So I am starting to get ready for hunting season. As a new hunter 6 years ago I bought camo everything. Now the only camo I own is what other people have bought for me and my bibs. I hunt out of a blind on a lease so camo really isn't needed.

I have seen all the hunting shows where bow hunters are literally head to toe camo. I have seen spot and stalkers in head to toe camo. Is camo really needed?

The biggest stalked deer I have personally seen were shot in hunter orange. My grandfather shot several huge mule deer wearing red plaid. I have seen numerous bow kills in hunter orange as well.

Is camo just a cash grab or do yall feel it is really needed on some hunts?

I just spend 100 bucks on a set of ASAT camo mesh and be done with it. Wear your normal clothes under that. Can practically walk up to a deer and smack it on the ass.

If I'm in a blind rifle hunting I'm wearing pants, maybe shorts and a dark shirt.

Bow hunting out of a blind I'll be head to toe in black or some sort of camo with a facemask. It's just what I've had success with

Depends on what you are hunting and how you are hunting it. Is it Necessary? Not every time, but I do believe it helps and is effective.

Deer out of a blind far away with a rifle? Not necessary
Deer out of a tree stand with a bow? probably a good idea
Spot stalking deer? probably a good idea

I dove hunt in a t-shirt and blue jeans, have had lots of success over the years. On the flip side, I get pretty camo-ed up for a duck hunt because I've seen them flare away at the slightest thing.

Just depends on your situation.

OP, keep in mind that deer are essentially colorblind but can see yellows and blues.

Avoid solid patterns and break up the outline of your silhouette

EFE said:

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Avoid solid patterns and break up the outline of your silhouette

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I agree with this, and sensitivity to smells.

I keep a separate set of ripped jeans and camo shirts, jackets, etc that I make make sure I don't use fabric softener, spill beer, etc on. I change when I go out and when I come back. Feel like I see way more deer when I don't reek of whiskey and queso

Keep this in mind, humans and our close primate relatives have BY FAR the best daylight eyesight of all mammals. We see more colors with better resolution.

Most mammals see fewer colors, with much less resolution, but they have larger fields of view and can still pick up motion. If you are still and at least somewhat broken up with your surrounds that is more than enough. Mammals are very good at hearing and smell.

That all changes if the prey is birds. They have superb eyesight, and camouflage is much more important if you are trying to ambush, versus flush.

First time i went dove hunting with my father in law which was also my first time to ever hunt anything, i couldn't figure out why the dove would change course as they got fairly close to me.

I had a white A&M hat on. After he came to check to see how i was doing, he basically took my hat and threw it in the brush. Problem solved.

Rifle hunting from a blind, camo is not needed.

When bow hunting from a tree stand smell is WAY more important than camo. A little camo can't hurt, but earthy neutral colors are fine, just make sure to stay still and cover up your face and hands.

Deer - tan pants and plaid shirt is my go to (no stand or blind, no feeders).

Ducks - Max-4 camo everywhere (bought it all about 10 years ago before the newer patterns) and face mask or paint.

Dove - Shorts and a 5$ realtree t-shirt.

Elk - I used a random combination of all of the above (minus the shorts), and did just as well as my buddy wearing $1k worth of Sitka.

I generally hunt out of a blind with jeans and a black shirt and black face mask. I usually leave the windows closed and blocked behind me. Use whatever contrasts the least in the blind. If that's black, use black. If it's a tree behind you, use a camo shirt. The only thing to keep in mind is your walk to and from the blind. I have been on several unintended spot stalks where I shot pigs, coyotes, deer, etc. walking back from the blind.

Every other type of hunting is completely different...

I had two guys come out and dove hunt in full ghillie suits, they shot three birds between the two of them. Another guy showed up about an hour after them, in a pink shirt and shorts. Ole pink shirt shot 15 in about a half hour and left, while the other two stayed until dark burning shells.

I feel like you can get away with earth toned colors for anything but bow hunting in a tree stand or duck hunting in brush. I camo up pretty good for the latter two.

Dove hunting has nothing to do with camo. After years of careful observation, the amount of birds you shoot directly correlates to the distance from the beer and/or truck. The closer to either, the higher the number of birds killed

But don't you want to be fast, light, and lethal?

Ghillie suits in September in West Texas.

Camo is cool, but I'd trade it all for cutting one of the many tags that I've used to eat tag soup.

Ask GiddingsAg what he uses and go from there.

Oooooh shots fired..

MrWonderful said:

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I just spend 100 bucks on a set of ASAT camo mesh and be done with it. Wear your normal clothes under that. Can practically walk up to a deer and smack it on the ass.

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A hundred bucks for mesh? Nah

I wear camo so the owners of the land don't know I'm poaching

I'd say turkey, ducks, predators and deer/elk from the ground are the most essential for camo. Blind hunting for anything, dark is better. In any situation all you're really trying to do is breakup your outline and not make your movements any more noticeable than they have to be.

Red plaid.

OP - see the above posts about deer being color blind.
Most mammals (not including primates/humans) have a very limited color perception. That's why it's fine to wear blaze orange while hunting. Deer and elk rely more on distinguishing the outline of an object to determine if it's a predator. So in a place like East Texas you don't really need much camo.

Where I hunt in nevada the camo pattern doesn't matter but I use a 3D shirt just to break up my form since there are so few trees behind me.

Birds on the other hand have to spot prey and predators from long distances. So they have developed keen eyesight and can actually see a much wider color spectrum than people. Camo is highly important to blend into your environment.

As for the tv shows? They are entertaining but most of what they wear is paid product placement.

I rifle hunt from an open stand tucked into some trees. This suit is great for warm weather since it's mesh and roomy enough to layer underneath in cold weather. And it's economical at just $80

North Mountain Gear Ghillie Suit - Camo Hunting Suit - 3D Leafy Suit - Camouflage Hunting Suit w/Hooded Camo Jacket & Pants - Full Front Zipper, Zippered Pockets - Breathable, Quiet - Green - XL https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M8N3RMX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nX0jDbAQ557X2

Just buy a HECS suit and you'll be able to tickle the deer on the nose

Pretty critical for goose hunting in an open field

FIDO 96 said:

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Ask GiddingsAg what he uses and go from there.

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