Orange sends clear message to keep out

Hunters and outdoorsmen in Texas and most of the Southwest are well aware of the “Purple Paint Law.”

Arkansas was first to adopt the legislation in 1989, and its meaning was clear: No Trespassing.

If landowners splash purple paint on fence posts, gates or even trees, outsiders are supposed to stay clear of that private property.

So what about Idaho?

Well, we’ve had the same “Purple Paint Law” in effect for almost a decade now, except that here the paint color needs to be ...

Orange.

“This is just an assumption,” said Phil Cooper of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, “but I’d guess they chose orange because of the visibility. It stands out in any kind of weather.

“Also, orange is kind of the universal color hunters wear for safety, so it definitely has a meaning in the outdoors.”

The Idaho law in question isn’t the least bit wishy-washy about the color, either.

A section of Title 18, Chapter 70 of the state’s legal code notes that landowners can protect themselves from criminal trespass if fences or trees on their property … “(are) posted with a minimum of one hundred (100) square inches of florescent orange, bright orange, blaze orange, safety orange or any similar high-visibility shade of orange-colored paint, except when metal fence posts are used, a minimum of eighteen (18) inches at the top of the post must be painted with a high-visibility shade of orange.”

Are most Idahoans aware of the law?

“I’m sure there are quite a few people who don’t know about the orange markers on private property,” Cooper said. “But anyone who hunts or spends time in the woods or anywhere outdoors is probably familiar with what that orange means.

“The problem is that lots of times, hunters just ignore it and go on someone’s land anyway.”

Wait a minute: This is defend-your-turf territory. Haven’t some folks gotten shot by ignoring all that orange and a dozen “No Trespassing” signs?

“No, not really,” Cooper said. “That’s kind of an image that we’ve got, that idea of shooting someone on your land, but it’s not correct. It’s the wrong image completely.

“Property owners (in North Idaho) generally will ask people to leave if they don’t want them there, or they can call us to come out and cite anyone for trespassing.”

“If we get a call from a landowner, we’ll go out and assist them. And we can write a ticket (fines range from $25 to $1,000 and six months in jail). But we’ll only do that if the property owner will follow through and sign it.”

Cooper made it clear that department officers don’t want to be racing all over the Panhandle, only to discover that a minor misunderstanding has been solved.

“It’s one of those deals where I don’t want to get out of bed, drive 45 minutes to some property, and then find the landowner saying to some guy, ‘Oh, it’s you, Bob. I didn’t know you were coming out today. Gee, just call me. It’s no problem, Bob.’

“When that happens, we’re not really happy with the property owner — or Bob, either.”

Cooper noted most landowners are pretty accommodating about allowing hunters on their property, as long as the visitors ask permission.

Nevertheless, the decision remains up to the individual property owner — that fellow who has bright orange posts dotting the perimeter of his acreage.

“The law is clear,” Cooper said. “That visible orange means no trespassing. You ignore it at your own risk.”