORT #6

THE WOODS ARE WEARING ORANGE

WHAT OFF-ROADERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HUNTING SEASON

You packed the recovery gear.

You downloaded the maps.

You checked the weather, fueled the rig and somehow remembered the one charging cable nobody else in your family owns.

But before heading into Colorado’s backcountry this weekend, there’s something else you need to know:

You’re sharing the woods with hunters.

Colorado’s archery and rifle-bear seasons began September 2, and muzzleloader season runs September 12–20.

That does not mean off-roaders need to abandon the mountains until winter.

It means the woods are busier, visibility matters and everyone needs to leave a little extra room for the other people enjoying Colorado’s public lands.

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WHY IS EVERYONE WEARING ORANGE?

Colorado requires big-game hunters using firearms—including muzzleloaders—to wear at least 500 square inches of solid fluorescent orange or pink above the waist, along with a fluorescent orange or pink hat visible from every direction.

Camouflage orange does not qualify for hunters.

Archery hunters are generally exempt during the overlapping September archery, muzzleloader and limited rifle-bear seasons, although Colorado Parks and Wildlife encourages them to consider wearing fluorescent orange or pink for safety.

Nonhunters are not required to wear it.

But “not legally required” and “not a good idea” are two very different things.

If you expect to leave the vehicle, walk a trail, scout an obstacle, take photos, recover another rig or wander away from camp, bright clothing makes you easier to recognize as a person.

A blaze-orange hat, vest or jacket is inexpensive, lightweight and much more visible than your favorite black hoodie.

Your Off-RoadX shirt may look fantastic.

The elk cannot appreciate it, and the hunter 300 yards away cannot read the logo.

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DOES HUNTING SEASON CLOSE THE TRAILS?

No—not automatically.

Most of Colorado’s public lands are managed for multiple forms of recreation. Hunters, off-roaders, hikers, campers, cyclists, equestrians and wildlife watchers may all be using the same landscape.

A hunting season does not ordinarily turn an otherwise open motorized route into a hunters-only area.

However, individual properties can have designated hunting areas, seasonal restrictions or other special rules. Check COTREX, the current Motor Vehicle Use Map and the managing agency’s alerts before leaving.

The same rule from Trail Report #3 still applies:

Your app is useful.

The current official information gets the final vote.

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THE ROAD MAY BE PART OF SOMEONE’S HUNT

A quiet Forest Service road may look empty from inside your vehicle.

It may not be.

A hunter could be sitting on a ridge, moving through the timber or watching an area from hundreds of yards away. Their vehicle might be parked at a pullout while they are several miles into the backcountry.

That does not mean you must shut down the engine, whisper an apology and carry your Jeep home.

If the route is legally open, you are allowed to use it.

But a little courtesy goes a long way:

Stay on the designated route

Maintain a reasonable speed

Avoid unnecessary horn use

Keep the stereo under control

Don’t repeatedly rev the engine near hunters

Give parked vehicles and people plenty of room

Use established pullouts instead of creating new ones

Never block a gate, road, trailhead or access point

Your engine making normal engine noises is part of multi-use recreation.

Your air horn playing “Dixie” for six consecutive minutes is a personal decision we cannot defend.

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WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHEN YOU SEE A HUNTER?

Slow down, make your presence obvious and give them room.

A friendly wave is usually enough. If they approach or seem to be trying to communicate, stop somewhere safe and talk with them.

They may tell you:

• Other hunters are farther up the road

• Someone is packing an animal out

• Wildlife recently crossed the trail

• Their group has vehicles or equipment around the next corner

• A road or trail condition has changed

You can also politely ask which direction they are hunting before stopping nearby for lunch, recovery work or a long photo session.

Nobody owns the entire forest for the day, but a thirty-second conversation can keep two groups from accidentally disrupting each other.

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NORMAL TRAVEL IS NOT HUNTER HARASSMENT

Colorado law prohibits intentionally interfering with lawful hunting.

That can include deliberately frightening or chasing wildlife, using noise or light to make animals flee, threatening hunters, blocking access to hunting areas or intentionally placing yourself in a hunter’s line of fire.

The important word is intentionally.

Simply traveling on a legal public route, hiking on an open trail or occupying a lawful campsite is not the same thing as deliberately disrupting a hunt.

You do not have to disappear because somebody is hunting nearby.

You do need to avoid turning your vehicle into a four-wheel-drive wildlife dispersal system.

Respect works both ways.

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NEVER CHASE WILDLIFE WITH A VEHICLE

This should be obvious.

Unfortunately, “this should be obvious” has never prevented something from happening.

If deer, elk, moose or another animal enters the trail:

• Slow down or stop

• Give it space

• Allow it to leave naturally

• Do not follow it for a better video

• Do not use the vehicle to push it toward another location

• Never leave the designated route to pursue it

Colorado Parks and Wildlife specifically prohibits chasing or harassing wildlife with an OHV or other vehicle.

Besides being dangerous and potentially illegal, forcing an animal to run wastes the energy it needs for migration, breeding and winter survival.

Your GoPro does not need the footage that badly.

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MAKE THE DOG VISIBLE TOO

If your dog joins your off-road adventures, hunting season is not the time for it to disappear into the brush wearing a brown vest.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommends keeping dogs leashed for protection and using a brightly colored bandana or blaze-orange dog vest.

That helps hunters identify your dog quickly and prevents it from:

• Chasing wildlife

• Wandering near hunters

• Becoming separated from camp

• Investigating a carcass or harvested animal

• Appearing unexpectedly in thick cover

Add your contact information to the dog’s collar and consider an illuminated collar after dark.

Your dog may believe it is the expedition leader.

Its navigation plan may still be “follow interesting smell until consequences occur.”

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WHAT IF YOU HEAR A GUNSHOT?

Do not panic.

A gunshot during an active hunting season does not automatically mean somebody fired irresponsibly or in your direction.

Stay on the designated route and remain aware of your surroundings. If you are outside the vehicle and believe hunters may not know you are nearby, call out clearly to announce your presence.

Do not yell continuously, make threatening comments or deliberately create noise intended to disrupt the hunt.

If you witness clearly unsafe behavior, do not escalate the situation. Record the location, time, vehicle description and any other useful information from a safe place, then contact the appropriate authorities.

For an immediate threat, call 911.

Suspected wildlife violations can be reported through Colorado’s Operation Game Thief program at:

1-877-COLO-OGT

Or dial #OGT from a Verizon phone.

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CAMPSITES GET BUSIER DURING HUNTING SEASON

Hunting camps may remain occupied for several days, even when nobody is visible.

Do not enter, move or disturb another group’s camp or equipment. Never assume a campsite has been abandoned simply because everyone left before sunrise.

When selecting your own campsite:

Use an established legal location

Keep the access road clear

Do not block turnaround areas

Avoid spreading equipment across multiple sites

Keep pets controlled

Secure food and attractants

Respect quiet hours

Use bright lighting carefully and avoid shining it into surrounding camps.

You may also see trailers, game-processing equipment or harvested animals in camp. Treat people respectfully and give them space.

You do not need to participate in hunting to recognize that lawful hunters belong on public land just as much as other responsible recreationists do.

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TALK ABOUT IT AT THE DRIVER MEETING

During hunting season, add a quick reminder to the pre-trip briefing:

• Hunting seasons are active

• Bright clothing is recommended outside the vehicles

• Dogs should remain controlled and visible

• Do not chase wildlife

• Stay on designated routes

• Keep unnecessary noise down around hunters

• Leave all gates exactly as found

• Report stopped or parked vehicles over the radio

• Expect people on foot beyond the visible trail

If the lead vehicle sees hunters, a simple radio call can prepare the entire group:

“Hunters on the right, one hundred yards ahead. Slow down and give them room.”

That is clearer and more useful than twelve people asking, “Wait—what orange thing?”

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THE OFF-ROADX HUNTING-SEASON CHECKLIST

Before heading out:

Check current hunting-season dates

Review trail closures and land-manager alerts

Pack an orange or brightly colored hat or vest

Add bright identification to your dog

Confirm your OHV registration or permit if required

Stay on routes open to your vehicle

Keep lights, music and horn use reasonable

Never pursue or harass wildlife

Leave gates exactly as you found them

Give hunters, camps and parked vehicles room

Know how to contact CPW or law enforcement

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THE OFF-ROADX BOTTOM LINE

The beginning of hunting season does not mean the end of off-roading season.

Colorado’s public lands are shared lands.

Hunters should know that off-roaders, hikers and campers may be nearby. Off-roaders should know that the quiet hillside beside the trail may be part of somebody’s carefully planned hunt.

Wear something visible.

Control the dog.

Stay on the route.

Give people room.

Don’t harass wildlife.

Use the radio to keep your group informed.

And remember:

The woods may be wearing orange—but there is still plenty of room for all of us.

—Off-RoadX

OFFICIAL SOURCES

Colorado Parks and Wildlife—Shared Responsibility of Safety:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife—2026 Big Game Brochure:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife—OHV and Snowmobile Riding:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife—Hunter Orange, OHV Rules and Hunter Harassment:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife—Safety During Hunting Season: