Camouflage in hunting

golok

golok

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Oct 20, 2000
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I know some hunters use some kinds of camouflage when they are on hunting trips but how important is it anyway?

Of course, it is not necessary to get all dressed up like the guy above but isn't it a bit unnecessary because most animals tend to "smell" a human a mile away.

Some creatures' sensory capabilities may not be so keen like some others in the animal kingdom so may be camouflage can be useful in some situations.

But what do hunters in general think of this camouflage issue?
 
You'll hear everything from the 'guy above' to none needed. The basic idea of camo is to break up your recognizable body lines. When bow hunting we often smear a few lines of makeup across our faces and maybe stick some small branches or grass into our clothing. The makeup is used especially to hide the eyes and to disguise any large areas of exposed skin. You don't have to cover all of your skin - just break up the appearance of it.

Wear clothes to the same affect. Earth-tone plaids are wonderful. I have plaid quilted flannels that I wear a lot - one brown, one green. Again, you don't have to use camo patterns or shredded leaf textures. Just dress in colors and patterns that are going to merge with the flora around you.

There's also quite a discussion about using clothing detergents free from UV-enhancers, which supposedly make you more visible, as some animals can supposedly view UV light as a visible part of the spectrum.

Regarding smells, here's where you can get a lot of opinions. I've heard of some people who don't mask their odor at all and are very successful hunters. Others use total odor killers and odor-stopping clothes. I have tried odor-absorbing powders (they seemed to work really well) and also 'smudging'. Smudging is where you stand in the smoke of a fire to create a mask for your human scent. I've also gone out with no mask or odor-absorber. I know a man who forgoes eating meat for a month before hunting to eliminate the carnivorous odor from his sweat glands. There's also a whole discussion about detergents and making sure they are odor-free.

I'm not the most successful hunter around. I know that my camo techniques are good, but the odor thing might be what keeps me from getting my animals. That, or the fact that I'm impatient, which is not a good quality for a bow hunter.
 
Camo does have it's uses for turkey. Danged tough bird to hunt with a bow. Other than that, I agree with most everything said above. Break up your shape, Keep noise to a minimum, hunt the wind, keep movement to a minimum and if you can see their eyes, don't move a muscle or they'll bust you. Use the noise of the wind, the glaring sun and other animals noises and movement to your advantage and never look them in the eye.

Well.........camo does offer a feel of security to those who skyline themselves, or don't have the necessary skills to get past the animals defenses (takes practice). It'll also hide you from humans and in a survival situation that could come in handy. Even though I don't wear it to hunt, I always have some with me in camp or in my vehicle, just in case I need to avoid the bad guys to get to the good guys.
 
Originally posted by longbow50
camo does offer a feel of security to those who skyline themselves
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Although you must be careful to NOT skyline yourself. If you are going to be elevated (like in a tree stand, on a hilltop, etc.) be sure to have something behind you. No amount of paint or camo clothes will hide the form of a human figure outlined against the sky.

If you are on a hill or ridge top, sit down in front of a dense bush or small, full tree. If in a tree-stand, choose a tree with a thick trunk behind you or a good leafy canopy around or over you. When moving, try to walk under the crest of the ridge or approach the ridge / hilltop at a point where you will be masked by a bush as you peer over.

Paul, your comment hits me right where it needs to. I always move about, shift positions, squirm, or just get up and start walking. I have tried disciplining myself to sit for hours on end, to no avail. I guess I'm more interested in seeing what's in the forest than getting an animal, so I usually end up hiking with weapon in hand.

Regarding movement, if you are in a stalk be sure to move directly towards the animal, as a direct approach is less conspicuous than a lateral move. I usually try to look over the animal's rump while I'm stalking to avoid the sense that the animal is being watched. I'm not superstitious, but it does seem that many animals get a 'sense' when you are looking straight at them.
 
coyotlviejo, good advice. I should have, but didn't go into it. I should have said "false sense of security", because that's what it really amounts too. Thanks for filling it all in.
 
Yes, animals can smell you, and that is why you pay attention to wind direction, since odors travel with the wind. I am not an experienced hunter, as in shooting animals, but I love the outdoors and like to observe wildlife. Also, I have volunteered to assist in training search and rescue dogs, and it is possible to be amazingly close to a dog that is looking for me, and until the dog enters the "cone" of scent downwind from me, he has no idea I am on the same planet. Read some stories about elephant hunting, to get an idea of how important knowledge of wind and scent can be to a hunter.
 
Movement and smell are the biggest items. One way to cover movement is to place something between you and what you're shooting (ex. natural vegetation cut and placed in ground or tied to stand in front of you). Those "ghillie" suits may be effective for people but in my opinion would decrease your effectiveness from animals.
 
Originally posted by scotjute
...snip... Those "ghillie" suits may be effective for people but in my opinion would decrease your effectiveness from animals.
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I've worn a partial "ghillie" suit (hat, drape over vail, and had my rifle done). I've had TURKEY walk on me the day after turkey season. The only time I've gotten busted by a deer, the herd came up behind me, and I had to TURN to make my shot - they saw the movement. Of course, the lead deer was only 8-10 FEET from me at the time, so of course they saw that. The interesting thing was they deer did that "I'm not sure what I saw" stop at about 30 yards. That doe tasted good

Works for me
 
Well maybe I'm wrong. But if you go to scratch your nose your movement is bigger because of all the extra "ghillie" things.
 
Hey there from the Great State of Montana !!!

I keep it simple...Jeans of BDU trousers...several layers...LBE...weapon..knives...lunch..Survival kits

That is about it
 
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