Camo necessary for deer hunting?

mosinmaster

mosinmaster

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Hi,

During my last hunt, I realized that deer don't really care what pattern you wear. My buddy was wearing a bright blue gore-tex jacket and harvested more deer than the camp-clad guys.

This season, I'm thinking of just wearing some old surplus OD wool pants, a flannel shirt, and a red vest overtop. It's comfortable and I'm predicting that the deer won't really care, and that staying motionless and downwind are more crucial. If I remember correctly, deer don't see too well, but see shades of light and especially movement.

Anybody generally agree with this?
 
Years ago read an article from a university in the states, (missouri??); said they figured to ungulate's blue showed up the way hot pink does to us, orange/red was seen by them as brown, browny/earthy tone's blend.

So I went out and played, tried different things. I used to figure if you silhouette yourself on a hill that's what they immediately spot from a mile away.......nope, it's blue jeans.

Do I think some form of camo helps? I think anything that helps blend your silhouette and movement helps. Past that............? I know I don't wear blue jeans hunting anymore. ;)
 
I dont wear camo. I throw on some black 5.11 Tactical pants, My tan Under armour hoodie and go !!!

Never seemed to need it...
 
Deer definitely see movement. Smell to a degree. Colour No. I would be within feet of deer at my hunting property waiting for the big buck to show in full orange outerwear. I have had them fake charge, snort and bow there heads to eat and raise it quickly to see if I moved.

I once asked a bow hunter buddy of mine why he wears camo and his response was for the other animals in the forest. Squirrels will chirp you out and crows will let the deer know your presents.
 
Movement and wind direction (scent) are your primary concerns... camo certainly won't hurt and I always wear it... I slapped a yearling fawn in the face a few years ago... now that's close! Should of seen the look on its face... priceless.
 
Not necessary, but potentially useful. Its less about the specific colours and patterns, and more about allowing you to break up outlines and not 'stand out'. Movement, sound and smell are all more critical factors.
 
I wonder if my friend's blue gore-tex had nothing to do with colour, but rather that the farmer that owns the land also wears blue jacket/jeans. My theory maybe is that the deer got used to the farmer walking around them and they just became used to seeing 'blue' as non-threatening.

For waterfowl, I do believe that it is necessary, in addition to staying very STILL, and covering your face so they can't see it from above.
 
You are in their house and they know when something is out of place, colored or not! Plaid works well if all you want is to break up your outline.
Deer see way farther into the UV spectrum than we do and fabric softeners dont help us out. Put your hunting clothes on the clothesline for a few days in the bright sun and you should be OK.
We look like were under a black light to them.
 
I wear carharrts and a blaze hoodie ddurig deer season.... I had a doe and two fawns at 8 feet last year during a spot and stalk..... movement and wind direction / scent are way more critical..... but camo never hurts..... that being said imop.... dont fall for all 5he scent hider bs... if they are wary they will smell you.....
 
I wear orange pants, jacket, hat, and gloves and I am able to watch them for a while without them noticing and had no problem getting my buck last year! I don't think it seems to bug them, I think movement is number one and scent a close second
 
Camo certainly doesn't hurt, but I think its way overated as a necessity. Years ago I went bow hunting after work in my work clothes, I'd spilt diesel fuel on my pant leg and boots, I stunk of fuel pretty good and still had a deer come within about 15 yards of me. As I let the arrow fly I thought to myself that this must be one dumb deer.
 
I have had more than a few times hunting in my work gear that is bright blue... Doesn't really seem to make a difference. I have called in elk when I got busted in the middle of an open field with no cover and the bull just kept hanging around to check me out.
Another time 3 of us snuck up (in an open field) onto a group of whitetails, the noticed us, but kept doing their thing. Buddy shot the buck that was with them 167 inches!

So perhaps its an alberta oilfield thing, but I don't really buy the blue doesn't work theory...
 
Where I am (east SK), the deer react to scent primarily. I've worn my farmer work duds (t-shirt and jeans), hot fall, sweaty and soggy with mosquito spray, and stalked them to within feet. Poked one in the belly even. Soon as they get the wind, or a swirl from a gust gets your scent to their nose , they react, but are still curious enough to stop after the first 10 yards and stare and stare trying to figure out where it's coming from. If you are motionless, and I mean not blinking motionless, they cannot distinguish you from the background bush. Big yes on getting ratted out by crows and magpies, which is the only reason I could see for camo also. If you have some time to do this in fall when the fallen leaves aren't crispy, it's a hoot.
 
I've been hunting for a lot of years and people ask me if there is a secret? and I say no.

There are no secrets, but there are many things that you can do that put the odds in your favor, and things that do the opposite.

Camo is one of those things that help put the odds in your favor.
 
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