Camo for Goats in the open?

[roosterdown]

So...Archery goats near the MT/ND/SD tripoint.

I know there's no silver bullet here, but I am trying to steer a buddy away from using dark eastern timber patterns which stand out like a walking tree in the prairie.

We tend to hunt very open rangeland with grasses and some low sage, and even the occasional stubble wheat field. I have some old, light pattern stuff from cabelas that is no longer made. It's fine.

Need recommendations for my RealTree-clad buddy - here's what I have so far:

Kuiu Valo is a decent option for our area, maybe a hair dark overall... a B+ in my mind.
King's camo desert shadow is similar - it's also a bit too dark, but a lot better than some others. B+.
Sitka's Open Country is really too dark: B-.
Sitka's waterfowl pattern is much better: A-.

So, my completely unobjective grading aside, what are some others to consider?

 

[Wireman07]

I use earth tone pants and a white shirt when it's hot.

 

[Wireman07]

I use earth tone pants and a white shirt when it's hot.

I wouldn't get too caught up in the camo debate. Use what you have or if you do buy new and it's a name brand company purchase earth tone solid colors. Personal preference I guess. I was the same way quite a few years ago, dropped thousands of dollars on all this new camo and it sat around more than I liked. Sold most of it and run mostly solid colors now. That way I can atleast wear it around town and not look like a tool bag.

 

[Jaker_cc]

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[buffybr]

I've found that red/black plaid (like I'm wearing here shooting Skeet station low 8) works well. The antelope in this pic were 50-100 yards in front of our Skeet range for over an hour while we were shooting.

To seriously answer the OP's question, of the 3 dozen or so antelope that I've shot, I haven't noticed any real difference between any camo or plaid patterns. And on just about all of my antelope hunts, I've had my Golden Retriever with me.

 

[EdP]

I think milsurp BDUs are perfect as sagebrush country camo and they are high quality, functional, and inexpensive. It is what I wore on 3 pronghorn hunts and it worked fine.

 

[MuleyFever]

Camo probably wont matter much but ASAT is one I would look at.

 

[PathFinder]

By the time you're relying on camo, you're busted. With antelope, the stalk should be planned so that the first time they can have line of sight on you is at full draw. Light colors/patterns are better but camo will have little to do with success on the hunt.

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[Grassymike]

Cabelas outfitter works pretty good in sage /prairie for me. I know what you are saying about your buddy in Trebark patterns, the dark stuff really stands out. he would be better off in jeans and any old shirt. ASAT is awesome and the Army OCP camo works great around sage. If you wear camo bowhunting go all the way, paint your face and cover your hands with gloves. I have shot 5 antelope with a bow and was covered head to foot in camo for all of them, I have no idea if it made any difference but from some of the pictures in this thread it appears that it may not be required.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Ultimate predator decoy. How I’ve killed my last 6

 

[MNHunter92]

Like others have said I have shot them in earth tone plaid but lately have been using Sitka core light weight hoody in open country but that has not been for the camo as much as I like how the shirt functions in sun and heat.

 

[roosterdown]

Completely get that camo is secondary. However my guy is, in that light yellow landscape, effectively going goth in all black.

I actually really like the idea of just wearing khaki solids.

 

[displacedtexan]

I wouldn't get too caught up in the camo debate. Use what you have or if you do buy new and it's a name brand company purchase earth tone solid colors. Personal preference I guess. I was the same way quite a few years ago, dropped thousands of dollars on all this new camo and it sat around more than I liked. Sold most of it and run mostly solid colors now. That way I can atleast wear it around town and not look like a tool bag.

But how will everyone know you're a huge hunter?

 

[SDHNTR]

Matters about as much as which type of chonies you prefer to fart through.

 

[WCB]

if he has any older faded realtree...turn the shirt inside out. Also, basic tanish colored light weight Columbia hiking pants or similar work awesome. I can tell you dark camo makes you look like a blob....does it matter if you are behind cover or up moving probably not...BUT I definitely have had less goats just lock onto me and it is harder for the people I'm hunting with to spot me since I just started using old faded carp tuned inside out.

One buddy has DCUs and they work really well in that area.

I would never buy high end clothing gear specifically for archery antelope...even more so for the camo pattern.

 

[cbat]

Burlap. Get a big piece and drap it over you.

 

[TXAggie11]

FL typha looks like a contender. Animals parade around in nothing but tan/brown solids and they are hard to spot!

 

[cowboykrit]

I agree with WCB that DCUs work really well. Also, they are a little better against the goathead thorns and cactus.

 

[kpk]

I've only used earth tone solids in that area. They're gonna spot you, it's just a matter if you can fool them for long enough to get close and get a shot off. Their eyes are pretty incredible.

 

[David Gough]

Their eyes are so good that if they see movement, good luck. Earth tones or a white t-shirt (to attract them) work fine.

All of my pronghorn have been with a rifle, so I just pick a shirt and go.