Dr Karl Miller - Sitka Elevated pattern

[dallas.kc]

Wondering what your alls opinion is or if you’ve heard Dr Miller talk at all about the Elevated Pattern from Sitka. I know he helped them with the cover pattern, but based on what he says about deer and their color perception, the elevated pattern seems not very ideal. If deer are capable of seeing blues really well, and white reflects whatever colors are around it (such as blues/grays in the morning and evening), Elevated doesn’t sound optimal. I know what some of you will say and I agree, as someone who hunts in the elevated pattern. “Don’t move and they can’t see you” “my grand pappy killed giants in blue jeans” etc etc. just curious what you all think.


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[wind gypsy]

From what they say about deer vision, it seems like a stupid pattern.

That said, if there was a garment in elevated that fit my functional and financial parameters, i wouldn't let the stupid camo pattern get in the way.

 

[Primal-Understanding]

I personally think it may do well in some scenarios, but it is highly specialized and not for me.
I don't just hunt out of trees that have minimal foliage and a grey sky behind. I hunt on the ground, in conifer trees, in mid-season where there are orange sunsets and color in the leaves, etc. That pattern is not conducive to any of those situations. Additionally, I like to be able to use my hunting clothing for multiple pursuits - not just stationary deer hunting. While I do have some pieces that I would probably only wear stationary, I try to get pieces that I could use for a bunch of different things.

I prefer solid earth tone colors because I can mix and match different brands and when you factor in several colors of clothing, different color bino harness, backpack, etc - you end up with a very effective camo pattern.

 

[CBB15]

I don't have any idea what a deer actually see, regardless of studies. My only experience with the elevated pattern is my stratos bibs which are awesome aside from the fact that literally glow in my bottomland environment. I don't have any experience aside from the fleece though.

I can say with certainty from experience that deer see it but didn't know what they see. I think it is the glow. I don't really care what the pattern is. When something glows, it is noticeable. That said, it hasn't been a real problem but it certainly catches their eye.

 

[dreamingWest]

I have no problems in Kansas trees hunting in the Elevated pattern. It doesn't look as cool in trophy pics, but the deer don't care.

 

[Forestryguy]

I may be wrong, but wasn’t the Elevated 2 camo supposed to be based on deer vision studies? Now they have the new Elevated Cover with green in it. From what I have read and listened to green stands out to deer, it is also on the blue light spectrum. It seems to me these deer vision studies or camo companies or both are going in circles with no real answers.

I’m starting to think the best colors are tan and browns. I have used Elevated 2 and have had varying experiences. Natural Gear has worked about the best for me in all settings that I hunt. May give ASAT a try. One of the old Realtree patterns that had almost orange leaves in it worked really well.

 

[dallas.kc]

I may be wrong, but wasn’t the Elevated 2 camo supposed to be based on deer vision studies? Now they have the new Elevated Cover with green in it. From what I have read and listened to green stands out to deer, it is also on the blue light spectrum. It seems to me these deer vision studies or camo companies or both are going in circles with no real answers.

I’m starting to think the best colors are tan and browns. I have used Elevated 2 and have had varying experiences. Natural Gear has worked about the best for me in all settings that I hunt. May give ASAT a try. One of the old Realtree patterns that had almost orange leaves in it worked really well.

Kind of my feelings as well. Was actually thinking about switching to the natural gear products. Hard for me to give up that goretex windstopper though. I know natural gear has some windstopper products as well.

I actually emailed Dr Miller about this topic and have been meaning to post in here what he said.

Hello sir,

I recently listened to you on a podcast about deer vision and was very intrigued. I know you worked with Sitka for their patter called “cover”, but given the nature of deers vision, I’m curious your thoughts on Sitka elevated pattern for whitetail. Based on what I heard you talk about, the blues and whites in the pattern would not be ideal for hunting whitetail. Does this change later season when there is no foliage and snow on the ground where the pattern blends in more with its surroundings?

Thank you for your time


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[dallas.kc]

His response:

Dallas



The answer to your question is yes.

Cover was designed to match the background reflectance with a canopy background – specifically with consideration to the spectral sensitivity of a deer’s vision – hence the name.

Elevated is still an excellent pattern when hunting from an elevated position in leaf-off conditions or with a snow background – conditions when its reflectance would match the reflectance from snow or sky.



Hope this helps


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[Elkhntr08]

Used it last year with good results. Standing on the ground looking up into the canopy, it blends nicely.

 

[Maverick1]

Don’t think it matters one bit. Camouflage is marketed and sold to the hunters.

 

[KKoenig1105]

I honestly thought the same thing when they released it however long ago. I'd always heard their vision receptors returned blue very well. I do own some mostly because the garment I wanted was in elevated but honestly, I hunt in a black fanatic hoodie most of the season until it gets brutal cold. I shot my buck last year in November in a black fanatic hoodie on the side of a walnut tree. I can't think of the last time I was still and picked off in elevated or no camo pattern at all. As I move forward, and honestly plan to move away from sitka if I need to replace clothing, I'll probably be OK with going solid for the right piece and hopefully American made.

 

[dallas.kc]

Don’t think it matters one bit. Camouflage is marketed and sold to the hunters.

While I generally agree, you can’t deny that deer probably do see certain colors better. The obvious example is blaze orange for us. Pretty noticeable even from a long distance, but not for deer. The argument is that blues seem to be the same way for deer. But the obvious difference is that the elevated pattern is made for tree stand hunting with no cover, where you’re blending in with the background.

If we saw blaze orange against a blaze background it would be the same way. I guess my point is that I would rather have something that blends in all the time, no matter the season, especially while I’m walking in, because that’s the most obvious time I’m going to get busted.

Interested in your thoughts about that. I’m admittedly overly analytical so I’m not here to die on any hills


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[dallas.kc]

I honestly thought the same thing when they released it however long ago. I'd always heard their vision receptors returned blue very well. I do own some mostly because the garment I wanted was in elevated but honestly, I hunt in a black fanatic hoodie most of the season until it gets brutal cold. I shot my buck last year in November in a black fanatic hoodie on the side of a walnut tree. I can't think of the last time I was still and picked off in elevated or no camo pattern at all. As I move forward, and honestly plan to move away from sitka if I need to replace clothing, I'll probably be OK with going solid for the right piece and hopefully American made.

Definitely agreed. I would like to move away from Sitka and camo patterns In general, but I can’t deny how good the gore-windstopper works in the stratus set I have. Love that jacket, hate the pattern.

Honestly my hatred toward the pattern is all camo generally speaking. It’s becoming harder for me to justify hundreds of dollars on gear I can’t wear anywhere but the woods. I just haven’t found a wind blocking piece that checks all the boxes of function and being quiet


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[Maverick1]

While I generally agree, you can’t deny that deer probably do see certain colors better. The obvious example is blaze orange for us. Pretty noticeable even from a long distance, but not for deer. The argument is that blues seem to be the same way for deer. But the obvious difference is that the elevated pattern is made for tree stand hunting with no cover, where you’re blending in with the background.

If we saw blaze orange against a blaze background it would be the same way. I guess my point is that I would rather have something that blends in all the time, no matter the season, especially while I’m walking in, because that’s the most obvious time I’m going to get busted.

Interested in your thoughts about that. I’m admittedly overly analytical so I’m not here to die on any hills


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I decide what I can/can not deny.
This seems like an exercise in mental masturbation.

 

[KKoenig1105]

Definitely agreed. I would like to move away from Sitka and camo patterns In general, but I can’t deny how good the gore-windstopper works in the stratus set I have. Love that jacket, hate the pattern.

Honestly my hatred toward the pattern is all camo generally speaking. It’s becoming harder for me to justify hundreds of dollars on gear I can’t wear anywhere but the woods. I just haven’t found a wind blocking piece that checks all the boxes of function and being quiet


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I absolutely agree, some of their gear is good. Especially the windstopper. It is well thought out for several pieces too. The price is one thing, although I'll pay for good stuff. I'm just getting less pleased with the customer service as they grow and when the tariff stuff started they basically said they were raising prices and passing it on to the customer when I know their mark up on that stuff can more than cover it. I worked in the industry for 9 years post college and saw what kind of mark up they put on their stuff. Not just them, it is almost everyone. No directed hate toward them, I was just offput by the comments of prices going up instead of them trying to help absorb some as the large corporation that GOR is.