Sitka Camo Pattern For Elk

[Dos Perros]

I always get a kick out of such answers....the OP asked what pattern and he gets the 'you dont need it crowd'....that isn't what he asked, so maybe some reading comprehension issues on the board. That being said, it will vary due the major terrain, elevation and vegetation changes in ID. Also, early season/late season? I have tried to maximize camo choices and usually buy the sub-alpine or timber pattern for dual use in turkey season. I will also agree, as mentioned, layering system is key if you are in for a late season hunt. Best of luck to the OP!

What the "you don't need it" crowd is really saying is, "buy whatever you want, it doesn't matter." Sorry if that wasn't clear in my post.

 

[BRTreedogs]

The visible portion of a Mountain Lion from its pray while its stalking is pretty solid.
Wonder how they make a living

 

[Laelkhunter]

I have open country for my Elk hunting. I only rifle hunt. I had most of my open country before the subalpine came out, and I don't want to spend a ton of money just to change patterns, so I am sticking with the open country.

 

[Marble]

Marble, maybe I'm missing your point, but 1) everything you said is consistent with my understanding of ungulate vision, 2) it's also consistent with my experience, and 3) I think it supports my point, not refutes it.

Maybe that's what you were getting at (or maybe I missed your point).

The point is it doesn't really matter what you wear, or it has such a tiny influence its not something to stress over. Not that you're stressing...

If good quality solids were as available as everything in camo is, then I would wear more solids than I already do.



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[MJB]

OC for the win!

 

[Btaylor]

I always get a kick out of such answers....the OP asked what pattern and he gets the 'you dont need it crowd'....that isn't what he asked, so maybe some reading comprehension issues on the board. That being said, it will vary due the major terrain, elevation and vegetation changes in ID. Also, early season/late season? I have tried to maximize camo choices and usually buy the sub-alpine or timber pattern for dual use in turkey season. I will also agree, as mentioned, layering system is key if you are in for a late season hunt. Best of luck to the OP!

Since I said fit and function trump pattern, I will give my thoughts on patterns. I think the 2 most adaptable patterns are Sitka open country and Natural Gear followed closely by Sitka EVII and First Lite Cipher.

 

[Scoot]

The point is it doesn't really matter what you wear, or it has such a tiny influence its not something to stress over. Not that you're stressing...

If good quality solids were as available as everything in camo is, then I would wear more solids than I already do.



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OK that's what I thought you were getting at but it seemed like since you "quoted me you were saying something contrary to what I had said. Obviously not, and we are totally on the same page!

 

[Timberline001]

I’m not sure why that Les guy gets so twisted out of shape about camo but it really doesn’t matter.

The visible portion of a Mountain Lion from its pray while its stalking is pretty solid.
Wonder how they make a living

Exactly. A lot guys out west who have several thousand dollars invested in different camo patterns also have several thousand invested in glass to find solid colored deer. Their brown coat seems to fool us humans pretty well and we see way more colors than deer and elk.

 

[Next Ridge]

Whatever pattern you buy, don’t forget to buy a black light to look at your camo and see how much it does or doesn’t fluoresce blue...

 

[Idaho4x4Bronco]

I’m going on an elk hunting trip in Idaho this fall and was wondering what the best Sitka camo pattern is? I’m assuming subalpine or open country. What does everyone else use

Idaho, fall?

Buy whatever is VERY waterproof, color meansnothing.

Did I mention waterproof?

 

[Maverick1]

Les, you sure sound confident that we are wrong in saying the pattern doesn't matter. I will admit "doesn't matter one bit" is stronger than my real opinion. My real belief is that in most situations it accounts for about 10% of anything that actually matters. There are a dozen or more other things more important in determining the outcome IMO.

Les, if we're wrong, feel free to speak as to why we're wrong. Camo companies have done a fabulous job of intentionally misinterpreting the "science of vision" of game animals, but in the end that bs is almost entirely marketing and very, very little science (maybe about that same 10%!)

Would seem to be most appropriate if individuals affiliated/associated/sponsored/(select appropriate word here) by those “camo companies” would state it as such in their posts, wouldn’t it?

 

[cnelk]

Sub Alpine for top
Open Country for bottoms

Gotcha covered. Lol!

 

[Mosby]

I have two pieces of Sitka gear. A hat in Open Country that I wear daily to get gas, groceries and sometimes hunting and a sub alpine mid layer that is normally worn under a blaze orange coat or vest or my Kryptek puffy. I almost always wear brown pants hunting and both patterns would work well with neutral colors.
I like the sub alpine pattern and would go with that if I was buying a lot of it.

I primarily rifle hunt for elk and deer. IMO the minute I put on a blaze orange hat, coat or vest it makes whatever camo pattern I have on irrelevant. I also think neutral colors work as well as some camo patterns but nothing wrong with erring on the conservative and wearing whatever camo pattern you prefer. Some guys do take the whole camo thing to an extreme though.

 

[mwebs]

The fact that solids is a word to describe hunting clothing is absolutely silly.

 

[Btaylor]

The fact that solids is a word to describe hunting clothing is absolutely silly.

Unpatterned better?

 

[mtnlomo]

Pretty much what everyone has said, I have killed both mule deer and elk in the high desert, i.e. minimal cover in solid color dark brown and green, getting within 100 yards on most of them, and in cheap Walmart camo as a kid. If you know how to use cover and when to move camo isn't a concern.

Since then I have upgraded, not based on the camo but on comfort, warmth and durability.

 

[Cannonball]

i wish they still made mountain mimicry

I have no idea if it works any better or worse, i just like it

 

[SteveW1473]

Purchase what you can afford. Sub Alpine is my choice. make sure what ever you buy it is comfortable..

Good luck

 

[wytx]

i wish they still made mountain mimicry

I have no idea if it works any better or worse, i just like it

I have enough of that pattern to wear the rest of my hunting lifetime. Love that pattern, it works in the forest or open country.

 

[Cannonball]

I have enough of that pattern to wear the rest of my hunting lifetime. Love that pattern, it works in the forest or open country.

I bought all mine 10 years ago before marriage and kids....its a little snug now