34 replies to this topic

[asquirrelsworstenemy]

I was going through a family photo album the other day and there were a ton of photos of my grandfather duck hunting in New York during WWII. Neither him nor any of his friends, who were limited out were wearing any camouflage, but instead the typical red and black wool plaid jackets we so typically see for that time. I am always debating with camo finatics whether or not camo is really necessary as long as you wear neutral, natural colors outside of a blind, in the tules or in the brush. What are your opinions? Thanks!

[OrneryOlMofo357]

My take is... in most cases movement more than color helps animals detect you. I wear camo when I hunt, but that doesent mean that its necessary. An animals eyes are different than ours, and they see things differently. If camo makes you feel better when hunting, why not? Or, if wearing regular earth tone clothes works, why not? I have never been able to get an opinion from a dead Coyote yet.. lol Wear what you like. Good luck.

[Thumper Dunker]

I like to cover my bright pink arms and face while calling . Like Ornery said movement is what gets ya.

[modoc squeek shooter]

I agree with Grant, movement is what an animal see first. If you like camo, wear it, whatever floats your boat. I have never called a coyote, killed a lot of them though. I always wear what I happen to have on that day lol. Killed a lot of deer from 20 yds to over 300yds, never wore camo. I woulkd wear it but the damn stuff is expensive lol and it usually dosen't match your surroundings anyway. Heck a guy would have to have maybe 6 or more complete outfits lol and change in the field. This country goes from sagebrush, which is a light dull green, to timber. Ed

[Loopdog]

When your the size of a bill board (like i am) every little bit helps in my mind....but hey its crowded in there most of the time

[OrneryOlMofo357]

I agree with Grant, movement is what an animal see first. If you like camo, wear it, whatever floats your boat. I have never called a coyote, killed a lot of them though. I always wear what I happen to have on that day lol. Killed a lot of deer from 20 yds to over 300yds, never wore camo. I woulkd wear it but the damn stuff is expensive lol and it usually dosen't match your surroundings anyway. Heck a guy would have to have maybe 6 or more complete outfits lol and change in the field. This country goes from sagebrush, which is a light dull green, to timber. Ed

Ed.. in this case faded camo could be your friend. lol I mosly use coveralls. I just wear them when the time is right, and after a few hundred washings they seem to blend in pretty well. They were cheap too. But necessary? Im not sure.
Good topic!

[sxshooter]

That's funny.

I don't hunt coyotes, these days, but have bowhunted deer off and on for decades. I wear the stuff and it does work. But nothing works when you are moving.

Camo is to breakup your outline and blend your shape and color (for those prey that you hunt that can see color) into the background. Concealment is always better than the best camo, IMO.

[mtn dog]

Camo is absolutely essential for successful hunting! The more expensive, the better. JUST ASK any major retailer who sells it.

[Thumper Dunker]

Im not sure about having camo clothing but its real important to camo that rifle or bow.

[Braz]

Of all the antique rifles I have seen, I"ve never seen one that sported camo. maybe they never killed any animals in the past. and the same goes for their clothes. Never have seen any antique camo clothes. Just buckskin or more than likely red flannel.

[Thumper Dunker]

Braz I was making some fun. Theres no way i would camo a couple of my bows or rifles.

[modoc squeek shooter]

Braz you are wrong, they never started eating deer meat till mossy oak came out with their camo. The mountain mean were vegetarians lol. The plains indians made their clothes and teepees from road kill. oh wait I guees that is wrong since theree wasn't any roads. Anyway they didn't have camo, at least the better brands, so I am not sure how they got their skins. Camo, sent lock, GPS, rifle scopes, better rifles, powder and numerous other things have made gathering meat easier. Heck it wouldn't bother me to hunt with the tools my forefathers had. Ed

[dangerranger]

The Indians did wear camo in the form of animal skins. Ive seen it in some old westerns! DR

[Bisley]

I find it interesting how the other benefits of good camo are overlooked and it is always all about the color. Good camo clothes are loose and breathable, and real good ones are non-chafing. This all helps cut down on heat and muscle fatigue in a huge way (especially the loose fit in the legs), and that is worth it alone, no matter what color it is.

[Thumper Dunker]

I like just a good old loin cloth and some blue berry juice to tone down my pink body. Indians did use camo.

[TonyS]

Here's my experience with this. I wear camo but never was really sure how well it works. Then last year, out hunting with some friends, two of them went across a gorge with radios. I watched them and when out of sight looked for movement. But one of them had a hunter orange beanie on.

The guy with the beanie I could track until he took it off. The other one, even when he was moving and describing exactly where he was became invisible most of the time.

I'm wearing camo.

[dabob]

TonyS, some friends of mine use to hunt elk in Colorado every year with archery equipment or with Muzzle Loaders. When they were archery hunting they wore camo and when they hunted with Muzzle Loaders they wore orange vests. They told me that quite often the elk didn't notice them when they were wearing camo. But when they had to wear orange vests the elk saw them first way more often.

When predator hunting I have camo on from head to toe and my rifle and shotgun are also camoed. I worry about the coyotes smelling me way more than I worry about them seeing me. I need to sit in the sun quite often to keep the wind in my favor so I want to be camoed up the best as I can be since I may be sitting in the sun.

My camera is not camoed but I am holding it still.

[KNOCKED UP]

I just wouldn't feel like I was hunting,
If I wasn't wearing camo.
Actually, a deer will trust his sence of smell more
than he will his sight.
Tom

[CoyoteSubMoaSniper]

Depends what your hunting coyote or turkey its a must

[chuckocaster]

My experience has led me to believe that it's more about the "shine". Meaning, the glint off your gear, and new clothes. I'm 50/50 about the camo thing. I have plenty of pictures of Grandpa and Grandma with impressive deer or elk, while wearing 501s and red plaid shirts... I've shot plenty of animals wearing sneakers, blue Jeans, and a t shirt. And I mean with a bow, sneaking in under 40 yards to make the shot.

I know we're having a little fun here in the thread. But I think what's important is getting things flatted out. All of my bows are dull. We'd silence anything on it that made noise, like putting heat shrink tubing on the arrow holders so u couldn't hear the aluminum sliding on steel. I Pop the safety off before calling coyotes. And most importantly, move slowly and be as quiet as possible.

[KNOCKED UP]

I do agree that camo is a necessety for Coyotes and Turkeys,

But for deer, I think scent remover is more imporntant than camo.

It is also smart for Coyotes, although some shots are way to far to be scented.

Tom

[Bisley]

[quote name="KNOCKED UP" post="273380" timestamp="1357580843"]I do agree that camo is a necessety for Coyotes and Turkeys,
/quote]

I think the word necessity should probably be changed to advantageous Tom. Too many on here have taken too many (coyotes at least) without it to deem it a necessity. And if I wasn't at work, I would repost the old pic of Gerry Blair in the Santa suit for you

[Yateswell]

Oh yes, I feel like naked without camo when hunting, I camo head to toe and also camo painted my rifle, now if I still miss which happens more than I expected, I have nothing to blame but kick myself in the rear.

[modoc squeek shooter]

I think it all depends on how far off they are when you shot them. Personaly I have never shot a coyote while wearing camo, mainly cause I don't own any lol, I have killed a lot of coyotes. I think the closest one I ever shot was probably a 100 yds. Just getting in this calling thing, lol probably will have to buy some camo. Not sure it will help, but at least it will acomplish 2 things. Make the retailers more money and I will look the part

[True2ThySelf]

I haven't done any coyote hunting but on 4 occassions in the past two years I've come across them between 15-40 yards while small game hunting in a blaze orange mesh vest. With my luck, things would change once I pick up coyote hunting.

[sxshooter]

If you're shooting a fast rifle in open country, you probably don't need camo. Heck my pickup is bright red.

[Pogo]

Camo isn't required.  If I go calling a lot of times I wear a brown, faded coat.  It blends in better than any camo in this country, brown is much more common than green.  Lot of places out on the desert gray would be a better fit with sagebrush and alkali dirt. 

 

FWIW, best times to call here are when there is snow on the ground.  Not much for white camo out there.  I had a pair of white coveralls I wore once, they were faded enough to blend in fairly well.  Bright, new white doesn't match snow at all.

[Divernhunter]

I have hunted and killed deer,pronghorns,yotes etc with and without camo.
I have been able to get so close to deer that I touched them before they knew I was there with camo but not without. I have laid flat on the forest floor and had them walking all around me until I caught the eye to eye contact with a doe. Then I was in the middle of a stampeed and lucky not to get stomped by the ones that did not know where I was.
I believe it will break up your outline and that is a big help.
I also learned to wash it in soap that does not have UV brightners. The brightners will cause you to stand out more even in camo to deer.
Anything bright and shiney, like Rem 700 stocks with the plastic finish or highly polished blueing, will be more noticed by the game. More so the closer you get to the game.

I really like the old Real Tree AP Gray pattern for hunting in Ca/Nev/Wy as it tends to blend in very well in all different areas. I dislike some of the newer patterns with all the green in it.

Something to consider. When our parents, grandparents etc were hunting there was less pressure on the game. So now I try to stack the odds as much in my favor as I can. I think cammo washed in soap without UV brightners is a step in that direction.
That said I would still hunt if I do not have the camo and figure I would still kill game.

If you are road hunting then cammo is not any advantage!
Also if you are going to take 600+ yard shots then the need for camo is less.

This is my 2 cents from years of hunting and more than 100 deer kills plus other big game and small game and getting no game sometimes.

[Thumper Dunker]

Lately I just put on olive carpenter pants and a cheap camo or olive T shirt . .If its cold i have a couple of old camo sweat shirts ,old army coat. ect. A face net helps alot.

[sxshooter]

I remember a bowhunt in Utah where I got all camo'd out and sat under a big tree near a watering hole along a small creek. I had a face net like Thump mentioned.   I waited without moving for hours.  When the deer came in, I was motionless.  They came within about 10 feet of me. All were does, but it was still a thrill to fool 'em.