How Effective Is Your Camouflage?

[Swede]

There seems to be an endless variety of camo. patterns to choose from and when you mix and switch things around, the number just explodes. So what did you use and how good is it? What helps a camo. pattern to be right for the environment?
I was wearing a white cotton tee shirt and blue jeans this past season when I got my elk. What made it so good was 25 feet of tree stand height over a nearby water hole. Another factor was that I was partially hidden by branches on my tree, and being in a clump of trees that surrounded my stand.

[redtop]

I shot a lot of elk back in the day wearing a plaid wool shirt and blue jeans. I think that plaid wool patterns are the original "camo".
Probably the best reason to wear all the new patterns is it makes YOU believe that you are invisible which makes you hunt better, i.e. More aggressive.
I like to feel invisible too so I like patterns with contrasting light and dark bold colors. Kuiu stuff and the old predator. Sitka optifade really does seem to perplex mule deer but I haven't seen it work as well with elk. Don't know whats up with that though....

[ElkNut1]

I'm with you guys! Camo is cool & I enjoy wearing it for sure during the hunt! I look more for good fabric that can help with the elements such as wind & rain. All in all I've hunted in wool lots of days even in Sept. Use what works for you!

ElkNut1

[Swede]

For sure camouflage takes on little or no importance when we are out of sight of the elk. Their eyes are easily tricked. Plaid is actually very good camo. I don't like solid colors, but they are fine in places. Like Paul, I have my hunting clothes. They are camo, and they are tailored a little so they are not baggy, especially in the sleeves. I often wear a vest when it is getting cold. I haven't used an arm guard for years now. With a short draw length bow, I very rarely get a nock rash. When I do it is a reminder to watch my form.
While we discuss camo a little, I have another question. Have any of you used the Hecs suit? What do you think of it?

[husky390]

A Mule deer doe almost ran me over when I was standing next to a large aspen tree in a solid blaze orange hoodie hat, and camo pants. She stopped 10' away and just stared at me for about 30 seconds then just kept walking. Had a spike bull come running towards me and I stopped him 20 yards away with a cow call. I was sitting on a chair with a large log at my back and the dead foliage was about shoulder height, he never saw me. I kinda felt like an idiot spending big money on camo since it's been my experience that movement will bust you everytime. With that said, I like Kryptek Highlander, their gear is good, pattern is cool looking but honestly I don't think it really matters.

[wapitibowman]

I love watching guys wearing the high end Sitka stuff, standing on a ridge! Camo doesn't do any good when you are sky-lined!!!

I don't like other hunters to see me, camo works fairly well on us dumb humans! I personally like predator, mountain mahogany pattern, and I think the kryptek stuff looks cool, but don't own any

Wapitibowman

[llewokj]

If elk are in the trees and aren't moving, they can be really hard to spot. No camo, just tan and brown. It'd be cheaper for us to do that to.

[ElkNut1]

swede, I have a Hec's suit that the owner Mike sent me to try out several years back, I've worn the shirt a few times because I like it but I really have little faith in its claimed abilities.

Movement spooks elk! Camo or any breakup type clothing can possibly give you a slight edge of concealment but don't think you're invisible with either, you're not! (grin)

ElkNut1

[saddlesore]

Although a rifle or ML hunter, I only wear some camo because that is what a lot of otter wear clothing comes in. I still wear mostly blue jeans and whatever shirt is on top of the stack. Muzzle Loader season, I usually have BDU"s on as I need the cargo pockets for all that muzzle loader stuff. Keep still and it doesn't matter what you wear. I d think it pays to cover up you face and hands .I have a beard so that takes care of that, but I wear light gloves of some sort .

This year, I killed my 49th elk. From 10 feet to 400 yards and everything in between. None of them seemed to care what I was wearing. Camo clothing is about a big a scam as all these tire shops trying to tell you that nitrogen is needed in your tires. Or that you need some special bullet to kill big game with because some other kind will just bounce off.

[wawhitey]

I wear camo, it makes me feel more confident that i can become "invisible" by holding perfectly still if im in the right spot. Ive had elk, deer and bear close enough to spit on, looking right at me without seeing me. That being said, the specific camo pattern is not important to me at all, i just want something to break up my outline so im not a man shaped blob. When im buying hunting clothes i worry about material, construction, warmth, silence, and comfort. I like plenty of good pockets, hate velcro. Zippers are okay, velcro is not acceptable, snap buttons are no good, ideally i want all pockets to have big buttons that go through little holes (eyelets?) As they make no noise. If the buttons are small no biggie, just swap them with big ones that are easy to use with gloves on. Id say camo works, but specific pattern is the least of my concerns. Oh and bibs are hands down the most comfortable thing to wear hunting. Especially if you like carrying a gun on your hip, which i always do.

[powderhogg01]

I have sitka optifade open country pants, and a cheap sun bleached shirt. While I have yet to arrow an elk, my encounters were never busted by being seen as much as being winded or simply not trusted. I agree with th rest, the pattern is for the person, its the materials and fit that I most look at. The sitka mountain pants were awesome this season, and held up better then anything else.

[Magic]

It's about marketing. Companies can not sell much camo to those of us that don't need any more without changing patterns and conveniencing us that "new" is better.

[llewokj]

It's about marketing. Companies can not sell much camo to those of us that don't need any more without changing patterns and conveniencing us that "new" is better.

Fred Bear wore red plaid wool. He did "ok".

[Lefty]

While everything I hunt in (outerwear ) is camo, I left the desert country camos to high timber. As already posted my favorite Camo as a kid was a yellow and plaid flannel shirt for squirrel hunting.
I believe camo dose help break up out outline, again as already stated movement is the problem.
I ve called a lot of game; mink, fox, raccoon, coyotes and have had big game; whitetail, mulies, blacktails and elk under arms length while in the open, just staying still.
I do prefer to blend a bit with the background. Darker colors while hunting in the timber etc. Lighter colors in the grass, cat-tails and much of the desert.

[elkstalker]

I agree with most posts here, I'm a cheapskate, so I hunt in old army fatigues that were given to me, unless it is cold or really wet, then I have waterproof pants, or wool pants, although I rarely need the wool now (I used them almost exclusively when I lived in MT). I agree the most important aspect is movement, I have had deer and elk come within 10 yards when I was in the open, and didn't spook because I was motionless. All of my coats are camo, but not extremely expensive.

[CurlyTail]

I think modern camouflage is highly effective - as long as you are motionless. This season, I was calling for my brother and he was 50-70 yards in front of me as we were stalking closer to the elk. I would trail along behind just keeping him in sight, and calling just enough so we could tell where the herd was. I was amazed how often that I could not see him in his camouflage even when he was clearly in the open and unobstructed. The second he would move, I would spot him easily. I got so I was looking for his bright colored fletching instead of a human form because his camo was so effective.

I have always favored Mossy Oak Break-up pattern, but somehow this year I have taken a hankering to the Sitka Optifade pattern - someone talk me out of it please!!!