best camo ?

[vanh]

after an unplanned hiatus from hunting, family illness, I need to get back into the woods. I need some opinions about the best all around camo pattern to use for deer and hog in florida. I grew up hunting in wiscinsin and Michigan, when the guys still wore jeans, flannel and wool, but the times they are changing. I would appreciate any help you can give me. thanks much, vanh

 

[troy fairweather]

i am a big guy most camo out there does not fit me. i was wearing all camo up to about 5 years ago. now i where red or green flannel and brown pants.since then i have walked up to more deer them any other times wareing camo. the deer see u but just don't seem to care much. i think every 10 or so years deer get used to camos, you have to change them up.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Only been to Florida once. I'd venture to say a tiger stripe type pattern or marshy type would work well.

 

[kenboyles72]

You don't need camo to hunt, most critters can't tell the difference between that and normal clothing. When a critter does spot you, it's either your movement or scent. I have walked up on deer, as close as 25 yrds and never moved till they smelled me, while wearing just plain 'ol clothing. Here's another thought on that, what if you put on all the latest/greatest camo and then throw a blaze orange vest on top of it? That camo aint doing you a bit of good since it's covered by that bright orange vest. If deer, yotes, hogs, etc can't see that bright vest, then what difference does it make on what you wear?

 

[stillquietvoice]

Just don't wash hunting clothes with normal detergents the deer see left over phosphates. Get hunting detergent no phosphates or perfumes.

 

[troy fairweather]

i just hate most guys around my age(i am 27) are kinda brainwashed into thinking if you don't have full camo you are crazy for walking in the woods.

 

[troy fairweather]

Just don't wash hunting clothes with normal detergents the deer see left over phosphates. Get hunting detergent no phosphates or perfumes.

ya i leave them in a bag of nice fall leaves. back when i hunted the farm i put the cloths in the barn.

 

[buck460XVR]

I grew up hunting in wiscinsin and Michigan, when the guys still wore jeans, flannel and wool, but the times they are changing.

I grew up and learned to hunt in Wisconsin. Still doing it(growing up and hunting) after more than 6 decades. Wore camo back in 1968 when I shot my first buck with a bow. The camo that works best is that which matches your surroundings the best and what you can sit the stillest in. Particular patterns, while they seem to be important to hunters, aren't really that important to game. Most of the time, those small intricate patterns that appeal to us, disappear at a distance and turn into a glob. Thus, the old style military camo works as well as the newest high tech, as long as the color range is similar to your surroundings.

 

[Art Eatman]

Any old dull earth-toned stuff you can find at Goodwill. Green, brown, grey...

If you're moving or wiggling around, camo is as visible as anything. If you are motionless, about the only bad thing would be a white or some bright color.

 

[FL-NC]

Its Florida, so its not cold like it is up north. I mostly use the older military BDU pattern uniforms. Every branch of the US mil used them for about 30 years, so they are out there and available- and cheap- I bought a nearly new top for $5 at a thrift store last week. Lightweight material, so you won't get heatstroke, and it will dry fast when it gets wet. Get them a bit loose side, you will sweat less, and when its chilly, you can wear layers underneath. The newer multicam is better camo, but it is usually pricier- I only use that when I am hunting turkey.

 

[buck460XVR]

If you are motionless, about the only bad thing would be a white or some bright color.

Folks used to be afraid of wearing bright blaze orange. For turkeys, it's a definite no-no, but for deer? To a deer, Blaze orange looks like brown or gray. What color they do see well is blue. That's why all the hub-dub about UV brighteners in laundry detergents. While blaze orange may look lighter to deer than surrounding brush, against snow or against the skyline in a treestand, it disappears.

 

[FL-NC]

Here's another BDU top bought for $5 or so at a flea mkt- cut the sleeves off so its cooler hog hunting from a ground blind, and I still have the 4 pockets to put whatever in and keep it accessible.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Movement matters, camo doesn't and deer don't know what is in style anyway.

 

[Armored farmer]

after an unplanned hiatus from hunting, family illness, I need to get back into the woods. I need some opinions about the best all around camo pattern to use for deer and hog in florida. I grew up hunting in wiscinsin and Michigan, when the guys still wore jeans, flannel and wool, but the times they are changing. I would appreciate any help you can give me. thanks much, vanh

I like Realtree AP

 

[Patocazador]

Camo is for the hunters eye appeal, not so much for the game animal. Kinda like fishing lures are sold to catch the fisherman more so than the fish.

If the 'experts' can be believed, most game animals are color blind so any plaid, checked, or striped clothing in neutral colors will work.
However, like most of the other states, Florida requires hunter orange for deer hunting so color is rather immaterial, isn't it?

 

[sage5907]

A good test for camo is to hang it in a tree or on a fence and back off about 100 yards and see if it blends into the surroundings. If it appears as a dark spot or light spot you need to select another pattern. In my area two of the best patterns ever made are MossyOak treestand and MossyOak bottomland. I bought these patterns in the early 1990's and still wear it today. eBay is a good source for used clothing. Another good pattern is military digital camo. It especially works good in the spring for turkey hunting. Another point to wearing camo is to always sit in the shadows and always have back cover. If you sit out in the open with sunshine animals will notice. I like to mix different patterns so that my trousers are different from my coat, and it is alway a good idea to wear a facemask. Remember the 4 S's of camouflage which are Shape, Shine, Silhouette and Shadow.

 

[Laphroaig]

I've had deer come as close as 10 feet wearing blaze orange. I still wear camo when bow hunting but I'm not sure that it matters that much.

Don't move and be mindful of the wind.

 

[entropy]

Stillness and slow even movement when necessary are the best camo. Nothing wrong with Woodland. I like Multi-Cam and USAF tiger stripe the best, but they might be a little light for FL.

 

[caribou]

Im diametrically opposite of Florida, being in Arctic Alaska and all, but if you find your self up this way, German Flectarn in desert and woodland are about the closest thing to Tundra Ive ever seen.

Cheap in price, but not quality, the German Milsurp is good stuff.

 

[jmr40]

For rifle hunting deer or hogs camo isn't necessary. I've been doing this for a long time and have acquired a lot of hunting gear, clothes etc., and a lot of it is camo. But when big game hunting I'm more likely to wear non-camo clothes in brown, green, gray, or black. If required to wear an orange garment the camo doesn't help.

The only time where camo is an asset is when waterfowl, turkey, or possibly archery hunting big game. I don't think the exact camo pattern is important, but shading can be. Early turkey season and waterfowl season means very little green in the woods. Everything is brown or gray and I wear camo in those shades. Later in turkey season and during archery big game season everything is green and I change over to camo with more green shades in it. Where you hunt can matter too. The same camo that works in Florida, might not be so good in Wyoming.

Nothing wrong with military camo as long as you match the shading. The old US Woodland camo was fine when the woods are green, but you stand out like a neon sign later in winter when everything is brown. The new Multi-cam is about as good an all around choice as I've seen. And I used to be able to get deals on military camo. Not so much anymore.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I’m in W.Ga, not quite Fl, but close.
I’ve quit buying new camo. A pair of mocha brown carhart pants, and a similar brown hoodie does the trick. I’ve experimented with brown vs green. The brown alerts or disturbs the deer far less than the green. Recon why!?

My issue with most commercial camo is that to broaden appeal, most have streaks of white to mingle with snow.
We NEVER have snow in big game seasons.....
My favorite are the old classic Mossy Oak original and break-up. Noticed they made a come back this year.

I know several people that work for Bill Jordan/real tree. But, I can’t get promotional samples. Probably has something to do with those citations I wrote Bill, way back when.....

 

[FL-NC]

I agree that camo isn't necessary when hunting some species, and is a downright necessity when hunting others- but it's hard to deny the usefulness and price of cheap surplus military camo for any outdoor activity, even if you just look at it as simple clothing. After all, it is designed for hard use in bad conditions. I even wear BDU pants when I go to the range- not to look like an "operator", just because they can be had cheaper than Wrangler cargo pants (made from the same material) and are comfortable with handy pockets, and more than sufficiently durable. Below is a pair of high quality pants from Crye Precision- the "essence" of operator (#sarcasm). I have several pairs in a duffel bag in the attic. According to the CP website, the cost is $273. The matching "combat shirt" is $185. I have worn this stuff quite a bit, and will agree that it is absolutely the best clothing out there. But the GI surplus stuff is just fine, and is what I use.

 

[MaxP]

As a handgun hunter I like to get up close and personal so I will hedge my bets and wear camo, even though playing the wind is the most important aspect in my opinion. That said, some of my favorite hunting clothing- from a design/comfort standpoint- just happens to be camouflage. I prefer Sitka gear over all others.

 

[TN Outlaw]

Whatever matches you to your surroundings the best. Like others have said, playing the wind(and sun) and having minimum movement has more of an affect on game than the pattern you choose to wear but clothing does play a role.

It doesn't have to be camo to blend into the terrain. There are many different terrains out there and moving from a wooded hill to a draw or cutover or swamp bottom or sage grass field all could call for different clothing to blend in.

Lots of people buy the new and hip camo pattern and throw a blaze orange vest over it and then climb into a shooting house where they can't be seen anyhow. Oh well, it's their money.

Match your surroundings as best you can and play the wind and sun and try your best to be still.

 

[JeffG]

Try to match your environment, play the wind.