Short answer in my experience is that camo works if it is the right pattern and colour to your surroundings to break up your form, and most importantly you not moving. Movement is the big give away in my opinion. Moose dark brown, deer lighter brown, bear black to brown, all stick out like sore thumbs when in open surroundings. Put them in a some bush and there silhouette or form is broken up. If they don't move they are most difficult to see if not impossible. When duck hunting your face looking up is like a flashing beacon to ducks and geese.
Camoflage does it work?
- Thread starter Ottawa12
- Start date
Different strokes for different folks I guess. I've actually lightened up on all my patterns over the years which has garnered favorable comments from my hunting partners which is good since it's hard to know what you actually look like to the outside world if you're wearing it.
I've found that covering face and hands and controlling movement is a must especially if you bow hunt. Sometimes you know game is looking at you but they have no idea what exactly they're looking at.
- Location
- West Quebec
You must shoot there a lot can hardly see you..Juster’s comment that animals use it is spot on.
Yea, I can say from experience with and without on outfitting clients, it works. Dedicated mountain bow hunters take it to the extreme. Doesn’t mean you can’t hunt without it, but it is a benefit especially with open rock between you and the game. One of my guides with his personal sheep and a good example of properly chosen camo.
I’ve also stood on shore a hundred yards from a boat and completely invisible to them for a minute, despite shouting directions their way. It works.
Problem is, you may be invisible in one location, move a few yards and stand out like a sore thumb.
Grizz
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Problem is, you may be invisible in one location, move a few yards and stand out like a sore thumb.
Grizz
As others have alluded the break up is more important than the colour, you can very off colour (even orange) but if you break up your outline, big help. That same pattern does well in the alpine tree stands too.
- Location
- West Quebec
Exactly what I was thinkingProblem is, you may be invisible in one location, move a few yards and stand out like a sore thumb.
Grizz
- Location
- West Quebec
LOL and be careful of the plastic covered furniture
Most game animals appear invisible if they dont move. But visual is secondary to scent and sound.
Visual concealment is a combination of factors. Concealment means blending with the environment, and breaking up the shape. Movement is less obvious when a hunter blends with the background. No movement trumps the visual.
Visual plays a lesser role to scent, audible senses.
Visual concealment is a combination of factors. Concealment means blending with the environment, and breaking up the shape. Movement is less obvious when a hunter blends with the background. No movement trumps the visual.
Visual plays a lesser role to scent, audible senses.
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- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
I really like the mountain specific camo patterns, it’s some of the better hunting patterns out there. I’ve posted this before but it’s what I use and in the areas I hunt it seems to fit in quite well, especially when the Oregon grape starts to turn and it’s waterproof.
I have been searching for something modern that works in barley stubble (waterfowl) for years. Everything is too dark. Worn out, faded tan duck cotton still seems the best match , but terrible in the cold wet conditions that are all too common in Sept. to Dec..
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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There are 11 reasons why things are seen:
shape, shadow, silhouette, movement, spacing, position, texture, colour, scale, noise and shine
The exact combination of importance for any animal species (outside of humans) will depend; however, you are looking at that list of factors regardless of what you are trying to hunt. Camouflage can directly impact 3. Colour, shine, texture. It can also help with 2 others. Shape and shadow.
In my hunting experience the easiest to control factors of why things are seen beyond what camoflage can provide are silhouette and position. Good situational awareness and thinking about where and how you are moving can tackle those two things quite well. I think that movement and noise are by FAR the most impactful factors individually and I try and practice and be aware of them the most. I think if you are good at being quiet and not moving you can be very successful regardless of all other factors.
The other two factors are scale (which really can't be controlled) and spacing (which isn't particularly relevant hunting alone).
So if you are being spotted and spooking animals due to colour, shine, or texture (research the species you are hunting and also keep in mind that an animal of a different species spotting you can be just as bad as the target animal) then camo makes a lot of sense to try. Likewise with shape and shadow. Though sticking a treebranch so as to break up the distinct human shape or placing yourself in a better spot relative to the light in your area may work just as well as camo would.
If you are extremely loud while hunting and can't control your movement all the camo in the world probably won't make any difference.
shape, shadow, silhouette, movement, spacing, position, texture, colour, scale, noise and shine
The exact combination of importance for any animal species (outside of humans) will depend; however, you are looking at that list of factors regardless of what you are trying to hunt. Camouflage can directly impact 3. Colour, shine, texture. It can also help with 2 others. Shape and shadow.
In my hunting experience the easiest to control factors of why things are seen beyond what camoflage can provide are silhouette and position. Good situational awareness and thinking about where and how you are moving can tackle those two things quite well. I think that movement and noise are by FAR the most impactful factors individually and I try and practice and be aware of them the most. I think if you are good at being quiet and not moving you can be very successful regardless of all other factors.
The other two factors are scale (which really can't be controlled) and spacing (which isn't particularly relevant hunting alone).
So if you are being spotted and spooking animals due to colour, shine, or texture (research the species you are hunting and also keep in mind that an animal of a different species spotting you can be just as bad as the target animal) then camo makes a lot of sense to try. Likewise with shape and shadow. Though sticking a treebranch so as to break up the distinct human shape or placing yourself in a better spot relative to the light in your area may work just as well as camo would.
If you are extremely loud while hunting and can't control your movement all the camo in the world probably won't make any difference.
doubt it means much in the grand scheme of things but as i read this thread it dawned on me..... all the animals I have harvested over the last bunch of years I was wearing camo. This year I wore black carharts and a plaid insulated hoodie for much of my november hunting and didn't get a thing..... but i did pretty good the previous month in october while i was wearing my camo LOL
Wear a quality ghillie suit, and that includes your rifle/glass..
Be mindful of your scent.
Be mindful of your movement.
I've almost been stepped on by nice bucks on game trails...
Same for ducks/geese. You become your own blind.
My kit has surprised many a hunter who have spent too much on all that camo gear thinking they look good in the mirror but in-situ is another story...
ymmv...
Be mindful of your scent.
Be mindful of your movement.
I've almost been stepped on by nice bucks on game trails...
Same for ducks/geese. You become your own blind.
My kit has surprised many a hunter who have spent too much on all that camo gear thinking they look good in the mirror but in-situ is another story...
ymmv...
