camoflage - what does it really do ?

[GKPrice]

a few years ago I was spike hunting in NE Oregon's Snake River unit - This morning I had hunted up the main ridge to nearly the top without seeing any elk at all - Near the top I'd veered off into thick timber, "maybe" heard something then worked back to the main trail which was actually an old jeep road 30' wide average from before the roads had been closed to vehicles - It was 3 pm clear and cold, I was frustrated and walking the 4 or so miles back to camp with a cadence - That day I was wearing a blaze orange Cabela's worstelon shirt and blaze hat - I had just bottomed a long gradual sloping grade and made a hairpin curve and I came face to face with a pretty darn nice 5 point bull standing in the middle of the "trail" at no more than 50 yards, we stood staring at each other then the bull went back to what he had been doing, grabbing a mouthful of vegetation here and there - I was standing smack dab in the middle of the trail - I was interested in watching what this guy did since I knew I couldn't shoot him - I waved my arms up and down quite a few times, moved back and forth across the trail (25') numerous times - I stood there smiling (even chuckling) for a good 10 minutes then decided to chirp on my cow call which got his attention NOW - He briskly trotted off and I waited just in case and shot a spike a few seconds later - My point ? The orange did not seem to bother the mature 5 point one bit and I was not in brush nor did I have anything visually behind me but open ground, there was nothing whatsoever to break my pattern up -
Camoflage ?? what for ?

 

[Bubblehide]

It all depends on what your hunting and your prey's vision. Deer, and I am sure elk, do not have color vision, with the exception of the blue and blue/green color spectrum. As such, those colors stand out to them. Due to the internals of their eyes (make-up or rods and cone type) they are geared to pick up on movement, at any angle within their visual range. So in short, they do not see hunter orange the way we see it. You could say that they see that blue spectrum like we see hunter orange, and the rest is different shades of grey. Frankly, I see camo for deer much like I see the finish on many fishing lures, they are designed to hook us. But hey, I prefer my hunting clothes to be for hunting.

The fact that the bull didn't spook, tells me that perhaps he was habituated to people, very uneducated, or like many animals seem to know, the season on him was not open.

Bears on the other hand, have color vision.

 

[bhylton]

I personally like the look of some camo... kuius stuff, ASAT, Fusion, the original predator camo. but i dont really think it makes a big difference. i think your experience is incredible but rare. I have had a similar run in with a spike bull in Wa. normally, "i think" in general game is a little more skittish. but i really believe you will never fool their nose, and you can almost always fool their eyes by NOT MOVING. my thinking applies to what i consider the more normal (skittish) critters of course. that said, i wear some camo lol

 

[dotman]

Nothing IMO but that said i sure like the Kryptek pattern.

 

[Manosteel]

I am moving toward solids but I always manage to get a piece of kypteck camo on for some reason... Lol

 

[kodiakfly]

I agree that movement, or lack thereof is key. I do think camo can work to break up an outline or keep you from blobbing up in a tree stand or on a hill side, but I don' think it works in terms like what you see in the Realtree ads in magazines where you can barely see the guy. Think about our grandpas who shot deer "back in the day" wearing red plaid and green army coats.

I also read an article like 20 years ago by Chuck Adams or Dwight Schuh or someone that I respected, that said that animals can detect a predator by their walk and stance. Basically body language. They can see you stalking or creeping or tip toeing like a cougar or a bear and they go on alert. They see you strolling along like a hiker or a "friendly" fellow deer or elk and they don't freak out as much. Not to say that you can just walk up to an animal and shoot it, but they made the point that they never hunt on their way to their stand, they just walk to it in a normal stride and posture and they'd seen animals just stop and look at them and keep going about their business...kinda like the OP's story. Point is, movement and body language is more important than camo.

And look at many/most professional guides and nearly all PH's in Africa...solid colors. Seem to work for them.

All that said, I like camo. I just don't sweat it if I'm wearing a grey or coyote jacket or pants. No biggie.

 

[handwerk]

I'd say that the clothes I use for hunting are about 1/2 and 1/2. I do believe the camo helps break up my form and can't hurt. But with what some of my stuff costs I like have solids in many pieces as they get used year around. Not having a choice of solid in some stuff has kept me from buying it.

 

[elkyinzer]

As far as your encounter moving around like that and the bull not reacting, sounds like you may have just run into a dumb one! Like us, animals have varying personalities and physical attributes, maybe he accepted you were another elk, maybe his eyesight wasn't so good, who knows? But that's not how most elk would react for sure and doesn't really have much to do with a discussion on camo.

That said, the effectiveness of camo is an interesting question, and I tend to agree that it generally doesn't matter, but in certain situations it may potentially help you get away with just a bit more. Don't mistake that for thinking it lets you get away with more movement, because it certainly doesn't do that. Potentially helpful along the lines of being caught out in the open in the sunlight, or skylined just a bit in a treestand, and keeping that animal from recognizing the human outline if you remain dead still.

Just look at how well animals that aren't camo or mottled blend in...deer, elk, cougar, even bear...all earth tones and all can completely disappear when their outline is broken up just a little and they don't move. Sunlight plays a huge role in it too, stay in the shadows and keep the sun at your back and you can get away with exponentially more. Think about and negate UV glow and shiny objects/skin as well.

That said, most of my gear is still camo for two reasons: One, I turkey hunt in the same clothes, and camo does matter because those birds have tremendous vision. Two, I try to stay away from the brownish/gray solids because I don't want to get shot by some trigger happy dipshit, which is a real problem in gun seasons, back East here especially. I just don't care for the greens as much although I do have a few, so with there being no more great earth tone options I default to camo.

 

[5MilesBack]

camoflage - what does it really do ?

It helps keep me concealed from other hunters in the area.

 

[airlocksniffer]

Separates you from your hard earned cash. And makes you look better at the brewery.

 

[rayporter]

^^^^^^+1

carhart = best camo ----just a shame it is cotton.

now the old plaid wool coats are pretty darn hard to spot in timber.

 

[GKPrice]

Thanks guys ! My question was not to veer away from camo as I too like some of the patterns "just because" - I just wanted to get some consensus I guess - Some pretty good humor too ...... Well, time to go to work (now where did I put my ASAT jacket ?!)

 

[5MilesBack]

Separates you from your hard earned cash. And makes you look better at the brewery.

Actually most all of my camo was cheaper than most of my regular clothes, and it's way more comfortable.

 

[airlocksniffer]

Actually most all of my camo was cheaper than most of my regular clothes, and it's way more comfortable.

You are a dapper gent 5MB. Most of my work clothes come from Old Navy and most jeans and shirts I have are at minimum 5 years old. I'd say my First Lite is the most expensive clothing I own.

In all seriousness, I do have FL in ASAT. I don't have enough experience to say whether it is more effective than my solid stuff. I will say it is not the most appealing to the human eye compared to Optifade or Fusion but if the point is to get critters, that really doesn't matter.

 

[chindits]

It helps keep me concealed from other hunters in the area.

What 5 miler says. I wear it to some degree even when I am scouting. Nobody needs to know the country I am working even if my vehicle is at a trailhead somewhere. Also if it will give me just a shred of confidence when I am crouched in the open next to a tree with no way to draw my bow and a bull is 12 yards away bugling, I just might shake in my boots just a little less.

 

[bcimport]

I think camo for hunting is mostly about marketing and different manufacturers trying to differentiate themselves. I wear mostly solids but every so often a camo item gets purchased. I think lack of shine and earth tone materials are more important.

 

[Jeff Martin]

I tend to agree it doesn't matter, but dang it ....the original predator works freakish good. I have all but walked up on whitetails in the stuff. They see the movement, they pin you down, you stay still, they start looking around like "where did that dude go"

I know all camo works on game, but I do believe the predator works best based on my experience. The body langauge of game when they see you in the stuff is like no other. Reminds me of the old "predator movie" it is there but you really can't see it

I use mainly KUIU now because I wear the same camo for whitetails as I do elk and turkey. I do not like the VIAS at all but I have about 2K in VIAS duds and I will not replace it anytime soon. I wish i had Verde, ASAT or Predator.