Just curious if anyone hunts in solids instead of plaids or camo. I wonder if it really makes that much of a difference? Since deer don't see like we do, is the camo/plaid more for our own eyes?
A lot of my hunting before it gets to cold is done in a khaki colored jeans. Both deer out of a tree and elk hunting on the ground.
Look at the pants I had on when I shot this buck. Had a camo long sleeve tee on that I took off before I got out of the tree. (http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/uu36/L82HUNT/100_1880.jpg)
Same pants hunting elk last year. (http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/uu36/L82HUNT/100_1867.jpg)
I didnt take enough pictures until the last 4 years or so. But, i've taken a few mulies with just a regular old t-shirt on.
heres a bull with a gray button up shirt on.
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn33/elkbreath/IMG_6529.jpg)
You could own every camo pattern on the market and no matter what you wear, you will have on the wrong pattern for your conditions. Camo patterns are marketed to the hunter, not the deer. The deer don't give a dang what pattern you are wearing or what big name guy is wearing it on TV. Deer see movement and flash (shine). You will be busted by scent long before they see you. Their nose and ears will warn them if you walk the wrong way or if you have the wind at your back. I like all grey during bow season. Most of the time It's warm enough that I can hunt in a jogging suit. I was still- hunting last year in a small patch of hardwoods and a doe walked right past me like I was a tree. I had face painted, Sprayed down well with a good spray and the wind was dead calm. I stood rock still and she walked right by, heading to her evening feeding spot. I was hoping to see the buck that lives there but no luck. If I was hungry, that doe would have been dead.
Come winter I wear a longhunter wool shirt ( Ron La Claire Archery) and it is a grey color. And solid color cargo pants for warmer weather with a brown or green t-shirt
I generally wear a plaid shirt, but my pants are solid. I like wool dress pants in the early season and move up to mil surplus when it gets colder.
I prefer not to wear solid colors, as it tends to make somebody's outline show up more distinctly. However, a lot of people, including me, have killed some nice deer dressed in solid colors. Overall, I think that in some cases it will make a difference but not in all situations.
i have hunted a good bit with solid colored carhart bibs with camo on top.
I like it cause i can flick the ticks off my pants lol. :laughing:
My reason for having so much camo clothing is that the best modern materials come in camo.
I understant a lot of people say that it breaks up our outline, and I'm certain it does to OUR EYES. But deer see differently. The question is, is there any good research out there that shows us we need to break up our outline for deer?
If you are dead-set on using solids, then use them.
Experiment.
It is all what you believe in and trust.
Killdeer
Very often wear solid color pants - Carhaarts or cargos, especially when hunting on the ground, but always camo or plaid shirt. I think face and hand camo, either paint or gloves and mask, are more important. They are like a white flag.
I'm not set on anything. I'm just wondering aloud :-).
Mahantango, I certainly cover up anything white :-)
I've got two pairs of Dickies work pants, tan and olive drab green for early season pants. Same olive drab wools pants for the cold.
for shirts in the warm this year I am going to wear an old tan Dickie short sleeve work shirt.
I may pick up a couple of earth tone flannel shirts for cooler weather at the goodwill if I can find them.
On cold day I wear my Filson wool pants (solid green) and Tan combo cammo Slepping Indian wool shirt. Never an issue and have seen a ton of animals wearing that combo. Tree stands and ground hunting.
Does solid camo count ?
My wool pants are all solid colors (green, brown). My favorite camo pants have gotten to the point that they LOOK like a solid color.
Like Killie, I seriously think you should try it, give it a good shot (pun intended) and then post the pix.
I don't think we absolutely NEED anything except our wits to hunt successfully.
ChuckC
I once shot a pig wearing 3 color desert pants and a brown tank undershirt (wifebeater for those who dont understand political correctness).
I think pigs are a little different than a whitetail though. Fall and spring are hot.
I usually wear solid green charcoal or gray wool pants most of the time, particularly when hunting from the ground. Just about anything on upper body, but usually camo or buffalo plaid.
Not sure if any one else has tried this yet but a couple seasons ago I bought a two sets of green sweat pants and shirts on clearance for about 4 bucks each. My wife tie dyed them with bleach for me. Then I diped them in brown dye, tie dyed them lightly again, then a last dip in maroon dye. They look fairly horrible (the wife calls the resulting pattern "trash can juice") but it was less then ten bucks for two sets and when combined with a pair of gaitors or snake boots you have a quiet, comfy 'camo' set up that breaks your outline up well. Good for the ground or stand.
I shot a fat doe last year wearing blue jeans, and a burgundy shirtjac. I initially wasn't planning on hunting, just checking out some of my property. I happened to have my bow with me and took it with me while I walked around. I ended up intercepting a group of does as they made their way to the river.
I crouched down in the brush along a drainage ditch and shot the fourth doe that walked past at 16 yards.
Here's what I was wearing, including the hat:
(http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad183/wclooper/IMG_0071.jpg)
Just as the previous folks posted, it is not what you are wearing but how much movement you are exhibiting. Your movement is what gets you busted next to scent (wind direction). Just my 2 cents.
Deer see differently - but they also see contrast quite well. Therefore, contrast between you and your environment is more important when it comes to concealment than the colour choice. Leaf and twig patterns probably don't make a difference, but how many truly solid colours do you see in the woods? The key is not to stand out. The closer you look to your surroundings by any metric the better.
That being said, movement and scent are key. How hard is it to see a deer in the bush when they're not moving? The other thing is cover. If you've got decent cover in front or even behind you, that can be as effective as camouflage.