Blaze orange
- Thread starter larryw
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Cain R
Member
Everything I've read says the cones and receptors in an Elks eye can only perceive shades of gray and cannot see colours in the truest sense.
However I've talked to an Elk farmer nearby and he swears Elk see colour. Every Sunday he feeds grain to his bulls in a bright yellow tubs. A couple of tubs were broken so he swapped them out for black tubs. He swears the Elk ignored the black tubs and went right to the yellow ones first. It could be colour recognition or something like scent or even location. So, do Elk see colour, I guess we won't really know until one of them decides to tell us
Seriously though, I really think its less a colour recognition issue than it is a shape recognition when they spy a hunter bedected in blaze orange.
However I've talked to an Elk farmer nearby and he swears Elk see colour. Every Sunday he feeds grain to his bulls in a bright yellow tubs. A couple of tubs were broken so he swapped them out for black tubs. He swears the Elk ignored the black tubs and went right to the yellow ones first. It could be colour recognition or something like scent or even location. So, do Elk see colour, I guess we won't really know until one of them decides to tell us
Seriously though, I really think its less a colour recognition issue than it is a shape recognition when they spy a hunter bedected in blaze orange.
Bruz
Member
Everything I have ever read says they are color blind...my question is, why do we dress up in green and brown camo then?
Roadrunner
Member
I wouldn't worry about what color you wear. I've sat in a chair in bright fleece, blaze orange, and blue jeans and still had deer approach me on hunting trips.
I believe it's more important not to move around, deer will notice movement before color.
I believe it's more important not to move around, deer will notice movement before color.
Keith
Member
Even if they see in shades of gray, your blaze orange may be a different shade of gray than the foliage around you. I don't have to wear orange in these parts, but if I did it would be camo-patterned orange.
Some time ago I read an article by some expert who had "done a study" - don't remember the details - and this guy maintained that with a deers eyesight, the color blue should be avoided at all costs. Apparently, that color stands out well against the shades of gray they can see. I stopped wearing blue jeans when I read that.
Keith
Some time ago I read an article by some expert who had "done a study" - don't remember the details - and this guy maintained that with a deers eyesight, the color blue should be avoided at all costs. Apparently, that color stands out well against the shades of gray they can see. I stopped wearing blue jeans when I read that.
Keith
Chuck Dye
Member
My understanding is that dynamic contrast is more important than color when triggering the neural motion detectors involved, but there is no doubt that frequency (color) contrast gives an added edge to the critters with that capability. Blaze orange has both high dynamic and high frequency contrast in any natural environment we are likely to hunt in-that’s why it was adopted for safety gear. Are cervids color blind? Never heard of one reading the number correctly in those circular dot patterns!
Gfrey
Member
Huck Phinn,
I regularly am told I didn't read the correct number from the color tests too, But I can see Blaze Orange. Just don't ask me if my shirt is Pink today... Cause pink usually looks quite white to me!
I know Waterfowl and Turkeys see color, which is why camo is so important when hunting them, but I believe the animals ALL see human movement and recognize that as danger first.
YMMV,
Ger
I regularly am told I didn't read the correct number from the color tests too, But I can see Blaze Orange. Just don't ask me if my shirt is Pink today... Cause pink usually looks quite white to me!
I know Waterfowl and Turkeys see color, which is why camo is so important when hunting them, but I believe the animals ALL see human movement and recognize that as danger first.
YMMV,
Ger
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Birds see colors. Deer-type critters and coyotes and such don't.
Now, deer can notice an unnatural shade of gray, and give it some heed, but motion is more important. I've also watched deer not notice a motionless hunter who was wearing jeans and a Levi jacket.
I mostly wear dull colors, earth toned. Old khakis, etc. Camo is to hide from critters which distinguish colors, like birds and people. I have read that doves in particular associate blue with Bad Things.
Ever notice that a moving person in camo is more noticeable than a moving person in dull earth tones?
, Art
Now, deer can notice an unnatural shade of gray, and give it some heed, but motion is more important. I've also watched deer not notice a motionless hunter who was wearing jeans and a Levi jacket.
I mostly wear dull colors, earth toned. Old khakis, etc. Camo is to hide from critters which distinguish colors, like birds and people. I have read that doves in particular associate blue with Bad Things.
Ever notice that a moving person in camo is more noticeable than a moving person in dull earth tones?
, ArtChuck Dye
Member
Threat recognition and assessment are a very neat branch of ethology. A favorite example from personal experience is having been able to drive within a few feet of pronghorns in Wyoming but never walking anywhere near them: four wheels, or eighteen? OK. Two legs? I'm out of here!
swampgator
Member
I've got a friend who has killed at least 5 deer wearing Levi's and a white t-shirt.
Movement is the enemy, not color.
Bottom Gun
Member
The camo serves to break up your outline even if the game you're hunting doesn't see color. It may help to make slight movement harder to see as well.
I believe deer, elk, etc see light intensity rather than color so blaze orange should do well in snow.
People also claim deer and elk can see ultra violet and that clothing washed in regular detergent will reflect UV much like clothing under a black light.
Personally, I've had better success with deer and elk since I started using unscented non UV brightener detergent made especially for camo.
I believe deer, elk, etc see light intensity rather than color so blaze orange should do well in snow.
People also claim deer and elk can see ultra violet and that clothing washed in regular detergent will reflect UV much like clothing under a black light.
Personally, I've had better success with deer and elk since I started using unscented non UV brightener detergent made especially for camo.
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