Camo Pattern

[Deafirishman]

In your opinion, what is the best camo pattern for hunting southeast Idaho during archery season ? I know Sitka and Predator Camo are top of the line but I really don't want to break the bank on buying camo clothing. I just can't justify the need to spend a lot of money on camo clothing. Any input you have is greatly appreciated.

[ElkNut1]

Aaron, I know you've probably heard this before but your camo is not really that important, choose an affordable camo that you're comfortable with & doesn't break the bank. I use the same camo (mothwing) for all hunts no matter the terrain hunted. Elk do not see through human eyes! I've taken several bulls at what I consider point blank range in the wide open that had a difficult time distinguishing whether I was a threat or not. Just don't move a muscle once spotted & they will generally calm down & forget about you as long as you have the wind in your favor. --- I get all our camo on camofire.com it's the Core 4 Element gear!

ElkNut1

[Deafirishman]

Thank you Paul, I really appreciate your input. I must also say that this site is by far the best website for gathering information for elk hunting. I Iearn more and more every day I get on here...THANK YOU !!

[BuckyHunter13]

Camofire, Sierratradingpost.com (You can always get an extra 30-40% off coupon if you find anything you want) - if you're a government employee of any kind - law enforcement, local, state, federal, teachers - you can get 40% off Sitka. Sign up at leoadventures.com ($20 annual membership) that gives you 40% off sitka and similar discounts for other brands. Sitka is by far the best deal, most of the other brands you can find similarly priced on Sierra Trading Post.

Echoing what Paul said, the camo can't be that important or guys wouldn't shoot deer while wearing flannel. What's most important for me is that the clothes are comfortable in as many conditions as possible, which typically means they're of a higher quality. Most of the more 'technical' brands are decent quality. Sitka is great, but I couldn't afford/justify it if I wasn't getting that 40% off.

[Swede]

I agree with Paul and others here, but some camo patterns just look like a dark blob from a distance. I prefer camo that has light and dark areas in a fairly large patches. The best camo is just being still when elk are looking your way.

[Lefty]

In your opinion, what is the best camo pattern for hunting southeast Idaho during archery season ?.

sort of what Paul said.
I spend a lot of time in the mountains here in SE Idaho, But like most areas everything changes; if your trying to "match " where you are hunting. Maybe your in older balsam fir, then in a quakie patch, and end up skirting in sage tall grass along a laural mixed with douglas fir.

September seasons I hunt the desert, so much of my camo is lighter colored and sage Ive mentioned this a few times I own Cabelas Predator Quest/Open Country and Kings Desert Shadow Late season I use the same camo in the timber and open basins and ridges.
Motion is more of the problem than the camo being used

More of an opinion: stay away from Eastern patterns Mossyoak, Real Tree,... hmmm Im wearing Real tree right now,.. its been washed so many times the dark green is almost a light yellow green

Where are you planning on hunting in SE Idaho feel free to PM me.

[Lefty]

Cabelas has this on sale http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clothing/Mens-Hunting-Clothing/Mens-Lightweight-Camo-Clothing/Mens-Lightweight-Camo-Jackets|/pc/104797080/c/104748480/sc/104431680/i/104044680/Cabelas-Outfitters-Micro-Berber-Hooded-Jacket/1347900.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fmens-lightweight-camo-jackets%2F_%2FN-1100947%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104044680%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMM%253Bcat104431680&WTz_l=SBC%3BMM%3Bcat104431680%3Bcat104044680 I would get this in brown if I needed more camo

I see your from Mn if your a waterfowler I use my Drake waterfowl camo early and later seasons ,

[Birks]

I don't know how true it is, but i once read that elk see in a color spectrum different from ours. It's not quite Black and white, but more in how light reflects off stuff. a lot of detergents have color brighteners in them, and that's the opposite of what you want. The color or pattern of your Camo shouldn't really matter, as long as your outline is hidden by standing infront of a bush, and don't move. I have different camo depending on the weather really.

[elkmtngear]

Any human wearing camo is a human shaped camo blob. The trick is to break up the human outline...that's why I totally mismatch top and bottom, I think it helps break things up a little.

As others have stated...avoiding motion is much more important than camo

[Csrbowhunter]

When I hunt out west I use asat camo and realtree xtra, just anything brown.I know one time I had some hunting buddies making fun of my asat then later in the week I was standing on one ridge and they were on a ridge across from me. I could see them in their mossy oak breakup they looked like black blobs. We were two waying each other on some radios and they couldn't see me at all. They didn't rag on my camo anymore after that. But like most have said elk have really poor eyesight so just about any camo will work on them.
Now on mule deer I've seen asat work really well also! My buddy and I were doing a setup for elk and my buddy stood in one spot and I walked about 80yards in front of him. When I got to my spot I looked to my left and there stood a huge mulie buck that I just walked bye. The deer was just staring at my buddy and never looked at me and I had just walked bye him and was standing less then 20yds from him. My buddy was in mossy oak breakup. Needless to say he didn't where that anymore.

[ElkNut1]

I mention camo as being a non issue of pattern used because of many years of experience in the elk woods. Many times there are 2-3-4 of us together & none of us are wearing the same stuff. Even my son & I do not wear the same patterns & never have. We've put a lot of elk down over the years in all sort of terrain conditions from open country to thick heavy timber. I'd be more concerned in the fabric quality that helped in moisture resistance & quietness as well as toughness to the material. Camo is cool, so go with what looks good to your eye. Elk do not run from specific colors, it's a threatening move no matter the color that can cause alarm. Deer are a different story!

ElkNut1

[Accipiter]

I use Basspro 3D Evolution in Realtree Max-1when I hunted in eastern Idaho last year and it worked great. The bull came within 40 yards and after the shot died within 20 yards of where I was kneeling. Also use the same outerwear while hunting coyotes with similar success.