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Is Camo Unnecessary for Hunting?

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#43 ·
I grew up in the middle of what I considered a Mecca for Whitetail Deer hunting.

There are hundreds of deer camps within just a few miles of my childhood home. Some of the most famous and rich people hunt just a few miles from me.

The Mannings hunt with 15 minutes of my house. I'm not sure if he still does but Hank Jr. hunted very close to me in one of the most upscale and expensive hunting lodges I have ever seen.

That being said, when deer season begins my community is flooded with out of town "hunters". They are easy to spot because everything they are wearing from their wallet to their socks is the latest, trendy camo. They are easy to spot from a mile away (pun intended).

No its not necessary at all.
 
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#44 ·
1BRAVO9 said:
I grew up in the middle of what I considered a Mecca for Whitetail Deer hunting.

There are hundreds of deer camps within just a few miles of my childhood home. Some of the most famous and rich people hunt just a few miles from me.

The Mannings hunt with 15 minutes of my house. I'm not sure if he still does but Hank Jr. hunted very close to me in one of the most upscale and expensive hunting lodges I have ever seen.

That being said, when deer season begins my community is flooded with out of town "hunters". They are easy to spot because everything they are wearing from their wallet to their socks is the latest, trendy camo. They are easy to spot from a mile away (pun intended).

No its not necessary at all.
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Some hunters are funny. I can tell you how many times I’ve seen a deer stand painted camo , a 25 yards away from a windmill , pump , fence post or other man made structure. As if the deer would “
Know “ what a stand is if they could only see it. They will get used to it just like everything else in their environment that doesn’t move or heath them.

Deer can’t see orange or red. It shows up as gray to them. They can see blue and green colors.

I have not hunted in decades. But I think the biggest issue besides scent , noise and movement is brightness. Something shiny or bright might spook them . Think of reflections off glass or metal.

they can also see UV. So I guess using UV lights to night hunt deer would be bad idea, even if it was legal. Of course I can’t imagine anybody needing them. I’ve certainly never tried

It might be cool to simulate poaching. As in trying different night vision and quiet techniques to get close to deer at night , without actually harvesting one of course. This could be good practice should things go south and you NEED meat.
 
#45 ·
Canon29 said:
if I was going to get camo I'd get that really light weight 3d leaf pattern stuff- ive been playing with the idea of making some sort of lightweight hooded poncho that could be draped over me.....
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I got my dad some lightweight mesh "over garment" camo, it was very thin and lightweight. It was a hoody and pants that just pulled on over your clothes. Fit into a small stuff sack that stayed in his truck and pack, never got washed. Wouldn't last in brambles and brush, but he was mostly sitting in tree stands over pumice flats.
 
#46 ·
ajole said:
I got my dad some lightweight mesh "over garment" camo, it was very thin and lightweight. It was a hoody and pants that just pulled on over your clothes. Fit into a small stuff sack that stayed in his truck and pack, never got washed. Wouldn't last in brambles and brush, but he was mostly sitting in tree stands over pumice flats.
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Makes sense. You really only need it ( if at all ) when sitting still. They will see and hear you walking.
 
#51 ·
Adventure Wolf said:
The title says it all?

Personally I wear cargo pants and flannel.

I never had a problem.

There's a lot of hunters that swear by camo, and there's some that swear you don't need it.

What are your thoughts?
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TLDR the whole thread.

IME... obviously depends on what you are hunting, but breaking up your outline is helpful. Solid colors show up to predators and prey animals alike, as solid blocks and are out of place.
Wind is #1
And #2
And #3
If you have the wind, you can be 20 yards from a deer staring straight at you, move slow enough and it's possible to get lined up and take a shot sometimes.

For scent, I wash everything in baking soda... after running a cleaning cycle on the washer with baking soda and vinegar. Oh, and line dry, outside.
Hunting clothes come off as soon as possible and go into ziplocs with baking soda each day. After season, I wash the clothes and vac seal with baking soda for next year/season.
Avoid sweating at almost any cost.

I do wear camo. I find the lightest colors I possibly can. Almost everything out there is way too dark.
I also use a blind netting material. Any time I am on the ground this goes up in front of me. I always sit in front of bushes or trees and try to have them in front of me, as well. If you are silhouetted, doesn't matter what you are wearing, if animals know humans, they know the shape.

Lastly, whether on the ground or in the air stay still. Go in, make your noise if you must and get comfortable. Then sit still, be quiet.
 
#53 ·
Cuteandfuzzybunnies said:
I have not hunted in decades. But I think the biggest issue besides scent , noise and movement is brightness. Something shiny or bright might spook them . Think of reflections off glass or metal.
Click to expand...
I think the brightest thing a hunter has on him is his big, dumb moon pie face. I am a beleiver in a face covering to hide the shine. I think every time a deer has spotted me he saw my white boy face shining in the sun.

www.amazon.com

Amazon.com : Favuit Ghillie Camouflage Leafy Hat, Camo 3D Leaf Face Mask Full Coverage Breathable Hunting Mask Headwear Camo Turkey Hunting Accessories : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Favuit Ghillie Camouflage Leafy Hat, Camo 3D Leaf Face Mask Full Coverage Breathable Hunting Mask Headwear Camo Turkey Hunting Accessories : Sports & Outdoors
www.amazon.com
 
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#56 ·
Canon29 said:
The best camo in the world won't help you if you position sucks or you are caught moving by an animal eyes. If your position is good and and you don't move the animal won't see you regardless of what your wearing. I've snuck up on animals wearing blaze orange...

I hunt on the ground often, but camo is especially useless when hunting out of my saddle.

I'll go a step furthur to say that scent control products are a waste of time of aswell- you ain't beatin' an animals nose. You've got to learn to play the wind.

I normally don't like platitudes- but the one that goes "the best camo is sit still and shut up" is totally true.

Camo works for people, and works well. Unfortunately camouflage clothing manufacturers leverage this to charge exorbitant of money for their patterns to play on the insecurities of hunters. Often hunters don't understand what gets them busted and its easier to blame your clothing than to blame your skills, for a fee they can "eliminate" a variable and then they can fully blame their skills cause they are hunting in hundreds of dollars worth of camo...

My one caveat, is that 3d camoflauges such as ghillies suits do indeed work- as long as you hold still. Breaking up your outline does help a little- movement will get you busted still, but breaking up the outline is excellent. Honestly you'd be surprised how much a small shrub in front of you will do this for you, but I'll give credit where it is due. Personally I believe the juice ain't worth the squeeze given field conditions- for the majority of the year they can be too hot, they snag like a mfer, they aren't quiet and noise gets you busted just as easy as movement. My experience is that ghillie suits are the easiest way to get poison ivy aswell...

if I was going to get camo I'd get that really light weight 3d leaf pattern stuff- ive been playing with the idea of making some sort of lightweight hooded poncho that could be draped over me or setup as a quickie ground blind. Haven't been able to justify the weight yet.

My suggestion. Avoid laundry detergents that are scented and have UV brighteners.
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I have stood completly still in blaze orange down wind and have a doe walk 3 feet in front of me. Most animals see in black and white and only notice movement.
 
#57 ·
Exarmyguy said:
Ive never thought it helped much. They detect us by smell and hearing . When you consider that most hunted game are just plain brown or black and are hard to see ,it makes you wonder how all camo is full of greens .
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The point of camo is to break up your (apex predator) outline. Color is less important than outlines. That said if what you hunt see really well, your laundry soap is probably going to give you away. Especially if it's the kind that brightens. You'll glow like a lightening bug to some game animals...just sayin.
 
Discussion starter · #58 ·
Peter said:
The point of camo is to break up your (apex predator) outline. Color is less important than outlines. That said if what you hunt see really well, your laundry soap is probably going to give you away. Especially if it's the kind that brightens. You'll glow like a lightening bug to some game animals...just sayin.
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I hate to say it but unscented baby detergent, soap and shampoo is your friend.
 
#60 ·
I have hunted all over the world and almost all of the world does not use camo. I have and have not used camo over the years. There is no real difference. What does make a difference in breaking up you silhouette and having colors that match the surrounding. Browns, tans, greens, grays and black shades work fine. The face is the easiest to spot against natural backgrounds when you move. Game with large eyes, like speed goats and sheep will see you from distances you think they can’t. Scent is more of an issue than sight. If wearing camo makes you feel better, then enjoy. Just remember that you great great grandfather was harvesting game wearing this.

Image
 
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