Is the Camo really not for the deer.

[MNFarmHunter]

I was in a tree last year. I had a leaf suit on in spring green true timber patterned camo. I love that suit again I wear camo so people don’t see me, bother me or beat me to my tree next weekend lol but I was wearing that 3D leaf suit and using a grunter. Out of nowhere a big hawk came swooping in talons forward about to grab my fingers like he thought he found a squirrel or something. Last second I noticed him swooping in at me so I turned, he pulled up slightly and landed in the tree right next to me and was just staring at me like he was confused about what I was. Lol I truly think I almost lost my hand to a hawk that day… To your point, yes camo can be very effective breaking up our outlines and adding concealment, but I do not believe that has as much correlation to elevated hunting as it would if we were stalk hunting instead

Encounters like this is what I enjoy most about hunting. We all have stories about those types of close encounters. Hunting from the ground, I've had raccoons walk by close enough I could touch them.

The prey also needs to be taken into account when hunting. Camo makes absolute sense for turkey or bear.

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

Encounters like this is what I enjoy most about hunting. We all have stories about those types of close encounters. Hunting from the ground, I've had raccoons walk by close enough I could touch them.

The prey also needs to be taken into account when hunting. Camo makes absolute sense for turkey or bear.

Yes sir Toms have amazing eye site!

 

[useyourbow]

Those things are usually either for noise concerns or ventilation.

So when would the camo be needed most? When sitting with your arms resting at your side or when reaching for a weapon or drawing a bow. Having a plain solid color in the movement zone doesn't make sense.

 

[SNIPERBBB]

So when would the camo be needed most? When sitting with your arms resting at your side or when reaching for a weapon or drawing a bow. Having a plain solid color in the movement zone doesn't make sense.

If you're drawing your weapon with a deer looking at your, I can't help you.

 

[useyourbow]

If you're drawing your weapon with a deer looking at your, I can't help you.

 

[DroptineKrazy]

Encounters like this is what I enjoy most about hunting. We all have stories about those types of close encounters. Hunting from the ground, I've had raccoons walk by close enough I could touch them.

The prey also needs to be taken into account when hunting. Camo makes absolute sense for turkey or bear.

Not for bear. They are notorious for bad eyesight.

 

[JC3]

@Fl Canopy Stalker I had the same thing happen a couple of years ago.
Just starting to get light and I noticed a little Kestrel landed in the next tree, I am saddled up (a Guido's saddle) with my head resting on the tether.
I am in in a full ASAT leafy suit, with head cover, thinking this little guy landed awful close to me.
A short while later at full light, just out of the corner of my right eye I notice him taking flight, and the next thing I see are 2 very bright orange talons open and extended coming right for my face.
Luckily I was able to get my arm up in time for him to brush my arm with his wing and land about 20 ft. away, in another tree.
He sat there for a short time and actually came at me again, but I had been eyeballing him so his attack was easily thwarted.
I can't imagine what I resembled to him, but he finally flew off.
I looked around in the canopy, thinking I might be near his nest, but could see nothing.
The ASAT leafy suit has allowed me to see coyotes up close and very personal (5 yds,) during turkey season.
If I am not winded in the tree, I don't recall being busted by deer recognizing me.

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

@Fl Canopy Stalker I had the same thing happen a couple of years ago.
Just starting to get light and I noticed a little Kestrel landed in the next tree, I am saddled up (a Guido's saddle) with my head resting on the tether.
I am in in a full ASAT leafy suit, with head cover, thinking this little guy landed awful close to me.
A short while later at full light, just out of the corner of my right eye I notice him taking flight, and the next thing I see are 2 very bright orange talons open and extended coming right for my face.
Luckily I was able to get my arm up in time for him to brush my arm with his wing and land about 20 ft. away, in another tree.
He sat there for a short time and actually came at me again, but I had been eyeballing him so his attack was easily thwarted.
I can't imagine what I resembled to him, but he finally flew off.
I looked around in the canopy, thinking I might be near his nest, but could see nothing.
The ASAT leafy suit has allowed me to see coyotes up close and very personal (5 yds,) during turkey season.
If I am not winded in the tree, I don't recall being busted by deer recognizing me.

It is amazing the difference a leaf suit can provide lol I think broadside should make a light weight leaf suit in that closer pattern! Or at least a 3D leaf top. That think right there would be MONEY well spent for elevated camo lol I don’t like leaf bottoms with my saddle though because I sit on the leaves and occasionally rip them out lol I like my tech pants much better for bottoms

 

[BTaylor]

Officially sold on never wearing a leafy suit. Dont need any talons to the noggin.

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

Officially sold on never wearing a leafy suit. Dont need any talons to the noggin.

Mine wasn’t to the noggin, but it definitely wanted my fingers and that grunter lol…. I even got the old school fly fisherman’s style hat with 3D leaves and same camo pattern. It keeps the sun out of my eyes (kind of) and I feel like when I turn my head to look around, the movement is less noticeable because it has the same bill all the way around the hat. That may be psychological but so far I’ve been spotted by way less people and less squirrels

 

[DroptineKrazy]

I wasn't wearing a leafy suit but I am head to toe in camo when I'm archery hunting. I had a big barred owl land on a branch about 30 feet or so from me once. Every time I blinked he would do that head roll thing and flinch like he was ready to pounce. I finally figured after about 5 minutes that I better do something before he gouged my eyes out so I pulled my head net off and he scooted out of there pretty fast.

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

I wasn't wearing a leafy suit but I am head to toe in camo when I'm archery hunting. I had a big barred owl land on a branch about 30 feet or so from me once. Every time I blinked he would do that head roll thing and flinch like he was ready to pounce. I finally figured after about 5 minutes that I better do something before he gouged my eyes out so I pulled my head net off and he scooted out of there pretty fast.

Them birds of prey though….! I am really trying to imagine myself at the hospital getting my hands stitched up and trying to explain to the medical staff that the hawk just flew up and attacked me unprovoked

 

[zolson]

To the OPs point...I think it's complicated. Deer and squirrels have different predators, so squirrels are unreliable in communicating predation risk to deer (sometimes its a coyote, sometimes it's a hawk). Blue Jays are the sentries of the forest, so everything gets an alarm call. Ditto the unreliability. My guess is getting caught by either would heighten vigilance in nearby deer, for a time, and make it harder for you not to get picked off.

But, so would a whiff of your scent. Or a dog running around. Or that birder that walked by 15 min ago. Or...

But, cross-species eves-dropping of alert signals definitely occurs:

Carrasco, M. F., & Blumstein, D. T. (2012). Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) respond to yellow‐bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris) alarm calls. Ethology, 118(3), 243-250.

 

[Hall17]

For the first year I am going to wear some khaki pants for early season. This will be more of a test on my part and also a test for my personal growth. I've always been a 'must wear camo' guy. Watching video's and reading some other things got me interested in trying it out.