Camo is not unnecessary

[PancreasBroke]

I am a firm believer in wearing camo. That is primarily because the fit function and durability I want from hunting clothes is easiest found in camo clothes. I likely wont be all matching but in camo. This past weekend for instance, sitka mountain pants in open country pattern, FL merino top in cipher and nat gear fleece windproof vest.

i think im in this camp - i want that quality designed for hunting and it happens to came in camo. Which helps add a little extra my advantage

 

[MNFarmHunter]

IMO, camo=hunting pressure.

Prior to the 40’s and early 50’s, the was little pressure which meant that game never learned to be scared of humans.

In my area back in the day, I could walk within 20y of a deer because they hadn’t learned to fear humans. Now, they’re much more skittish necessitating camo.

In turn, camo causes problems. Fawns and yearlings will learn that the questionable blob in a tree is danger. That means either better camo, even more movement discipline or going back yo solid colors and plaids since they’ve not seen that before.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BuckeyeBowman]

Love my ASAT leafy top. It might be ugly but it works

 

[mtsrunner]

For hunting, I want lightweight, warm quiet and quick drying clothes. To get all four of those, it’s just easier to find in camo.

 

[PancreasBroke]

If the 20% is filled with mature bucks that have learn to survived the season, then yet!

I understand that you don't NEED camo, but does camo hurt your chances?

If camo increase my odds just 1%, I dont see why not. That's one of the thing about Jason's video I disagreed with, he used a stationary shirt as example. I DMed him saying that he needs to do the same experience with movement, but he only replied back with his 'hunting resume' basically and saying the outcome would not change. Wearing a camo pattern suited for your back drop will hide movement, especially when you are drawing a bow. I dont have as much experience as most here, but if just wearing camo give me just a little bit of confident, I will keep doing it.

100% agree with this and my take on his video exactly. Ive personally watched a group of hunters where one was wearing sitka or some brand similar, and the other two wore solids. I was over 300 yards away. When they were moving I could see them all clear as day. But when they stopped I lost the guy in full camo. Blew my mind. I knew where he was but my eyes struggled to spot him. I could easily find him with binos but had to know where to look.

My experience is younger deer are harder to spook, so a blob moving is not as threatening. But an old cagey buck will not give a blob a second more before he bolts (Seen that happen). Ive also snuck up on big old cagey bucks and theyd look my way and not alerted as I wasnt moving fast enough to spook and I just don’t think they could make me out. I wear solid pants but my face and top are in some camo pattern. Leafy is even more effective.

 

[PancreasBroke]

Love my ASAT leafy top. It might be ugly but it works

i wish they sold it just the jacket as it looks like it’d work excellent!

 

[neonomad]

if you are going to put me on the ground or in the air w no leaves on the trees, and I’m either going to be in brown coveralls… or a leafy suit (ground) or ASAT (air), and the buck I’ve been chasing for years walks by, all things equal, I’d rather be in camo. No scientific data to back this up but it would help my confidence, since we don’t know for sure. I’ve sat stands where I feel it wouldn’t matter and I’ve sat stands where I feel I’m pushing it as far as visual exposure.

 

[PancreasBroke]

IMO, camo=hunting pressure.

Prior to the 40’s and early 50’s, the was little pressure which meant that game never learned to be scared of humans.

In my area back in the day, I could walk within 20y of a deer because they hadn’t learned to fear humans. Now, they’re much more skittish necessitating camo.

In turn, camo causes problems. Fawns and yearlings will learn that the questionable blob in a tree is danger. That means either better camo, even more movement discipline or going back yo solid colors and plaids since they’ve not seen that before.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thats actually a good point, what is the threat, a hiker or a moving bush…

 

[Plebe]

Calling @BCHunter, he proved a point by wearing a blue onesie while hunting. The whole thread is worth a read if you haven't went down the rabbithole in the past. It's definitely a thing on the site that is brought up regularly:

TimberPimp

This year, in protest of the ridiculous prices and fad of "who are you wearing" camo, I've unleashed my alter-ego...TIMBERPIMP. Here is the early season outer layer line up, presented in what is popularly assumed to be "deer vision". . All "name brand" clothing from the thrift store. All for...

saddlehunter.com

If I try the blue onesie experiment but they all run off, what proof do I have to show? lol.

It's a fun read, nonetheless.

 

[MNFarmHunter]

Thats actually a good point, what is the threat, a hiker or a moving bush…

I quantify this on a simple fact. Prior to the 50’s or 60’s, “camo” didn’t exist yet game was taken for sustenance and trophy. Game didn’t get smarter, they just got more weary of two-legged creatures that look like bushes.

I’m not against camo and wear it on every hunt but I wear it for a personal mindset more than for the game.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ThePennsylvanian]

Another example:

years ago when wearing the old mossy oak one peice coverall, i have many memories of deer getting within 20-50 yards and staring at me for hours to figure out what i was. Fast forward to today, with me wearing badlands or first lite patterns, and deer get with 20-50 yards and don’t see me at all, even with a blaze cap on.

Both examples I woild have had a blaze hat, a face covering, and some kind of good brush back drop.

Again - anecdotal and I realize memories are finicky.

This has more to do with the type of material used vs the camo. Some of the cheaper materials today and alot of the materials used back in the day reflected alot of blue light, which the deer are sensitive to. The camo it self is unnecessary to a point, it is not needed to stop deer from spotting, but there is something to be said about the confidence it does give folks. I typically don't wear camo. If I do it's 100% going to be my old ocp, or marpat uniforms and my winter gear that I have been issued.. that's the only reason it's camo. I do not speak out and buy camo gear, with the exception of an surplus ocp three day assault bag that I bought this year. I haven't wore camo because I felt like I needed it in years, infact I typically were a green FL grid fleece hoodie and brown corregate pants, but I also have a two piece ocp flight suit that I wear in warm weather because it very light weight and breathable.... but again my opinion is that camo is unnecessary BUT I don't knock anyone for believing in it!

 

[brydan]

Ive personally watched a group of hunters where one was wearing sitka or some brand similar, and the other two wore solids. I was over 300 yards away. When they were moving I could see them all clear as day. But when they stopped I lost the guy in full camo. Blew my mind. I knew where he was but my eyes struggled to spot him. I could easily find him with binos but had to know where to look.

From that distance I dont doubt that at all. At the same time, 300 yrds away isn't where we need to avoid detection. It's the 20 yard bow shot where we really need to be concealed and at those distances from the ground looking up at a stand I'm less confident about camo.

 

[Weldabeast]

Without having experienced the world thru deer eyeballs all we can do is guess.

The closest encounter I've ever had with a wild deer I had on a red hat, white shirt, and blue pants. I literally could have punched it right on the snoot....and I have had pigs walk up within soccer kicking range with similar dress......they just like T-Rex....vision is based on movement

 

[PancreasBroke]

From that distance I dont doubt that at all. At the same time, 300 yrds away isn't where we need to avoid detection. It's the 20 yard bow shot where we really need to be concealed and at those distances from the ground looking up at a stand I'm less confident about camo.

oh man some places it is both necessary! Ive found beds that were that far away but had a clear view of the parking lot. Maybe a’ll do a leafy setup on a prius in addition to wearing camo.

 

[Kurt]

The deer is brown. The rabbit is brown the coyote is brown. It’s not by happenstance the animals we chase are not covered in realtree. U don’t have to over think it nature is giving us the answer.

And the deer is shaped like a deer, and the rabbit is shaped like a rabbit, and the coyote is shaped like a coyote. They move differently than we do. We are upright. name another critter that is upright..... just us, and every animal knows it. And deer aren't just brown, they're brown ,white, black, their coat has sheen and reflects light depending on it's intensity and angle. It's movement for sure that's the enemy. Deer don't climb trees. When I'm hunting an oak flat in late season and I'm walking in I know my camo is lighter color than I would use if I was staying on the ground but when I get into those grey sun soaked oaks my camo fits in perfectly. I don't worry a ton about the pattern but more the general color, and I think solids are fine for that when you take into consideration the shadows cast. Nature is full of subtle contrasts, and some outright bold contrasts. I take advantage of the contrasts that camo patterns provide. I use light colors in the oaks and darker shades when I know I'll be hanging in the pines and hemlocks. It all works. It's personal preference. IMO camo gives a level of blending that solids don't.

 

[PancreasBroke]

This has more to do with the type of material used vs the camo. Some of the cheaper materials today and alot of the materials used back in the day reflected alot of blue light, which the deer are sensitive to. The camo it self is unnecessary to a point, it is not needed to stop deer from spotting, but there is something to be said about the confidence it does give folks. I typically don't wear camo. If I do it's 100% going to be my old ocp, or marpat uniforms and my winter gear that I have been issued.. that's the only reason it's camo. I do not speak out and buy camo gear, with the exception of an surplus ocp three day assault bag that I bought this year. I haven't wore camo because I felt like I needed it in years, infact I typically were a green FL grid fleece hoodie and brown corregate pants, but I also have a two piece ocp flight suit that I wear in warm weather because it very light weight and breathable.... but again my opinion is that camo is unnecessary BUT I don't knock anyone for believing in it!

i read somethig like cotton was better at not reflecting light, where polyster reflected more light. So if that is true, it would be the opposite. I don’t by the uv thing fwiw, i wash my clothes in regular detergent that likely have brightners. Doesnt seem to matter. Maybe it does at dusk and dawn but i hunt more day time.

 

[ThePennsylvanian]

i read somethig like cotton was better at not reflecting light, where polyster reflected more light. So if that is true, it would be the opposite. I don’t by the uv thing fwiw, i wash my clothes in regular detergent that likely have brightners. Doesnt seem to matter. Maybe it does at dusk and dawn but i hunt more day time.

All I'm really getting at is that you can consistently kill deer, because I do, and never wear camo. Making it not necessary. That's not refuting anyone's belief that they need to wear camo. Hunt your hunt, like a saddle setup, everything about how you hunt and what you use is infinitely personal, what works for you may not for another fella. No one is wrong, but I'd say not everyone is right either..... if a guy is getting the job done, I'd say keep doing whatever it is you are doing!!

 

[BTaylor]

Another point I dont remember being mentioned is down here in the south, camo is a color.

 

[Dmathews87]

Another point I dont remember being mentioned is down here in the south, camo is a color.

I can confirm this. pretty sure its taught in schools as one of the primary colors.

 

[gcr0003]

IMO, camo=hunting pressure.

Prior to the 40’s and early 50’s, the was little pressure which meant that game never learned to be scared of humans.

In my area back in the day, I could walk within 20y of a deer because they hadn’t learned to fear humans. Now, they’re much more skittish necessitating camo.

In turn, camo causes problems. Fawns and yearlings will learn that the questionable blob in a tree is danger. That means either better camo, even more movement discipline or going back yo solid colors and plaids since they’ve not seen that before.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

you wouldn't happen to be a bass fisher, would you? I hear this kind of logic from my bass fishing buddies about cycling old baits once the fish get "use to" seeing certain baits. Who knows, maybe they do.