Thread: Camouflage?

Thanks for the replies. I think we can all agree that movement gets seen more than anything, along with this, white hands and faces flapping about is a bad thing. UV is an issue. Personally, I don't use any detergent when washing my hunting clothes. Colour spectrum of animals is different. Hunting brand clothing is often poor quality/overpriced compared to the stuff designed for tramping/mountaineering. Some of us don't like look of being dressed head-to-toe in camo. I would include myself in this. Camo - yeah/nah, different opinions, it won't make up for getting everything else wrong, but it's not going to do any harm, unless you get shot by another hunter, or alarm members of the public.

Shape, shine, shadow, silhouette and movement is Army doctrine to conceal against.
I think there may be one more 'S' but I can't remember. (May be size)
Someone else may remember...
No skin colour has an advantage in concealment.

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I think the 5th "s" is spacing - not very relevant to hunters, but important to human eyes looking for patterns where soldiers are concerned.

My take on camo is that it is first and foremost designed to catch the unwary hunter.
The South African army used nutria uniform - known to the troops as 'browns' - for the duration of the bush war. They didn't match the trees, the grass, the sand but they were a great in between shade that blended uncannily well. I was caught out on a few occasions by someone sitting really still - they blend into the scenery. No need for any fancy pattern - they can help, but are not essential.Below is a pic of one of the syndicates taking part in a 3 day forced march called 'vasbyt', as part of a military police junior leaders selection, hence the 2 officers are travelling very light - they are selectors, rather than participants.
Fun times...


My suggestions - Pay attention to what the fabric sounds like - especially when brushing against a branch or stick. Choose a neutral mid-tone colour, (olive green, khaki, and Swazi's tussock are good). Wear a similar colour / shade on top and bottom - different colours make you stand out. stay away from black - nature does not have much of it, and it stands out like a silhouette where there shouldn't be one. And care is important too! Wash them with a non-scented detergent without a brightener or whitener. Don't use softener either. Better yet, wash with washing soda and a tablespoon of vinegar only.

Make one of these and you can wear whatever you want...
https://youtu.be/G93bju1qCSI


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I always wear a wide brimmed hat to shade the moon face. I remember a mate out duckshooting just on dusk and I could see only his face peering out of the scrub and I was 80 odd metres away. Face lit up like a torch on. I had a bright orange blaze overshirt, had a deer and goat absolutely bolt when they saw it. Never worn since.

As others have said, movement especially an upright human form, is probably the worst give away. That followed by uncovered hands, face or legs especially if you’re pale skinned. I run a mix of camo and solid colours mostly olive green. Camo is mostly stuff I’ve picked up cheap 2nd hand. Also always have cap or boonie to shade face and break up out line. And for bush hunting a Light weight camo balaclava to cover me pink mug. Have had plenty very close encounters dressed in camo and just as many others in olive green. Does camo make a difference? Can’t say I’ve seen that it does, but physiologically I feel more confident wearing camo to help break up outline. Had a young 10 pt stag this roar come in to less than 10 metres from 100 or more away in open country. Two of us were crouched down behind a couple of tussock bushes that helped conceal us, both wearing olive green Stoney Creek fleece gear. We were waiting for his big daddy to appear who was roaring hard back in the bush edge. The young one knew that the tussock bush was not “normal” and curiosity got the better of him and he just kept coming to check it out. We just kept still and watched. He eventually trotted off back to the bush edge. Apparently the funny tussock bush was scarier than the big stag back in the bush.

Definitely movement is key. And as others have said, covering up face and hands is also a big one. My pasty white skin sticks out like a sore thumb. I usually hunt in lightweight windbreaker gloves anyway. I always wear a buff too- usually around my neck for a bit of sun protection, but I’ll pull it up over my face if bush stalking or if it’s freezing.

As far as camo goes, I own some camo gear but most of my gear is just plain green stuff. Have never gone out of my way to buy camo & most of my camo stuff has been bought secondhand or cos it was what colour they had of the product I wanted. My priority is getting good quality gear at an affordable price. & focussing on how I hunt rather than how I look.

The discussion about whether to use camo/rescue orange or whatever...as I understand the history, orange was originally decided on, because that was the only colour that could be seen at distance in the white of Antarctica, most others just disappeared...I find that sometimes in the late afternoon bush hunting when the sun is shining through foliage there are so many orange hues...hunting recently with my Grandson he was wearing a blue beanie and it did not matter where he went or how thick the bush was I still got good glimpses/flashes of his potae....
We will both be blue next trip....

It's interesting that goats have been mentioned a few times. I've been chasing a small mob between DOC and private land over the past few months. I know goats are generally easy to stalk, but these have been well hunted and are easily spooked. I believe goats have much better colour delineation than deer, but happy to be corrected.