Wisconsin hunters to wear pink in a bid to attract more women to the sport

Opponents to the bill argue that it is overly simplistic and demeaning to women

Proponents of the bill say the colour pink will attract more female hunters (Getty)

Hunters in Wisconsin are debating whether to wear pink to attract more women to the sport.

The Senate’s agriculture committee approved a bill last week which would enable hunters to wear pink rather than the current standard fluorescent orange.

It was subsequently approved by the state Senate following a full vote on the Senate floor and will now be presented to the governor.

Presently, local laws require deer hunters to wear items of clothing above their waists which are at least 50 per cent orange. However, the bill would enable hunters to wear bright pink too.

Senator Terry Moulton, who supports the bill, says that the colour change would reflect the fact that more women than men are taking up hunting.

He said: “New female hunters outnumber male hunters three to one. With this in mind, the Sportsman’s Caucus, a bipartisan group of legislators dedicated to Wisconsin’s outdoor heritage, has been interested in legalising blaze pink hunting clothing.”

However, some have criticised the move as overly simplistic and demeaning towards women.

The Wisconsin Women’s Hunting and Sporting Association denounced the bill, with President Sarah Ingle saying: “This bill is a half-hearted attempt to go to women and say, ‘Hey, I can wear pink and go out and hunt’. That’s not what women want and not what they need.

“Saying a woman could choose a lifestyle of hunting, fishing, gathering her game, just because she can wear a color is sexist.”

The bill will now be presented to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker for consideration.

With additional reporting by Reuters