Obsessed with Camo? Anyone else?

[JeeperCreeper]

Ever since I was a kid, camo and the science of camouflage has been a huge interest to me.

From military to hunting styles, clothes and gear... I just love reading about it and seeing new styles and technique and technology.

Generally, there's lots of marketing mumbo-jumbo, and I understand it isn't the be-all-end-all of hunting.

Heck, even a red flannel did the job for grandpappy back in the day... While smoking a pipe!

But is anyone else into camo and gear?

This is the first year I've decided to "buy once, cry once" with my clothing and gear... Well sorta.

I've ordered and returned lots of gear... Various Veil patterns, kryptek, milsurp...

Right now, I'm probably gonna be running SHRE gear or Badlands

But I also have a love affair with Kryptek, Veil, and Flecktarn

Trying to find something that is good gear (Alaska) and breaks the human silhouette while blending is tricky.

One thing I've picked up that's interesting is that most hooved animals see blue really well

There goes my fishing camo for deer!!!

Anyways.... Who else just loves camo for the sake of camo??

 

[troy fairweather]

I've found its makes little to no difference, movement is what they see. Camo is just for you and the other hunters.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I've found its makes little to no difference, movement is what they see. Camo is just for you and the other hunters.

I agree to an extent... I think it's like most gear. You can do without, but doesn't hurt, and might help a few percent.

But I just like it. Just for the sake of liking it

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I'm partial to the old school tiger stripe versions though I understand it's limitations.
I know it sounds silly but the most effective camo pattern I have seen in the wild is a bob cat. I watched one stalking once and when it moved I could see it but when it stopped, and I looked away, I could not spot it again until it moved. A close second is my grey tabby barn cat.
(But no camo shopping guy is gonna buy "Grey Tabby" pattern camo gear..)

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I'm partial to the old school tiger stripe versions though I understand it's limitations.
I know it sounds silly but the most effective camo pattern I have seen in the wild is a bob cat. I watched one stalking once and when it moved I could see it but when it stopped, and I looked away, I could not spot it again until it moved. A close second is my grey tabby barn cat.
(But no camo shopping guy is gonna buy "Grey Tabby" pattern camo gear..)

What's funny is my beagle has dark splotches mixed with ticking on his fur.

That little turd blends so well

I need to invent my own "beagle pattern". "Bobcat pattern" sounds cooler haha

But I think there is a company making camp that looks like fur, another looks like own feathers. Can't remember the names. Probably out of business since it was an online retailer.

 

[Blue Jays]

I am always impressed by how thorough turkey hunters camouflage themselves.
Those birds have some truly remarkable vision. They see darn near everything.

 

[buck460XVR]

I've found its makes little to no difference, movement is what they see. Camo is just for you and the other hunters.

IMHO, there are many variables. Sitting still makes you blend in and less obvious. This is the idea behind camo. If it wasn't effective , why would the militaries of the world use it not only heavily on clothing, but vehicles as well? Hunt the brush on a windy day and movement makes little or no difference, unless your clothing does not blend in. Not all game animals have the relative poor eyesight and indifference to specific colors as deer. You could get away with a Red plaid shirt for hunting deer, but not so much turkeys or waterfowl. Pattern of camo is not as important as blending into the color and shapes of your surroundings. Most game animals readily recognize the silhouette of a human. Anything that aids in breaking that up helps one get closer. For rifle hunters, getting close makes little or no difference. Not all hunting is done with high powered rifles.

Virtually impossible to buy any decent hunting clothing that is not made with camo material. It wouldn't be that way if the majority of hunters thought it made no difference.

 

[jmorris]

From what I have seen, it depends. Movement will bust you even with the best camouflage. Same for scent, if the wind isn’t with you. I have had “wild” deer walk up to me, because they have learned I don’t shoot them and where we bait for hogs. Had a phone with me last time.



So, I think under some circumstances it might be a negative, if they couldn’t see where the food truck (you) is going. Others where it couldn’t make any difference. A number where it could make a difference and a few where it was the difference.

 

[AK Hunter]

Right movement is what catches their attention. But I have gotten by with more movement when in camo. In fact I have been caught dead on the deer was looking straight at me from about 30yds & sitting still let him look at me from different angles then he figured I was part of the tree I was leaning against.
My buddy only wears a camo shirt & blue jeans and almost every season get a large buck.
So camo is just a tool to help you hunting.

 

[jmorris]

I always liked this one.



Being still (really impressive because there are two people) and the wind is blessing you both.

She even touched the arrow but didn’t get spooked until the camera guy started running the “zoom” motor on the camera at the end. I remember it because I didn’t notice it was the motor in the camera that spooked it until I later had a similar experience with a different animal.

So sound can also be a deal breaker. Even ones we don’t notice.

 

[stringnut]

Pattern may make some difference. Does not some to be the biggest concern. Beating a dead horse here as these things have already been mentioned. Motion matters most. Next is that the color needs to be approximately the same as your background. Too light is worse than too dark.

One of my most effective camo pieces is a Browning sweater. It is a mix of various shades of green and brown yarn. There is no discernible pattern. Use ,when weather appropriate, with nothing on over it. Have had many deer less than 20 feet from me when sitting on the ground over the years. Wish i could get something that works as well in cold weather gear.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I used to be interested in it long ago before there was too much to keep up with.

My eyes could tell a real difference between Original Mossy Oak and the then new, Mossy Oak Break Up.

Realtree Advantage seemed like a good idea for a northern fall ground hunter.

I was in my early teens when these patterns came out which was a decade or better after Realtree and Mossy Oak really started gaining traction with their original patterns.

I see a lot of old school original Mossy Oak and Realtree in the now new MO Bottomlands camo that is popular. This kind of makes me think they are running out of ideas or there is merit in keeping it simple or they are playing on nostalgia.

Either way it tells me that camo only works but so well when a “new” pattern comes out and it strongly resembles some of the first hunting patterns ever marketed towards hunters. Of course marketing then takes over and puts a “you just have to have this” spin on it.

Nonetheless, it worked and I do like Bottomlands for the nostalgia. It doesn’t get me to buy it though.

I have started wearing camo in the last several years since I have found the deer at my hunting location very skittish. The camo pieces I wear are mismatched and from several generations of camo development and marketed towards different types of hunting and mostly bought second hand. My hat is Advantage Wetlands (waterfowl) from the latter part of the 90s. My mask is Optifade (general hunting) from last year. My bibs are Realtree Max-5 (waterfowl) from the early 2000s. I have a turkey hunting shirt and gloves that are a Cabelas pattern that I cannot recall but it is a general hunting green pattern.

I prefer the vague patterns if I give myself a choice. The ones like Optifade, Military camos, etc. Just blotches splish splashed everywhere.

 

[JDeere]

We all know that camo no matter the pattern just breaks up your profile. On another note I wear camo to the grocery store and everywhere else. Those cheap t shirts and hoodies from the local Academy are great. Call me crazy but I just like the look and could care less what anyone else thinks.

 

[FL-NC]

I use it hunting for several reasons. 1- the majority of what I have was given to me for free, so thanks for ya'll getting me that stuff. I prefer Crye multi for turkey hunting, unless it is real hot and I wear my Kryptek badlands, sometimes under my net type Ghillie suit. For deer hunting I wear the Kryptek during early bow season when it is hot, or old US Army BDU's and when it is cooler - I generally prefer the USMC woodland pattern when it is cooler to the point of little to no sweating- it is of a heavier cotton material, so less swishy fabric noises, and the Marines didn't go crazy with velcro like the Army did so it is also quieter from that respect. In a popup blind (black interior), I wear either a black Dickies work shirt and boonie hat (hot weather) or an old US Army black fleece top (cold weather) and a mask. Most of my hunting here doesn't require a whole lot of cold weather gear- usually the most that is required is a US Army issue waffle top thermal under my camo, some decent gloves, and a fleece beanie (black or flat dark earth). Hog hunting (when I do it) is mostly done when it is warmer and at night, so old US Army BDU's (no velcro) are just fine. Army BDU pants, camo t shirt, and boonie hat are used for dove hunting (when I do it). 2- military camo is not only free to me, it has plenty of pockets for all my junk- enough pockets that things aren't clicking and clanking together and making noise- if I could just remember what is in each pocket that would be great. 3- Due to the job I had for over 20 years, military camo clothing is just what I am accustomed to "in the woods", or even at the range. At the range, I generally wear a t shirt or sweatshirt when it is cooler, with some form of military pants and boots. The clothing I wear deer hunting is all washed seperate in scent killer and kept in a large rubber made container. I wouldn't say I am "obsessed", but I am definitely accustomed and I like free stuff.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Walmart sells fleece camo pants. I love them. Very comfortable to wear. I wear them all winter.

 

[jmorris]

Call me crazy but I just like the look and could care less what anyone else thinks.

You are not alone.

 

[natman]

Trying to find something that is good gear (Alaska) and breaks the human silhouette while blending is tricky.

This is the reason that most of my camo gear is still the original Realtree Xtra Brown from the '90s.

It has some contrasting blank tan areas that serve to break up your human outline at a distance. I do sometimes wear pants of a different pattern just to further break up the outline.

While there have been some advances in photorealistic detail since then, almost all more modern camo patterns are too monochromatic and blend into a near solid color at distance.

I do like to add a few Sneaky Leaves for a 3D effect.


I've thought about 3D leafy clothing and/or a more photorealistic pattern, but two experiences in the field changed my mind. The first was turkey hunting. I stood up to go answer the call of nature and saw a tom and a hen behind a bush I couldn't see through while seated. The tom saw me and departed in haste. The hen had her back to me. I sat back down on the faint hope the tom might come back. The hen wandered around to my side of the bush and proceeded to try to call him back. She stood so close to me that I could have kicked her. I figured she was doing a better job of sounding like a lonely hen than I could ever do, so I let her. She was within touching distance for at least 15 minutes. She had no idea I was there.

The second was a different turkey hunt. I was seated resting against a tree trunk. A squirrel climbed down the trunk and jumped onto my camo hat. I don't know who was more surprised.

Anyway, after that I decided that I was more than adequately camouflaged and there was little need for a different pattern.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

^^^
That was a good pattern.
Regretfully, my stuff from the 90's no longer fits...

 

[WisBorn]

UV brighteners are a dead give away to animals in my opinion. Some of the most expensive camo clothing is loaded with UV brighteners. A simple black light will identify uv dyes. Cabela's sells a killer that covers up the brighteners.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

I’ve always had a preference for der flecktarnum Deutches camo of the Bundeswehr.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I've found its makes little to no difference, movement is what they see. Camo is just for you and the other hunters.

I am trying to relate this to the fact that so many animals use camo to hide themselves. I think, from an evolutionary perspective, camo most definitely does work well enough to be an evolutionary success, but camo is just a patterning or blending enhancement. The proper field use of camo is what makes it effective. Yes, you can wear camo and be readily spotted because of too much motion or the wrong camo. I just love to see bad guys wearing forest green camo in city/building situations. Nothing like a disgruntled worker taking over an office, dressing all in forest camo instead of dressing like typical employees (dress shirts, suits, etc.) or a filing cabinet. Sadder is to see American military in green camo involved in a firefight in an all brown village. Improper camo does cause you to stand out. It may even draw undue attention.

It is important to note that for the most part, camo is not an absolute all or none sort of deal even when it works well. It is more of a percentages deal. You increase your chances of not been seen or seen as readily, assuming you are appropriately adorned.

With that said, I have talked to guys who note how a deer could not see them because they were so well camo'd. One guy told me, "The deer looked at me for several minutes, but could not see me. It never ran off, but eventually walked into the woods." I love that statement. Obviously, if the deer was looking at him that long, it could see him. I have had deer do the same thing while I was running a weedwacker. People often confuse behavior with capability. Because many hunters assume that a deer will necessarily run from them if they see the hunters, that if the deer don't run, then the deer don't see (or otherwise sense) the hunters. That can be a significant misinterpretation. Deer may run from you if they see or sense you, but if they don't consider you a threat, they will just continue doing like they were doing.

 

[jmr40]

For big game rifle hunting. or most small game I don't worry about it. I have some camo shirts and jackets in various camo patterns. As well as a couple of pairs of camo pants. I can't put together a complete outfit in the same camo pattern. I usually wear pants in a solid green, brown or gray color. The shirt may or may not be camo, but there is a good chance the jacket will be.

I pay a little more attention to camo when archery big game hunting, but it still isn't something I worry about a lot. But for turkey and waterfowl I'm in camo from top to bottom. It won't match, but it is camo.

Most big game animal's eyes are much different than humans. They are colorblind, but colorblind doesn't mean they see in black and white which is often mistakenly stated. Colorblind people and animals still see color, it just isn't the same color the rest of us see.

Most birds on the other hand have eyes much like humans. They see the same colors, just a lot better than humans.

 

[Jeff62]

This thread made me realize nearly all my camo comes from Goodwill. Mix/match. Yep, I’m that guy.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

This thread made me realize nearly all my camo comes from Goodwill. Mix/match. Yep, I’m that guy.

I might not be thrifty enough to get it from the Goodwill, but I do shop end of season clearances. My only option is to mix/match, since it's rare to get tops/bottoms both on clearance.

I've actually made templates to see how different camos combine hahaha

 

[citizenconn]

I'm partial to the old school tiger stripe versions though I understand it's limitations.
I know it sounds silly but the most effective camo pattern I have seen in the wild is a bob cat. I watched one stalking once and when it moved I could see it but when it stopped, and I looked away, I could not spot it again until it moved. A close second is my grey tabby barn cat.
(But no camo shopping guy is gonna buy "Grey Tabby" pattern camo gear..)

My little gray cat can disappear while you are looking at her. It is vexing. You don't even see her move.