UV Killer?

Iowabowhunter · April 10, 2012, 12:17:00 AM

My wife and I are on an extremely tight budget, I was looking on the ASAT website this afternoon, and saw that they have paintball camo that is less than half the price of their regular camo. Would you guys think that if I purchased some UV Killer and sprayed the garments down with that it would be effective? After all, I am hunting whitetail deer, not aliens lol

Zradix · April 10, 2012, 12:58:00 AM

The concept of deer eyes picking up the blue light that is given off by UV brighteners is true.

....It's not UV light that is the problem..it's the fact that UV brighteners in the fabric fluoresce a blue light when UV light hits it.

That blue light combines with the off white (yellow) light that is seen when looking at most white fabrics. These two colors combined make the "white" fabric appear whiter.

By blocking the UV light you keep the brighteners from fluorescing the blue light that deer easily see.

...all that said,,I have not been impressed with the UV killer product at all.
I've applied it to quite a few fabrics and checked it with UV lights after.

The stuff basically doesn't work.

Zradix · April 10, 2012, 01:26:00 AM

If you're looking at the leafy stuff....

I have some OLD leafy stuff, not asat, but same type of material.

UV killer did NOT work on that.

Iowabowhunter · April 10, 2012, 08:40:00 AM

Well that's a bummer! Thought I might be able to save a little bit!

April 10, 2012, 08:43:00 AM

I thought the same way you are thinking, bought several pairs of the paintball pants and sprayed them. They now have a really funny smell that lots of washing and hanging outside has failed to remove. Then I noticed that some of the scent Control dryer sheets say they destroy UV-- wish I'd done that instead, maybe it will work for you.

lpcjon2 · April 10, 2012, 10:26:00 AM

I may be on a different view. They didnt have UV concerns back in the day, wash your clothes in Borax and other natural(scent,UV and Dye free) detergents and wear the stuff. Use cover and concealment and just hunt.JMHO

Zradix · April 10, 2012, 10:41:00 AM

You're right.
They didn't have to worry about it not so many years ago.

Only in recent years have permanent UV brighteners been added directly into the fabrics...especially synthetics.

Iowabowhunter · April 10, 2012, 03:23:00 PM

Has there been studies that prove that deer can see uv light?

Zradix · April 10, 2012, 03:27:00 PM

YES.

But....uv brighteners don't give off or reflect UV light.
They absorb UV and fluoresce ( spit back out ) blue light.

It's that blue light that deer eyes REALLY see well ...and what makes our yellowish white material look white-white.

Rob W. · April 10, 2012, 05:06:00 PM

I have never bought any piece of hunting clothing that had anything special done to the fabric. I do wash with sport wash that doesn't have brighteners but thats just becuase I don't want to smell like flowers or whatever my wife buys.

Rob

Zradix · April 10, 2012, 05:21:00 PM

you're a lucky man Rob.

I haven't been nearly so lucky.
That's what brought me to look in to this subject.

Found things out like...
The factories that actually make the material used for clothing have no real idea what the final use of their material will actually be.

Most clothing material is used for non-hunting clothes.

So,.. most clothing material ( over 90% I've read) is made with UV brighteners...because it looks better to us. and that is what clothing companies want to use.

After the white "blank: material is made then they color it to whatever color is ordered..red, blue yellow..CAMO.

So there you are with material that has UV brighteners right in it with some camo colors dyed on it.

NON-UV brightened fabric is actually special run stuff anymore I understand.

K.S.TRAPPER · April 10, 2012, 05:41:00 PM

We don't care about UV stuff and were what ever we want and kill B/C and P/Y bucks year after year with are bows Don't even need camo to do it either. We spend are money scouting and finding deer rather then spending on
gimics on some hunting show. Just hunt guys and quit worrying about the little things hunting is expensive enough without all the crap they say you need or you can't kill a deer.

Tracy

Rob W. · April 10, 2012, 05:50:00 PM

I think it would be interesting to see what perentage of clothing companys offer special non UV clothing and what percentage of successful hunters use it.

Rob

swampthing · April 10, 2012, 05:58:00 PM

It is a temp. fix. Will cost you less just to go on down to a Goodwill Store and get some light wool garments.

Zradix · April 10, 2012, 07:09:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by swampthing:
It is a temp. fix. Will cost you less just to go on down to a Goodwill Store and get some light wool garments.

agreed!

Craig · April 10, 2012, 07:42:00 PM

I use UV Killer. I swear by it. I wore a shirt with out UV and the deer looked right up at me. When I wear clothes that were sprayed with UV Killers they never look up. I guess we have smarter deer in Pa then in Kansas. The deer I hunt are in residential areas. Maybe this makes a difference. Smarter deer. LOL

Iowabowhunter · April 11, 2012, 12:52:00 PM

If I was going to be putting a leafy suit (no uv brighteners) over the warmer insulated bib and bomber jacket, would that eliminate the need for the more expensive base layers?

lpcjon2 · April 11, 2012, 12:58:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Iowabowhunter:
If I was going to be putting a leafy suit (no uv brighteners) over the warmer insulated bib and bomber jacket, would that eliminate the need for the more expensive base layers?

Yes.

Bent Rig · April 11, 2012, 07:25:00 PM

... I have a whole house water softener and by washing my hunting garments in completely soft water it eliminates all UV brighteners .

MISSINGINOHIO · April 12, 2012, 07:41:00 PM

I dont wear anything in the woods without using uv killer , swear by it.