I'm going to pick up some Predator camo for this years hunting season and in reading here I noticed that Terry made the comment "theres something to be said about his Spring Green camo and brown pants". I tried looking at some more threads to see if he says anything more about this, but couldn't find it. Although I seen where several others say they wear different patterns on the bottom in comparison to the top.
Whats the idea or the something to be said about this? An inquiring mind wants to know.
I have three sets (10 pairs of each) of Spring Green, Fall Gray and the discontinued Fall Brown.
When I'm in the mesquite country of south Texas, I wear a Spring Green long sleeve shirt with Fall Brown Pants.
If I deer looks right at out in the open, if there's foliage behind you and you don't move, a deer can't see you. This has been my observation.
Jeff...maybe its in my mind...but I think the brown pants 'cut me in half'...and the lower part of me is out of the equation and dismissed by the animal.
Like I said....maybe its just in my head....
I also tuck my chin down when the animal is looking at me...and look through the 'leaves' like a sheep dog through my 'silly hat'....maybe that is in my head too....but I've had a lot of close encounters...and had many animal run, walk and feed right up to my boot laces. Lots of times this happens when I'm caught out of cover as well.
I also will email ya something....
I used to love predator grey... then hung it & several other camo top and bottoms on hangers in the winter woods...gentle breeze.
Some blob. Predator doesn't...but the fairly "white" areas when the breeze would blow would fluff the coat/pants on the hanger... I was perpedicular to the camo talking to someone.
I'd catch a "flash" out of the corner of my eye and whip my head.
We finally videoed it all and could find only that when the predator grey would "move" the white blob would catch my peripheral attention.
I went with more linear, strong positive- negative patterns after that but still think the predator brown and green might be the ticket.
I also mix camo. When it's all the same, you still present an abstract form of a man's outline.
With different top and bottom, it' just elimenates the man shape I think.
Dock...yep...I don't like fall gray....the white seems to 'flag' you too much....OK from the trees...but on the ground the white is too white for me...and we don't get enough snow around here.
PLUS...Predator seems to hide me in the open....I like that.
If you 'black n white' fall brown and spring green...there's not much difference. So I just stick to the one color....cept my wool is fall brown.....cause they don't make it in spring green.
Like a camelion, because you can see it is why it works. Notice my test animal, my dog, trying to find me.
(http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv247/pukingguts/P1020148.jpg)
I love the fall grey in the winter woods. The biggest deer I never got a shot at was 3 yards and in my mind thought I was a shrub. When I wear camp it's Predator mix and match
I don't really wear much commercial camo as such , but I always ensure that my pants are very different to my tops/ jackets ...
Doesn't matter how you where it or what pattern you get, wear it for 1 season and you will be a believer the stuff is awesome
I wear different patterns on the top and bottom also. Brown Carharts on the bottom, and a plaid shirt on top. This has worked very well for me the last few years, and it's a heck of alot cheaper.
Thanks guys. I'm going to pick up a few of the lighter weight shirts for the early Fall hunts and then I'm going to buy the Brown Deception Fleece w/ Windshear from Cabelas for the later season.
Never thought of breaking up the upper body from the lower body. Interesting.
I like the spring green here in Ky. I will wear a shirt in predator spring green and pants in a light weight wool (army surplus) works well year round, has fooled many a turkey and deer. :bigsmyl:
QuoteOriginally posted by bendbig:
I like the spring green here in Ky. I will wear a shirt in predator spring green and pants in a light weight wool (army surplus) works well year round, has fooled many a turkey and deer. :bigsmyl:
Thats what I am going to get. Look forward to sitting real still in it and hopefully not stinking too bad!
I am also a fan of the two pattern break up "system". I mainly hunt from treestands, so I like the white in Predator Fall Gray. Early season its fall gray pants with ASAT on top. Once it gets cold and the snow flies here in Michigan its, Fall Gray on top and ASAT wool pants on bottom.
If you notice most animals, there natural colors are dark on top, and lighter the further down the body you get. If you notice a deer for example its hair along it backbone can be almost black, but as you proceed down to the belly the hair gets lighter and eventually its all white belly. Same for a trout, darker on top, and almost silver white on the bottom. Perfect camo pattern from a perfect Creator. I try to match that in my appoach to camo.
chris <><
i wear brown or green carharts pants because they are really old/soft. my top depends on how hot or cold it is.
i dont mix on purpos. i just like carharts pants.
this is interesting topic with mixing up the camo from top and bottom though. what terry said makes sence to me.
dang. all this time i thought i was getting close because i was that good. hahaha
Good thread and good info here. I just would have never thought of it. I think its important for us that hunt only on the ground.
Terry
Where did you get that famous hat you wear, Id like to get one for myself.
Larry
Still hunting parallel to my buddy in Colorado a few years ago I watched him disappear every time he stopped moving. He was wearing the spring green Predator. I like the fall brown very much.
However, these days I've switched to another camo pattern and brand. I have a variety of different patterns and brands. Number one for me is silence. Then the pattern, utility, and comfort.
Camo has been my bowhunter uniform since 1970. Whether the critters I hunt are fooled any better by it or not I wouldn't be hunting without it. I also hunt squirrels wearing full camo (doves and turkey as well).
I think Terry's theory on one type on the top and different on the bottom is valid. I've been using it for years and 90% of what I'm doing is in trees.
Here's another tip I use for those that hunt from hardwood trees. One of my favorite stand locations has a multiple trunk situation that I prefer, but they are small and the tree is on a knoll that the deer like to cut across above or below. Since it's a maple tree, it drops it's leaves in mid to late October and then I'm more likely to be seen from certain angles. At the beginning of each hunting season, I trim some limbs from pine trees and tie them off to the maple limbs extending off around my stand. Not too many, but just enough to break things up a little (the little bungie cords work well for this). Since their up before leaf drop, which is usually gradual, the deer seem to be used to this "funny looking pine/maple" during the rut and late season. This is on my parents private land, so no issue with the cutting. There are some commercial products out there that would accomplish the same thing, but I think it's important to get them up before leaf drop so that it's not something "new". This is the only tree that I do this with, because it's the only place that I really want to be, but no other options.
I think this is a great topic and as Terry says, it's "opinion" but I think valid from my point of view.
QuoteOriginally posted by Terry Green:
Jeff...maybe its in my mind...but I think the brown pants 'cut me in half'...and the lower part of me is out of the equation and dismissed by the animal.
Hmmm...interesting thought! Can't believe I've never heard anybody else say this, or thought of it myself. Seems pretty smart. Makes so much sense I might just try it myself.
Animals see movement and shades of grey, brown or green. For this reason splitting makes sense, but it depends on the terrain and cover your hunting. Desert being different than forest or alpine country. A medium to dark color pants, with a large plaid shirt or jacket might work in one area but be out-of-place in another. Another reason why desert camo is out-of-place if your in a tree stand in the woods. You might need to change to a different combo when the leaves fall.
Take your clothing, and hang it outdoors and take a picture (Black & White), to see what the animal sees.
QuoteOriginally posted by swampthing:
Like a camelion, because you can see it is why it works. Notice my test animal, my dog, trying to find me.
(http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv247/pukingguts/P1020148.jpg)
Jesse, are you wearing the green deception in this pic?
QuoteOriginally posted by Ladams:
Terry
Where did you get that famous hat you wear, Id like to get one for myself.
Larry
Things like that only happen once.
Tarz said a mouthful!
I mostly used the fall Grey in trees and still would get nailed, but the deer couldn't make out that I was a person, but were on edge coming in and I'd shoot over their backs cause they were wired and would do that evasive drop at any sound!
Even in trees, until all leaves are off, that slight movement caused that "white flash" and I dind't like it once I saw it in my "experiment" with all sorts of camo hanging by coat/pants in the form of a person...
Fall brown seems to help with that... I love to mix Fall brown and ASAT top...
There was a favorite, but alas, it was local to PA and no longer made so won't bring it up. :)
My favorite tree for tree stands are Eastern Red Cedars. I try to keep the limb cutting to a minumum by using rope to tie back as many blocking branches as I can to give myself a couple of windows. I can then untie the limbs at season's end.
When I can't find a Cedar along the course I expect the deer I too like to use clumps of trees or trees with multiple boles or large limbs. Since I mostly hunt "edge" limby and multiple boles (also cedars) are pretty easy to find.
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/ad2877/projects/0093.jpg)
I also like mixing up the Predator patterns. :thumbsup:
Here is my way to check for good camo. Stare at the center of my shirt but allow everything else to go blurry.
Sort of like doing one of those trick pics when your supposed to see a different object if you stare long enough.
My shirt melts into that corn and the brown pants help keep me from looking like a solid object. Camo that doesn't work well in open situations will look like a big dark blob, sort of like what deer see. ;)
Terry, where do you buy your predator camo? I'd love to find a spring green shirt in a fleece material.
I bought this one long ago from Day One Camouflage.
(http://tradgang.com/tg/images6/xbdayhog.jpg)
I made the hat.
Tarz,
You should make up some of them hats to sell on St. Jude, whatchathink? Prolly fetch several hunert dollars if'n ya sign each one! :)
Actually, not kidding that much!
I have been a fan of Predator Brown for many years. And, as Terry mentioned...when you take away the color, the green and brown are essentially the same.
I concur with the comment about the Pred Gray....it is great for the sky but is too white/flashy on the ground...
Here is Terry's "GREEN"
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1307664946.jpg) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1307664946.jpg)
And Arwins's designer combo....
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1307666010.jpg) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1307666010.jpg)
Leatherneck, that camo is Army ACU's, yeah the one that they just replaced cause everyone hates it, works the nuts if you understand the concept.
In both of these photos Terry's pants are "missing". I agree with his thinking about cutting his body in half and if he were standing that would be exactly what we would see. IMO this camo pattern does not break-up his torso nearly as well as does his Day One parka.
Terry, is this also a Predator pattern?
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1307678953.jpg) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1307678953.jpg)
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1307678987.jpg) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1307678987.jpg)
While the fall grey should be good for tree stands, it's just to "bright" for most situations... in my opinion.
A nice light grey background would be perfect and I've dyed my shirts to tone them down.
This coyote was taken "pre dye" but I was on him and released the arrow as soon as he got in a spot where he could see me.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/TexascoyoteR.jpg)
As you can see, I'm also an advocate of mixed camo top and bottom. Just makes sense to me.
I have always been a fan of mixing camo from top to bottom . I always put differnt camo or different colors between pants and tops to break-up the "Big BLOB"
Yes Tony...that is also predator...if you go to my personal home page you can see that and the brown pants are my 'standard uniform' 95% of the time.
T
Doc,....not sure if it would bring any money....I had to buy my own arrow this auction. :biglaugh:
So would you say I should dye my Fall Grey top and bottoms to dull the white parts of them??
QuoteOriginally posted by Cromm:
So would you say I should dye my Fall Grey top and bottoms to dull the white parts of them??
Cromm....
See this fall gray pull over?
(http://tradgang.com/tg/images5/terry_deer.jpg)
This is the same exact pull over after I 'colored' the white with a 'gold tan fabric marker'. As you can see......I changed the fall gray top so much that it matches the fall brown bottoms.
(http://tradgang.com/tg/images/doe2s.jpg)
I don't think they even make fall brown anymore do they? It was/is a great pattern.
Cromm,
Soak it in coffee and vinegar! Should tone it down and hold the color that way.
Tarz,
As for those hats, well, it seems every week in one forum or another, people ask! "Where can I get a salad hat!"
Just sayin... :)
I would not discount the grey all together. Take a look at this pic, look at the rock in the front, lower, middle part of the frame. Now look above that point and back into the distance... do you see the shirt I have hanging on a branch back there?? Look for the "shoulders" right in front of the tree. Problem with colors that are too drab/dark is they just look too drab and dark as shadow, and, distance increase. Especially when you are not hiding "IN" or around "cover." That shirt is a Realtree AP, the newer more "open patterned" one. Which is an exact "color" match for the surroundings.
(http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv247/pukingguts/P1020335.jpg)
Now my point. Work with me if you will. I zoomed in on this same photo. Now what do you see, be honest with yourself, did you see it before?
Cameleions disappear because you can see them, not because you can't. (http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv247/pukingguts/P1020336.jpg) The other one is a Sleeping Indian wool pullover. In gray of course.
Mix and mash as you please....
Swampthing,
Really like those pics. Very interesting.
I just got back from fishing. I was doing some wading fishing for Redeyes and Smallmouths and I got lucky enough to have a very, very close encounter with a big old doe. I was standing in the edge of the water looking the pothole over when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. I looked and about 20 feet from me up the bank a doe stuck her head over and was looking things over too. She looked right at me and I never made a move. I had on old camo shorts, a white hanes T-shirt, and my MARPAT boonie hat on. She looked me up and down two or three times and then started coming right down the bank towards me. I never moved a muscle and she came so close that if I would have just stretched a bit I could have swatted her with my fishing pole. I practiced picking a spot on her while she was being so generous with me. She was just upwind of me by 20 feet but that made the difference for the close encounter. Now drawing a bow on here would have been different. Thats probably where a good camo that breaks your pattern up will make the big difference.
I hunt primarily Jersey pines and I can disappear in a treestand with spring green . I even use a tree saddle and hang right out in the open about 15 - 20 feet up and have deer frequently walk right up to me . On still hunts I use green deception pants and spring green tops . Even in the snow the spring green works in the pines .
Best camo in my opinion. Think about the woods. When you walk thru the woods the ground is normally muted browns and greys while the foliage is either greens or brown. Brown or dark tan bottoms blend with the ground colors and present a large picture like a log or rock. You arms, torso and head are what move the most while hunting and need to be broken up. Throw in Terry's goofy looking hat and you have a perfect hunting color combo.
I've worn different tops and bottoms for a few seasons. I actually did this by accident, and like everybody here, I think it works.
I wear nothing but Predator Spring Green and Green Deception out here in the West.
Fun stuff to play around with. The best IMHO is, get down to to your boxers, jump in water, get out, roll in the dirt, leaves, dead grass, rub it all over your face and hair. Keeps bugs off you too. :help:
A lot of great info here. Terry what is the brand of cargo pants you wear? I've only been able to find the lighter brown/sand color.
Put me down for one of Terry's huntin Hats next St.Judes Auction, yep gotta be autographed.....♠ :bigsmyl: :archer2:
I always wear different tops and bottoms. Been doing it for a lot of years. I always figured it breaks up the shape more. I get a laugh out of guys who wear matching gloves and hats too. Its like they are modeling for deer.
And don't get me started on wearing camo when you're not hunting.