Camouflage

[BSeals71]

How much do you think camouflage plays in the success of your hunt?

25%...? 50%...? 75%...?

I guess this question is more so for archery hunters.
Curious to hear what guys have to say.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Maybe 1%, but probably no more than 10%. It just might make a slight difference at best.

 

[Schnagelbagel]

I think movement will get you busted no matter what pattern you have on. I have deer come by when im in orange and never pay me any mind. One movement and ur done though! A majority of the animals i see in the woods i see from a tail flick or closing of a light gap between trees.

 

[freebird134]

0%, assuming you are referring to hunting ungulates.

 

[tipsntails7]

Depends on the animal, deer, elk stuff like that not that much, waterfowl and Turkey I believe it plays a pretty good role.

But I've never blown a stalk or shot an animal and said " I wish my pants were not camo".

If I spooked an elk or deer at 30 yards and had a solid shirt in I would probably blame it on the shirt like an ass. So I wear camo, that way the blame goes where it should be... On me.

 

[Bowhuntr64]

I have no idea...but I feel a bit more badass wearing really expensive camo.

 

[HuntHarder]

Depends on the different animals I have taken. My largest Muley I have a taken with a bow had 13 does, all except 2 walked within 10 yards of me, and did not spot me. I was tucked in a bush, and had marginal wind. The last doe pegged me pretty hard, but it was too late and I was already at full draw on the buck coming up her rear.

Antelope hunting- having the right color camo shade when belly crawling is crucial IMO. Their eyesight is so good, and there are so many coyotes here in Az, that any movement in the grass gets their attention quickly. I found a camo pattern that blended in extremely well to the grass lands and have been able to belly crawl on 2 separate bucks I have taken.

Archery Bull- 0% effect. Those bulls come in slobberin' all over themselves, and are usually focused on my caller who is considerably behind me. I do not worry about my camo when archery bull hunting.

Predator hunting- 100% effective. Face painted, gloves, long sleeves. Stinkin' coyotes are about as smart as they come.

All in all- I say 50% based solely on archery. Gun hunting- 10%

 

[Shrek]

Well , with 4.5 billion years of R&D mother nature is using shades of brown with few exceptions to hide animals. Coyotes , wolves , lions , deer , elk , big horn sheep all have minor variations of light to darker brown with a little grey thrown in to hide from each other in the areas we are hunting. A few white animals that mostly live in snowy areas. In Asia and Africa there are some macro camo paterns being used like tigers , and stripped plains animals but even there most animals are a shade of brown. Wear brown and avoid quick movements that give you away is what mother nature says works best if your life depends upon not being seen.

 

[Warren1726]

Dont wear yellow and blue, be still and downwind.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Up until a few years ago I didn't even own any camo. Currently all my hunting clothing is camo and I wear it, but I have to admit that for all of my best animals (the ones I have on the walls) I was not wearing a stitch of camo and in fact, on a couple of them, I was wearing some brighter colored clothing. None of these animals were killed while bow hunting.

 

[westrnwild]

I guess I believe camo helps but its not neseccary to kill deer and Elk. I usually wear camo shirts but not pants. I believe I've been saved a few times by a good pattern with deer and Elk real close and mean mugging me..can I confirm though? No...but open patterns seem to work better for me. Patterns based off leaves tend turn all black at distance. And I'm sorry but human outlines are threatening especially on public land over the counter hunts with a bow..but IMO STAYING AWAY FROM THEIR NOSES IS THE MOST IMPORTANT

 

[ethan]

I only bowhunting and wear camo while hunting probably 90% of the time. I personally think it does help. That being said, if you have something to break up your outline and are still, down wind I don't think it matters. If your caught in the open or picked off, well it can't hurt!

 

[realunlucky]

I'll take every ethical advantage I can get. No down side to camouflage

 

[elkyinzer]

Dull colored non-camo is better than a lot of the shiny camo fabircs I see on the shelves. I think animals pick up the glare off that crap better than anything else. One of the many reasons I really like wool.

Last year I was on the family deer drive and stood within 5 yards of a buck for about 2 minutes while I was wearing an orange 'pumpkin suit'. He never picked me up. I had some back cover and my suit does not have glare. No one can tell me after that they aren't color blind.

 

[fort fireman]

IMHO camo is made to sell hunters for the most part. The new patterns every year and upgrades are just to make more money. For birds I think it's a bit more important but not critical. That being said there are some pretty cool patterns. I'm a kryptek fan.

 

[LostArra]

Shouldn't plain earth tones also be considered a "camo"?

 

[StrutNut]

Well, For hunting whitetails in Mn from a stand, I will actually disagree with many based on my experience. I really never thought much of it, I bought different camo, all good. However I got a bunch of NatGear stuff once and I gotta say I was getting picked off like crazy. I know I wasnt moving and everything was looking up. Not saying I am a small framed dude, quite the opposite but immediate response. I switched to some Real Tree camo and things went right back to normal. Hardly ever got noticed. Not sure if it was the camo or UV brighteners. I even washed the stuff in UV killer detergent - no luck. I know for sure that white camo on a snow background is lethal. While on the ground I have had deer walk within feet of me and not notice me.

 

[topher89]

Dont wear yellow and blue, be still and downwind.

Why do you single out these two colors? Not disagreeing but curious. I have seen a lot of animals killed by guys in blue jeans

 

[PA 5-0]

Big patterned, high contrast camo WILL get u within touching distance of more animals, PERIOD. Bowhunt whitetails and eastern turks for a couple decades and you'll formulate the same opinion guaranteed. Without a syllable of BS, I've been within 5ft of hundreds of wild animals on the ground and I'm not Chuck Adams. Vias and 3D ASAT are my faves. Movement and wind are also crucial of course. But like others have said, camo sure as hell don't hurt. Good luck.

 

[TEmbry]

While it surely can't hurt to wear camo, I'm of the opinion that those attributing their success to the style camo they wear are selling themselves far too short on their accomplishments.