Camo observation

Status
Not open for further replies.

FL-NC

Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2016
Messages
8,703
Location
Fl panhandle
Really, more like "lack of observation". Earlier in the week I was hunting Osceola turkeys here in Fl with some friends. My go-to camo for this task for some years has been the crye multicam pattern, due to its efficiency I knew from my days on active duty, as well as the fact that I have plenty of it and it's free. Depending on the level of concealment of the natural vegetation where I set up, I may wear a net ghilly type suit over the top. While I don't claim to be an expert on anything, as a former sniper instructor, I consider myself reasonably familiar on the subject of camo and concealment. One of my fellow hunters was wearing the USMC issue woodland digital pattern, with no ghilly,- just a head covering. I had never dealt with the USMC pattern in the woods, since I was in the army and never used it. Well, we were just a few feet from each other in some shaded palmettos- and he disappeared. I mean, I really had to look for him from less than 10' away. So, before you invest large amounts of $ at bass pro or some other store for the latest most expensive camo- it may be worth it to look for some of this stuff at a surplus store. That is where I'm heading in a few!
marpat.jpg
 
Depending on the level of concealment of the natural vegetation where I set up, I may wear a net ghilly type suit over the top. While I don't claim to be an expert on anything, as a former sniper instructor, I consider myself reasonably familiar on the subject of camo and concealment.

Just remember, the digital pattern used by the USMC and the ghillie suit, first used by Highland game managers (ghillies) and later adopted for snipers..., is designed to fool human eye sight. Your game animal may have a different spectrum and acuity than a human. Long before we had such stuff, dull colored clothing, wind direction sensitivity, and lack of motion, was bagging turkeys at 25 yards with flintlock, cylinder bore shotguns. ;) You were a sniper instructor, you know about how scout-snipers and their spotters are taught to move when in the bush. :D

For example, human cammo tends to suck when up against something from the Canine family, which is why more than 250 years ago a British general wanted to introduce "war dogs" for British forces up against the French & Indians in the French and Indian War in North America, and why wolves and coyotes even today tend to be taken by rifles at a distance beyond shotgun range. :thumbup:

LD
 
Dave, well said! It's hard for me to stay away from the "pretty camo" and find out what works in the woods.
 
I agree with all of the above comments, but —
Even if camo isn't as good as we humans think it is, when I can buy it at the second-hand or surplus shop for about $5/item or less, it's hard to pass it by.
Most of my hunting is for feral hogs at night, so honestly just about anything fairly dark would work. However, wife doesn't get too upset when I come home with blood on my camo so there's that …
 
Before WA State went to hunter orange for deer hunting I wore Army camo coveralls. I frequently moved within 20 yds of other hunters and they'd not know I was there. My daughter, also a hunter, often said I'd step 10 ft into the timber and disappear.
 
I have always found lack of movement to be more effective at staying “hidden” than camouflage, when it comes to animals.

As far as that goes, some animals have natural camouflage, that makes them hard to pick out, even when glassing for them. If they move just a bit, they are busted though.
 
I'm a trad bow hunter and I don't use camo unless it's incidental. So, my ruck and camel back happen to be camo. Drab solid colors usually. I wear Coyote and Battle Brown 5.11 pants for nearly everything unless I'm wearing black Carhartts up north when I hunt there.

I know I am not the most experienced but in my view I don't do too bad at hunting. If I move the deer see me. If I'm hog hunting, then I play the wind and really don't worry about movement. I can pretty much just walk fit up to handgun range in the woods on hogs. Then I'm wearing an orange vest and hat. That camo has worked pretty well.
 
I really like milsurp camo simply because the durability to cost ratio is very high. My hunting experience is next to nothing but years of paintball have taught me movement is more important than colors/patterns when it comes to not being seen. That is against other people and I just hope that holds over to other animals, could be why my hunting luck is so bad...
 
I goin found plaid works well enough for me if I keep movement down.
I like BDUs because they are durable.
 
I found some of the Air Force digital camo at Goodwill. While I had it hanging outside to air out I noticed that it resembled the old tiger stripe from a distance and in the shade of the trees. Might give it a try this Spring for turkey season.
 
I found some of the Air Force digital camo at Goodwill. While I had it hanging outside to air out I noticed that it resembled the old tiger stripe from a distance and in the shade of the trees. Might give it a try this Spring for turkey season.

Good find - the AF tiger camo is nice.

If you wash/rinse'em w/ a cup on white vinegar - it'll really get the funk out of'em.




GR
 
If you get the right Propper camo items and treat them correctly you will cover near-IR through UV as well as the human spectrum. Not all Propper camo items cover this, from what I'm told it has to do with the manufacturing process.

Back in the day (2013) these were sold as Propper Nyco Multicam Trousers and Coat in addition to the Propper Nyco Universal Boonie Sun Hat

I have tried to order similar items through camo manufacturers and they would not sell them to me ... military only. They are the ones that described the manufacturing process to me.
 
Last edited:
If you get the right Propper camo items and treat them correctly you will cover near-IR through UV as well as the human spectrum. Not all Propper camo items cover this, from what I'm told it has to do with the manufacturing process.

Back in the day (2013) these were sold as Propper Nyco Multicam Trousers and Coat in addition to the Propper Nyco Universal Boonie Sun Hat

And be sure to use a non-"Optical Brightener" laundry detergent.




GR

 
In the past I did a lot of archery hunting for both deer and turkey and I learned a lot about animals. When it comes to movement turkeys are exactly opposite from deer. If a hunter is wearing full camo and a deer is walking the hunter can move slowly and get away with a slow movement. When a deer is stopped it's good to stay still. A turkey will pick up on a slow movement almost instantly so if you want to move around a turkey it's best to just move and get it over with. I think it's because turkeys are used to being sneaked up on by animals like coyotes and bobcats.
 
The old military woodland was a good "PATTERN",but the color was wrong for most of the places where I hunt. The dark green and black would work just fine in the very early archery deer seasons. But by the time the leaves fell off the trees that color stood out against the brown and gray woods of late fall and winter. I like the Marine green and brown well enough. But I think the military finally got it right with the new Multi-cam they are using. It is a very similar pattern to the old woodland, but with colors that match a greater variety of terrain.
 
The old military woodland was a good "PATTERN",but the color was wrong for most of the places where I hunt. The dark green and black would work just fine in the very early archery deer seasons. But by the time the leaves fell off the trees that color stood out against the brown and gray woods of late fall and winter. I like the Marine green and brown well enough. But I think the military finally got it right with the new Multi-cam they are using. It is a very similar pattern to the old woodland, but with colors that match a greater variety of terrain.

Pointy-heads a lot smarter than me say that Ungulates have relatively poor eyesight, and see in the near IR, higher in the blue range - like Mr. Magoo w/ blue glasses.

So - silhouettes, including your rifle, blue patterns, and motion seem to be where the work is.

You can also bleach/dye 100% cotton BDU's to fit your hunting fields/Seasons.

Usually wait for a sale on Propper brand at TacticalGear.com, as Large/Tall is hard to find Surplus these days.

They also have Khaki/Olive/Tri-color you can use as a base - and then use Ritz-dye and a sponge, followed by a wash and warm dry, for the colors you want.




GR
 
Last edited:
And be sure to use a non-"Optical Brightener" laundry detergent

IF you can find it? Or you may be ordering it.

I've done well by dissolving a grated bar of plain lye soap into hot water in the washing machine, allowing that to come to room temp, then washing the clothes in that. One of the problems folks have is the local jurisdiction level of chlorine will mess with cammo. Heat tends to mess with chlorine, BUT since the temp kills off the bacteria it's not a problem with drinking water, so if you have high chlorine levels, and wash hunting clothes where you paid for the IR and UV blockers...you may be defeating yourself.

I use four tactics when going after deer.. First, dull colors, and in fact I've dyed many hunting garments with walnut hull brown dye, or grey dye, including iron oxide. (You rust up a piece of 4-0 steel wool, then pour in the rusty water). This gives a very dull color....and I cover my face with a cloth with a similar dull color.
Second, since I don't do tree stands, I get in next to a large tree trunk, to break up my outline with that of the tree.
Third, when I first get into place I dig down through the very top layer of leaves and twigs, to a little damp earth. This gives off a loam scent and more importantly makes it a lot easier for me to avoid stepping on a dry twig as I adjust my feet during the day.
Fourth, I try to move very slowly when I move at all.

But if you must have one, Costco sells Ghillie Suits
COSTCO Ghille.jpg

LD
 
Once the leaves fall I love ABU camo pattern for still and treestand hunting.

But as long as the camo pattern isn’t dark, just about anything will work. Movement, or lack there of, is much more important than camo.
 
I have always found lack of movement to be more effective at staying “hidden” than camouflage, when it comes to animals.
Movement always comes up when camo is discussed. It's true that camo won't help much if you move, but it won't help much if you bang pots together or burn incense either.

It will make you harder to see than ordinary clothing if you don't move.
 
The best camo I ever owned was my very first - good ole Treebark. The original, not some of the newer patterns. I walked up on a lot of animals and a few humans using that. I don't think the original pattern is made anymore.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top