I got to wondering after seeing lots of pictures in the Asbell contest thread of hunters wearing their gear.
I have always used wool under layers (any pattern) and a camo wool (Columbia) outer suit.
Have you ever been in a situation where not wearing camo has cost you a shot opportunity?
or:
Is it all hype.
PS - This is in regards to whitetail deer, not turkeys.
I think motion is more important that camo. I just use natural colors that match the area im hunting. Lots of light browns, greens, and grey. Dickies canvas work pants come in all those colors and protect me cactus and scrapes.
double post
Camo is not needed, just sit still. Any muted color, and natural fibes like wool work great. I was recently checking out my friend standing in the woods wearing carhartds, I could barely see him.
Some times I think you need to hide your face but not necessarily with cammo, an earth tone hanky works. I hunt mostly in my work stuff . Dickies carpenter pants and old earth tone shirts.
It depends on the game, and your set up. For birds, it is absolutely necessary. But for deer, absolutely not. As long as you have some way to conceal your movement, you can wear a Santa clause suit and still have deer come within feet of you. (Pretty sure there is a YouTube video of someone doing this exact thing.) Any sort of camo (commercial or plaids/neutral tones) that helps to not draw attention to your outline (think non glaring or uv bright materials) will better your odds of staying un-detected, but is NOT necessary for deer hunting. Asbel, or other WOOL plaids are as good as it gets for softening your outline.
go hunt!!
Nope! Movement and knowing the wind is the key.
I don't think camo makes a huge difference... I do believe that anything that breaks your outline up is more important. I remember those older dan Fitzgerald videos of him bowhuntng in jeans and black/red plaid shirts
Necessary? No. But I still wear camo because it helps MY confidence. I like camo, so I wear it. Plenty of opportunities are blown while wearing camo, just as plenty of deer are killed wearing blue jeans and a solid color blaze orange jacket. There are many variables to going undetected...camo (or concealment) is just one them.
Necessary.....??? NO!!!!!
However... In the words of Duck Commander, Jase Robertson "When you add Camo to anything... You automaticly make it Cooler" :saywhat:
(your mileage may vary)
This, in my opinion, falls into the same category of the scent elimination products and lures. Some people will swear by a certain thing because it worked for them once or numerous times.
In the end, if it makes you more confident, go for it.
Absolutely necessary for turkeys? Maybe not. This is one of several that have met their doom with me wearing non camo. I have camo, but I don't find it to be mandatory for anything, turkeys included.
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/IMG_2317_zpsqzynhqvu.jpg) (http://s886.photobucket.com/user/peastes/media/IMG_2317_zpsqzynhqvu.jpg.html)
Absolutely on the other side of fence. Yes animal can and will be killed wearing anything. But I guarantee you my camo has worked to fool a deer after they spot me numerous times. I know that when I wear my all predator kill suit or my ASAT leafy wear I get away with a lot more movement. Do you have to have it? Nope. Does it help - absolutely.
I still wear my camo pants, because they are the quietest pair I own, but I've been mounting my own rebellion against all the expensive camo and scent elimination products that everyone says are so necessary. I love my wool Asbel pullover and feel confident when wearing it that as long as I'm smart, I can remain invisible to deer. As far as scent elimination, I bath with ivory soap and store my hunting clothes with baking soda and had deer within 10 yards last week that didn't smell me. Unfortunately, I think I got a little impatient and drew the bow before his head was fully turned away, and he caught me. Would have happened if I had been wearing camo also.
QuoteOriginally posted by centaur:
Absolutely necessary for turkeys? Maybe not. This is one of several that have met their doom with me wearing non camo. I have camo, but I don't find it to be mandatory for anything, turkeys included.
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/IMG_2317_zpsqzynhqvu.jpg) (http://s886.photobucket.com/user/peastes/media/IMG_2317_zpsqzynhqvu.jpg.html)
X2
Tracy
Like stated, matching your background is key. Light clothes on light background and dark clothes with a dark background disguises your close quarters movement at the moment of truth. Light camo on a dark background is bad. Dark came on a light background is bad also. I do think the leafy wear helps breakup your outline better. But if it doesn't match the background they will spot you when moving.
I once killed a deer while it was looking at me (stand squeek). I was tucked back into a big thick cedar tree. It was deer thirty with light fading. I had on dark green solid pants and a dark camo long sleeve t-shirt. She was looking at me as I drew. She never flinched until the arrow passed through her. Was her non reaction from the camp? Absolutely not, it was because of matching the lightness of the background while moving.
It depends on the animal, its mood, whether they are hard hunted or naive.
Got busted last night, on the ground, wearing a ghillie suit that has a lot of critters under its belt. Dang doe spotted something that she just didn't like at maybe 20 yards, then walked almost right up to me, staring and head bobbing the whole way. Finally at much less than 10 yards, she decided it was enough and left, taking the other doe with.
The other doe, if alone, was fixing to get shot, but not with ol' nosey right in front of me.
I have had deer walk by while wearing blue jeans and a flannel shirt, and have had them do other weird things.
Heck, years ago I had a couple does ( mother and last years fawn I think) that caught me up in a tree, in a small copse of trees in the marsh.
Every single evening after that when I was out there I would see those two come down the trail, then split up, one going around down wind, the other SNEAKING thru the thick stuff...looking for me like it was a game. Oh did I want to shoot those two.
ChuckC
This year I have been blest with an abundance of deer. I have been in my stand with 10 or more deer in my vacinity, multiple times. Some ten yards away.
So, the numbers are there. The only time I spooked them was when in uncooperative shift in wind got me busted. This year I have really tried to take care of business by controlling everything I can.
I have placed a ladder stand about four higher than normal. Trying to hunt only when the wind is right for that stand. Using scent free soap on everything, me included.
I have been wearing camo, and first time for me some face paint. But when the temperature has really dropped I have put on my Asbell plaid green pullover. No difference noted between that and the camo.
The only thing I intentionally wear camo for is turkey's.
I do have a few garments....mainly pants. ..that I wear that have a camo pattern. But I wear them because they are great pant, not for thier pattern.
Camouflage is a concept, not a pattern
QuoteOriginally posted by Roger Norris:
The only thing I intentionally wear camo for is turkey's.
I do have a few garments....mainly pants. ..that I wear that have a camo pattern. But I wear them because they are great pant, not for thier pattern.
Camouflage is a concept, not a pattern
What Roger said! I would add that wool plaid IS camo for deer.
The longer I hunt, the less I feel camo is necessary. I used to wear it all the time, but I don't feel at all unprepared without it now.
Being still and hunting the wind are probably the best forms of camo we have.
I read of an interesting observation made in the early days, referring to the WWII Marine camo. It was found that a stationary soldier was very hard to see, but when moving it seemed to make him stand out more than the standard solid green uniform.
This past Monday I had 2 deer look right at me without noticing me. I was wearing a plaid wool pullover and solid green pants.
My opinion, camo is absolutely over rated. With that said, I still wear cotton camo bdu pants. They are cheap, comfortable and I like pockets. I buy a lot of cheap wool from the goodwill. I probably have less than hundred dollars in my entire hunting wardrobe... Besides my boots!
Motion is what gives you away, breaking up your outline whether it's with plaid, natural foliage, ground blinds, some camo pattern or any combination of the above is what will get you a shot in my opinion. Not washing EVER whatever it is you are wearing in detergents with UV brighteners is probably the most important thing of ALL, especially when talking turkey hunting!
camo? no
but being able to disguise your human shape- super advantageous!!
that why i love my leafy suit.
its lighter than a ghillie suit- can use it in the rain, cool for the summer- its not the camo pattern that makes it work- but rather that it turns you into a "blob"- thats what works- and it makes your movement more forgiving.- and movement is imperative with archery!!
i made my own out of some khaki light weight cotton- works just as well- but i dont like getting wet in it- and our hunting seasons are WET!!!
And then there's snow camo! It does indeed make a difference...
I switched years ago from following the latest, can't do without, new fangled stuff. Trips to Goodwill are like Christmas as a youngster, you never knew what you'd find. So far this summer I found 2 Filson Mackinaw Cruisers, a $340 item new. $2.50 this summer, full price.
I now wear some of the finest, softest wool clothing made for just a few bucks.
Good year wool clothing and hunting into the wind seems to do it.
I will have to try it this year. I guess if you can stand the cold in Manitoba, I should be able to stand the cold in North Dakota.
Wished I would have kept a set of winter whites from my Army days in the 172 Arctic Light Infantry Brigade. Would have worked well.
Double past.
fat fingers
ooops got away on me...
Camo is for hunters and the folks that market it. I wear it...do you need it? No. It has more to to do with the material and dyes that are used IMO.
Anything wool or mostly "wool-ish" in texture w/o pizzazz colors should have very low detection to most animals. It is the absorption of light into the fabric that seems important.
Kris
I don't think you have to use camo to fool deer..some of the time, but I'm a true believer in ASAT.
Many times I've been in a stand about 8' high with nothing between me and deer as close as 1 step from tree and not got busted.
Happened again yesterday afternoon at 6:00pm I hear two little thuds and think to myself a deer just jumped that ditch behind me. I didn't get my head turned all the way around and there was a 4pt walking straight towards me at about 10 steps.
I had trimmed a couple of big limbs when I got up and as he got directly under me he put his head down and smelled the limbs. Went on semi alert and no more than 10' between us and me wide open facing him he stares at me. Then just turns and walks away downwind. I use a Bee Smoker and smoke my clothes and it does work too..has several times this season.
Everything the same and me with no camo I think I would have gotten busted..with anything but ASAT I think I probably would have. Almost same scenario happened a couple wks ago with same ending..just walked away.
I said good by to cammo this year all I wear is a plad shirt and
Earth green pants works like a charm every time
QuoteOriginally posted by Hoyt:
I don't think you have to use camo to fool deer..some of the time, but I'm a true believer in ASAT.
Many times I've been in a stand about 8' high with nothing between me and deer as close as 1 step from tree and not got busted.
Happened again yesterday afternoon at 6:00pm I hear two little thuds and think to myself a deer just jumped that ditch behind me. I didn't get my head turned all the way around and there was a 4pt walking straight towards me at about 10 steps.
I had trimmed a couple of big limbs when I got up and as he got directly under me he put his head down and smelled the limbs. Went on semi alert and no more than 10' between us and me wide open facing him he stares at me. Then just turns and walks away downwind. I use a Bee Smoker and smoke my clothes and it does work too..has several times this season.
Everything the same and me with no camo I think I would have gotten busted..with anything but ASAT I think I probably would have. Almost same scenario happened a couple wks ago with same ending..just walked away.
I've had very similar experiences while wearing wool plaid and Cabela's wooltimate jacket and pants. Not much of a camo pattern on the wooltimate, but the wooly texture must make you about invisible to deer. I have an old black, brown, and grey wool plaid jacket that I wear most of the time until it gets cold enough to don the wooltimate. I haven't found a warmer hunting garment. I just wish they made it in bibs instead of cargo pants.
QuoteOriginally posted by 30coupe:
QuoteOriginally posted by Hoyt:
I don't think you have to use camo to fool deer..some of the time, but I'm a true believer in ASAT.
Many times I've been in a stand about 8' high with nothing between me and deer as close as 1 step from tree and not got busted.
Happened again yesterday afternoon at 6:00pm I hear two little thuds and think to myself a deer just jumped that ditch behind me. I didn't get my head turned all the way around and there was a 4pt walking straight towards me at about 10 steps.
I had trimmed a couple of big limbs when I got up and as he got directly under me he put his head down and smelled the limbs. Went on semi alert and no more than 10' between us and me wide open facing him he stares at me. Then just turns and walks away downwind. I use a Bee Smoker and smoke my clothes and it does work too..has several times this season.
Everything the same and me with no camo I think I would have gotten busted..with anything but ASAT I think I probably would have. Almost same scenario happened a couple wks ago with same ending..just walked away.
I've had very similar experiences while wearing wool plaid and Cabela's wooltimate jacket and pants. Not much of a camo pattern on the wooltimate, but the wooly texture must make you about invisible to deer. I have an old black, brown, and grey wool plaid jacket that I wear most of the time until it gets cold enough to don the wooltimate. I haven't found a warmer hunting garment. I just wish they made it in bibs instead of cargo pants. [/b]
I've also had "similar" experiences wearing solid red coat, hat, etc., but there are times when I know I should have been picked out no matter what. Those times I know I should have and didn't I've always been wearing ASAT.
I know some Tree Saddle users who hang off a bare tree that swear by it also.
I had an ASAT Field Shirt draped across a bare fence 10 ft. from my tent one yr and didn't notice it for a couple of weeks. A friend passed me by on a grassy road shoulder after a hunt..said he didn't see me.
I could be all wrong, but it's one of the few gimmicks (the pattern) or whatever that I believe works.
I switch over to Cabela's Wooltimate and Berber Fleece with Outfitters Camo during the cold months.
Just can't make myself pay what the cold weather ASAT cost.
Does it need to be commercial camo to be effective? No, not at all. But I do agree there are some basics that do in fact help.
As TJ said, pay attention to and match your background as seen from the deers perspective. In some cases you might need to blend in more with the sky than anything. In other cases, like a cedar tree, you need to be very dark and almost a solid blob. In most places that i hunt I like large open patterns with lots of contrast. Some of the Abell wools are excellent and I have a good assortment. I also agree that there is a benefit in how wool absorbs light rather than shine as some fabrics can.
As for the commercial patterns I do use them often as well. Predator and ASAT are two of the best and work well in a variety of situations. To me, in my areas, the very worst are some of the darker photo realistic patterns. They look great on a clothes rack but streams back 30 yards and they become a solid blob.
I wear a semi-ghillie suit and face paint. I wanna give myself the best chance of getting really close. I have had 2 hogs at 16 yds and a deer at 40 yds look right at me, then go on, and there was no cover between us. I still hunt mostly, and I wanna be able to stalk if necessary. I think it makes a big difference.
Deer and turkeys will get very close when I use the 'Bush in a Bag', I still find that when it is time to shoot that I need to get on with it and not slowly wave my bow around much prior to shooting.