Ok guys so I am new to bowhunting and hunting in general. Got my first license last fall at age 21 (22 now). Anyhow I was wondering what my experienced friends here have to say about the role of camouflage in stalking/still hunting with a bow. The reason I ask is I see some guys go all out with expensively purchased or tediously home constructed ghille suits. Then there are others like Fred Bear who stalk in flannel shirts. How important is aggressive camouflage? And what game is it most important for or least important for? Thanks guys!!!
Also any info on or links to info on stalking techniques would be much appreciated as this novice begins to practice for the fall whitetail season in Ohio :)
This is my opinion - For turkeys I suggest 3D leafy or ghille. For everything else, camo is not necessary; movement and scent will bust you every time. Move slowly, sit still, and keep the wind in your face. Nearly all camo being marketed is designed to catch the human eye. I would be more concerned with material type than pattern. When I started out, I did a ton of research and found Cabela's Microtex line of hunting clothes in Outfitter camo to best suit me. Now I'm older, wiser, and have more money - That said, Merino wool is best.
Camo for turkeys, anything that breaks up your outline for everything else, as long as your still and playing the wind right.
you gotta go with wool or fleece or some fabric that is 110% silent for all big game hunting. Try it on at the store, if you make any sounds while walking around in it, dont buy it no matter how cheap or discounted it is. You'll regret it when your trying to put the stalk on a ten point buck and your clothes are making noise.(this may or may not have happened to me before :knothead: ) Also, scent is another biggie to keep in mind.
you gotta go with wool or fleece or some fabric that is 110% silent for all big game hunting. Try it on at the store, if you make any sounds while walking around in it, dont buy it no matter how cheap or discounted it is. You'll regret it when your trying to put the stalk on a ten point buck and your clothes are making noise.(this may or may not have happened to me before :knothead: ) Also, scent is another biggie to keep in mind.
I have worn everything from flannel to ghillies and doubt it makes much difference to the game. I used to feel nearly invisible in a leafy suit though and that helped my confidence which is the key to any pursuit. If it's quiet and a broken pattern and you don't move, deer and elk have a hard time picking you out. I really like something that absorbs light. Wool, fleece, 3D camo like ghillies or leafy suits really make you melt into the background.
Thanks for the replies everyone; getting a lot out of it! One common theme though has been to break up my outline. I guess that is my next question; how do I break up my outline with regular clothes as opposed to just wearing a camo pattern?
QuoteOriginally posted by John Scifres:
I really like something that absorbs light. Wool, fleece, 3D camo like ghillies or leafy suits really make you melt into the background.
You wear clothing that absorbs light well, stick to earthy tones. nothing reflective or noisy. Move slowly. be aware of your background so you have something to blend into. and be very still. like someone said earlier, animals have a hard time picking you out if your absolutely still and silent, no matter what your wearing.... to an extent lol
Plaid
I agree with Mike Vines. Plaid.
All I wear anymore is plaid shirts, many from the thrift stores, and plain brown or green carharts.
Take the money you will save on high tech, expensive, name brand camo, and you can go on a out of state hunting trip.
I like both full camo and muted plaids. Fabrics that don't shine are important, as is quietness as previously stated. Keep in mind some fabrics are even more noisy when very cold. That's why I like wool in cool weather - it is always quiet. However, I have military camo that works well, and noise has not been a severe issue. Just be sure that what you wear breaks up your outline.
The only problem with my ghillies is that they are just too hot for much of the hunting season here in middle GA. But they sure do work well. Most of the time in hot weather, I wear subdued pants with a camo mesh bug suit top and only a tee shirt under to deal with heat. It was a bit shiny when new but is now old enough that this is not a problem any longer.
However, in the final analysis, if you sit still, be quiet, and work the wind, what you wear is not such a critical issue.
Do yourself a huge favor and buy some Predator Camo.
I also like Predator camo. Not only does it work for me to break up my outline, but as an added bonus, I look good in it too. ;)
thanks again for all the input! These have been great tips. It is interesting that this thread has illustrated my initial point though: some folks are saying basically that it doesn't matter too much and don't bother going hi tech. Then there are folks who say to go hi tech. :)Hey if one or the other works for you I guess there is no need to change back and forth right?
But I see your point about looks Night Wing. I checked out Predator Camo patterns and they are pretty slick!
Like mentioned go with quiet!!! I would like to add one thing cover your face with camo net or make up. I have used the leafy wear camo for the last fer years but I've had plenty luck with wearing flannel. I have notice over the years that crows will come in my hunting area if they can't see my face and they never do if my face is not covered. Good Luck!!!
MHO- Camo is a way to break up the human outline and minimize movement to animals. Like the others have said, when it comes to turkeys, better have a good camo Predator or ASAT. For color blind animals, (DEER) all you need are earth tones (plaids). Plenty of animals have been harvested long before WW2 when the camo was first used on a broad scale. For stalking as already said quiet material and one that absorbs light works best. If you can rub your fingernail on it and make noise it will be louder in woods. This is one of the main reason wool is so well liked.
If hi tech was necessary, humans would have died out long ago.
I would recommend an ASAT 3D leafy suit. You can wear any type of clothing underneath depending how warm/cold it is outside. It makes me more confident when I FEEL invisible, and that helps me be a better hunter. Not one piece of camouflage clothing is as good as keeping the wind in your face and sitting still however. If you combine good quality camouflage with woodsmanship, you will become a predator
Sitka Gear is my 1st and Predator would be 2nd. Good, color-fast clothing will last many seasons as long as one goes easy on the chips and doughnuts!
I'm sure I could kill deer wearing the baby blue Tux I was married in 34 years ago, but I won't.
Totally agree with everyone that camo is way overrated. I will add however, that I prefer to wear my Predator camo just because if I'm caught out in the open, or my tree has less than perfect back cover, I'm still good.
Most of my hunting has been still hunting. Largely agree with camo being overrated--for me its just one factor to consider. IMO, using the wind, minimizing movement, and walking quietly are more important factors for still hunting. That said, I like to mix open camo patterns (ASAT or Predator) with wool plaids. An excellent source for all things still hunting is "The Ground Hunter's Bible" by G. Fred Asbell.
You'll get both sides of the fence with this one. My thought is when that 6 year old mature buck of your dreams comes in and stands 15 yards in front of you would you want the lack of camo costing you that shot??? If it lets you get away with one more second of drawing your bow, that may be the difference between zero and hero.
Don't need to spend a fortune on camo. Go get one light weight leafy pant/jacket and be done with it. I wear it over shorts in the early season and thick clothes of any kind in the fall.
You'll need it for fall turkeys anyway. They will bust you without camo most times.
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camo is over rated....even though i like to wear it instead of plaid.. i have bought tons of camo over the years any pattern will work. do not get caught up in sent eliminating gimmicks. just find a pattern that u like. when hunting deer use the wind and slow movement to your advantage. that is the key. i had alwayse hunted out of tree stands untill last year. i switched it up a bit and hunted off the ground alot. i killed several deer just standing or sitting next to a large tree and being still was the key. deer are color blind so as long as you are still and the wind is in your favor then the luck is on your side. there is not one type of camo pattern that i perfer over the other.
now if you try to hunt turkeys u need camo they can see better than u can.
QuoteOriginally posted by KentuckyTJ:
You'll get both sides of the fence with this one. My thought is when that 6 year old mature buck of your dreams comes in and stands 15 yards in front of you would you want the lack of camo costing you that shot??? If it lets you get away with one more second of drawing your bow, that may be the difference between zero and hero.
Don't need to spend a fortune on camo. Go get one light weight leafy pant/jacket and be done with it. I wear it over shorts in the early season and thick clothes of any kind in the fall.
You'll need it for fall turkeys anyway. They will bust you without camo most times.
(http://i.imgur.com/nqaFy.jpg)
:thumbsup: Dead on.
I wear plaid shirts and green or brown pants
A lot of good ideas and advice. You also need to be creative.
I uae my old BDU's from my time in the service, or if its an afterwork hunt im inthe woods in my black work pants and my Maroon colored button up. Seems to work fine for me.
I don't think the patterns make any difference at all and plaids work just as well. It is a fact that animal eyes and what they actually see is different than us anyway. I like Cabelas microtex and generally buy that in whatever pattern is on sale. Wool shirts from a thrift store are great when I can get them. Pants are lower down so I worry less about them. Don't let them see you moving and don't get upwind and don't wear anything that is noisy or reflective and cover light hair and fair skin.
i guess im a camo freak, chances are you wont spot me if you walk past me (set up) in the woods, so i know the deer wont( unless i move), or wind me!
if it aint camoed when i buy it i camo paint it just to be safe. but thats just me :goldtooth:
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There are three killers in this picture and then there is me. If you ask them what clothes to buy you will get as many different opinions as if you ask about bows or broadheads. Get quiet clothes that have a broken pattern and will keep you comfortable in the weather you intend to hunt in.
If you get to a hunt like Solana you will see everything from Thrift store bargains (Gregg Dudley)to stuff I can't pronounce (No names mentioned R#a#n#d#y and C#u#r#t). BUT if you see a shirt like the one I am wearing at some garage sale or something, buy it as fast as you can FOR ME!
Predator Camo. God bless.
Hey Gregg, I just noticed your beard has developed its own natural camo pattern. Looks good with you cammies, though.
Sam I am! That is the great thing about being a guy! There is nothing wrong with a calico beard or mismatched camo! Nobody is going to miss a beat on either one!
Guys I really appreciate all your advice on this topic; I am learning a lot as usual from you all! :)
Plaid(even for turkeys)plus a facemask, paint, beard, or Florida tan on the face,lol.
Having said that, there are some camos that are better than others, asat, predator,kuiu, I also like the old WWII camo. So many of the modern ones just blend into a single mass past 15 yards. The goal is to blend into the background not look like an object.
I think camoflauge is neccesary for turkeys. For any other game animal any type of clothing with different dark colors will work. There are quite a few guys on here that hunt in plaids.
Never hunt turkeys without it :nono: . IDK the specifics but turkeys see somthing like two or three times better than you can. you'd be borderline crazy to hunt turkeys not wearing camo uless your in a blind. The old saying really proves true here, "its better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it." period.
Never hunt turkeys without it :nono: . IDK the specifics but turkeys see somthing like two or three times better than you can. you'd be borderline crazy to hunt turkeys not wearing camo uless your in a blind. The old saying really proves true here, "its better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it." period.
ASAT and predator camo is very impressive. Nothing like it. I am seldom even given a second look in ASAT- have stalked within 15 yards of critters and had them look right "through" me.
Like many have said though- the old soft wools are special in their own right.
Highly marketed stuff is usually pretty lame IMO.
Dan