DISCLAIMER: The discussion topic below is recognized as a second order effect and assumes you are doing your best to minimize human scent (first order).
With only 7 years under my belt as a hunter, I still consider myself fairly green. However, I can't believe that after years conducting countless hours of hunting related internet searches, and hanging out with other hunters, this is the first year I've ever come across anything having to do with UV brighteners and their effects as it relates to deer vision. At first I thought it was a hoax; perhaps just another rabbit hole where the end goal was for me to open my wallet yet again in the name of percieved stealth. Prior to jumping in 1000% and buying a $32 jug of UV Killer or even changing out all my camo for flannel, I decided to purchase a handheld UV light from Atsko. It arrived yesterday and below are the results. Please note how the white copy paper overlaps the paper plate on the table. It is the recommended method by which you can calibrate your eyes to ensure that you aren't identifying false positives when looking for brighteners.
Needless to say, I was completely blown away by the results. I mean, my DARK grey Carhartt hoodie lit up like it was woven with tracer material... a pair of my lined khaki pants looked like I bleached them... my ghillie top seemed useless with those strips of old leafy-suit hanging off of it... and my First Lite merino might as well have been sprinkled with glitter. And my saddle...? Long sigh.
Guess I'm just baffled that it seems like this isn't being talked about much by anybody (total of 3 "UV" hits when I looked it up here on SH). It certainly isn't new because the studies have been around since the early '90s. Is it a secret that we're not supposed to know about or share with others? Is THIS Fight Club???
With only 7 years under my belt as a hunter, I still consider myself fairly green. However, I can't believe that after years conducting countless hours of hunting related internet searches, and hanging out with other hunters, this is the first year I've ever come across anything having to do with UV brighteners and their effects as it relates to deer vision. At first I thought it was a hoax; perhaps just another rabbit hole where the end goal was for me to open my wallet yet again in the name of percieved stealth. Prior to jumping in 1000% and buying a $32 jug of UV Killer or even changing out all my camo for flannel, I decided to purchase a handheld UV light from Atsko. It arrived yesterday and below are the results. Please note how the white copy paper overlaps the paper plate on the table. It is the recommended method by which you can calibrate your eyes to ensure that you aren't identifying false positives when looking for brighteners.
Needless to say, I was completely blown away by the results. I mean, my DARK grey Carhartt hoodie lit up like it was woven with tracer material... a pair of my lined khaki pants looked like I bleached them... my ghillie top seemed useless with those strips of old leafy-suit hanging off of it... and my First Lite merino might as well have been sprinkled with glitter. And my saddle...? Long sigh.
Guess I'm just baffled that it seems like this isn't being talked about much by anybody (total of 3 "UV" hits when I looked it up here on SH). It certainly isn't new because the studies have been around since the early '90s. Is it a secret that we're not supposed to know about or share with others? Is THIS Fight Club???
