Pretty easy question, but I couldn't find a direct answer...
Do I need to wear Blaze Orange during muzzleloader season?
I agree, I always say its about the movement more than anything. In fact the buck I shot this gun season walked past me at 15 yards. I was only 12' up and had no cover around me, dressed head to toe in orange. So close I could hear it sniffing the air as it walked. It had no clue...has happened many times. Can't think of one time a deer looked at me when in orange.
Through studies it was reported that because a deer's vision and color perception is much different then a humans, blaze orange appears to a deer as a gray tone. So Blaze orange should not have any negative effect with hunting deer. If I remember correctly, the studies did report that Blue colors, like blue jeans, have a high visual effect on deer.
I don't think wardens can just wander onto your land anymore without a reason to check you. I guess if they saw you in camo during a firearm season, that would give them that reason.
That's why they make reversible clothes. Orange vest/hat for walking to and from the stand, camo for in the stand lol.
Now if you want to find a time where most are not wearing orange, its probably the Disability gun hunt. That starts 5 days prior to the Youth Hunt in October. Never heard anyone discuss it, but per the regs you should have orange on.
That's where the you do you comes in lol. So unless you have a cranky neighbor who knows where you sit and that you aren't wearing orange, honestly, who's going to know? Not a big deal in my opinion by any means, but it's in the regs. And certainly one you'd think could be a private land exception. Maybe if it's brought to the hearings it can get amended.
Sorry I wasn't clear with my response of even if you're bow hunting. I had meant to specify that if you're bow hunting during one of the firearm seasons then you must wear orange. I understand this rule while on public hunting grounds, but if you're hunting your own private land I think it's overkill, unless you're tracking a deer onto another property, but bow hunting...while in a tree....on your own land....that'd be quite a shot to have shot me in my own tree stand from somewhere, aren't the deer on the ground?
Pretty sure you should read the regs. You're required to be wearing orange during any firearms deer seasons if archery/cross bow hunting. Now...this is where you do you comes in.
Oh, and during the statewide antlerless and holiday hunts, even if you're using bow/cross bow, you're only allowed an antlerless deer.