That link to which you refer was not to the text of the regulations. It was to an annual summary of the hunting rules — both statute and regulation — that the Fish and Wildlife Division puts out. Since it is simply a summary, it may not accurately describe some of the rules or provide enough detail on them. In any event, since a summary put out by the Department is not a law or regulation it doesn't have force of law.
The actual text of the hunting regulations are in the Fish and Wildlife Code. I see nothing in those regulations at all about what hunters are required to wear. So what is the actual regulation (not some summary, but the actual regulation) you are talking about on required hunter gear that you think conflicts with the statute? I'm not seeing anything that poses a conflict on this.
The statute excludes some hunters from wearing hunter orange. The regulation appears to exclude
additional hunters from wearing hunter orange.
IF that is true, those hunters who are excluded from wearing hunter orange by regulation would be violating state law if they don't wear hunter orange.
I have found conflicting information. And I can see where hunters would be confused by what has been posted by the Fish and Game commission.
The regulation posted for hunters DOES seem to exclude turkey hunters from wearing hunter orange. The statute, however, appears to exclude only wildfowl hunters from wearing hunter orange.
I also agree with chlsbrns that the regulation on hunting near bait piles is vague at best.
I DON'T think his original argument that the bait hunting regulation conflicts with state law has merit, however. The regulation expands on the state law to include ground hunting, but it does not affect state law on bait hunting from elevated stands.