Once when hunting, I jumped a huge buck lying under a lone pine. Being smart, he kept the pine between me and his escape. As he reached the trees on the far side, I saw him turn downhill. Knowing my hunting partners were down there, I headed for the ridge where I knew there was a saddle about 300 yards ahead. Sure enough, the buck turned down hill and when out of sight he turned back to that saddle. I made the ridge ahead of him and slowly walked down to the saddle and when he came busting into the clear, I dropped him. As I shot, a human head popped up directly in the line I had shot and only about 5 degrees above. A kid wearing blue jeans and a blue jean jacket had been lying down in the midst of that bluish rock. He was totally blended in. I about puked realizing how close he was to my line of fire and I hadn't seen him lying there.
Every since then, whether hunting or just hiking, I have made it a point to have something bright colored showing. I consider myself fairly woods wise and aware of what is around me, especially when I'm ready to take a shot, but the mistake of not seeing that kid made me realize how difficult spotting a snoozing person can be. And if I can't see him, what about all the idiots who don't even look. It doesn't have to be hunting season to wear bright. A fall, heart attack, or anything else and if you blend in, you have diminished your chances of being found by a big bunch.
