To Camo or not to Camo

[Hogpatrol]

I never determined the type of detergent my hunting venues used but I suspect it's not the right stuff.


https://www.thespruce.com/laundry-tips-for-hunters-2146416

 

[Mike Van Horn]

The human silhouette doesnt matter so much honestly in my experience..

In the US many hunters tend to hunt by "ambush".. whether sitting in a blind, or a stand, etc.. or will even just sit by a tree and wait for an animal to come to them.. wind, scent, etc.. play a role.. but many hunters I know really only pay attention to being able to "hide" properly....

Africa is a bit different..

Yes.. there are bow blinds.. and I have set up in hides of one type or another at different times for different reasons..

But for the most part in Africa, you hunt the wind and the sun.. (keep the wind in your face and the sun on your back)..

As others have stated... you can get away with just about any color you want to wear.. in any pattern you want to wear it in... I would imagine you could wear a neon green kilt, a bright red shirt, and a pair of pink ballet slippers if you like.. and be just as successful as a guy in tan/green.. or the latest and greatest camo.. as long as you can stay quiet, keep the sun to your rear, and the wind in your face..

Hunting in Africa involves a lot of spotting and stalking..

If you can keep the animal from getting your scent.. and from being able to easily see your movement (sun to your back).. and from hearing you (dont cuss loudly when you catch a leg full of thorns like I often do..)... you'll connect..

I would have to agree with you with hunting in Africa and the human silhouette. Just watched a video where the person filming was the fourth person in the group. The game was in the open and the group of people had one bush with no leaves between them and the game. All were moving around at the same time at close range and nothing spooked
Having hunted whitetail in the Midwest and elk, mule deer, Antelope out west on public ground. You would not get a way with that even at long range much less at close range.
The amount of hunting pressure may have a great deal to do with it
As you also said noise and scent are things you have to pay attention to

 

[Red Leg]

ivw,
a good marketing spin.
it has been known for some time that animals eyes are more receptive to the blue end of the spectrum. and less to the red end.
humans are the opposite.
the big joke was on the people that try to stop hunting when they succeeded in having blaze orange made mandarory in usa.
they thought animals would see it coming, but they tend not to.
blaze blue would have been better to save animals' lives.
on a different note, how often do we see a video of some client fully camo'd up sneaking along with a p.h. in blue shorts, a camera crew, the wife, a friend, and all the others making noise and moving at will.
even if the camo worked, it is wasted then.
bruce.

I am honestly curious about your sources with regard to blue spectrum. The camo studies I have seen found blue as effective as any of the earth tones. I personally don't have much use for camouflage hunting anything but turkeys and waterfowl, but I have been around a number of scouts and trackers wearing blue - in three cases blue camo field jackets - twice in Namibia and once in the RSA. And I have worn blue jeans a lot while hunting whitetail. I can think of no instance in nearly sixty years in the field where I though the color of what I was wearing ever frightened a big game animal. Ducks and geese - absolutely. Ungulates - not so much.

 

[Red Leg]

Now that I think about it..

there are actually SA brands of camo clothing that are sold and are popular among hunters there..

Sniper Gear is the one that first comes to mind...

https://sniperafricaonline.com/

My PH in the Limpopo was wearing a camo parka on cold mornings (maybe Canadian military issue). He was more "properly" attired as the day warmed up.

 

[jeff]

Two points:

One, the military after WWII did many camo tests and found that one of the best camos was "Olive drab, soiled". In my area of the USA poor hunters would get old BDUs in olive drab and spray paint "soiling" across them and use them for hunting quite effectively. So those African trackers do know a thing or two.

Two, Camo clothing is illegal in South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Tanzania. Not only is it non-traditional, doesn't match, and clearly shouts "we're stupid Americans, please play us", but you also run the risk of being killed. Two years ago a father and son were doing anti-poaching in Zimbabwe (Italians) and were wearing camo when they were shot dead by Parks Service. I've been on a safari before where my Park Ranger was shooting his AK-47 at poachers wearing camo right over my shoulder. Lastly, you're expressing imagery: In Africa, camo represents insurrection and military rebellion. It represents imposters claiming to be police or military to harass and assault people. It represents overthrowing current systems of government with violent force.

If I stumble upon you in camouflage in a dangerous game area I won't shoot you, but the Ranger will.

Your tombstone can read: "American. Had to do it his way. Died in the name of Mossy Oak."

Camo is popular in SA and you can buy patterns there that match much of the bushveld, I've had several PHs that wore SA branded camo! It's readily purchased in SA.

 

[Wheels]

There is a decent chance that more free range African animals have been shot by individual's wearing plaid than camo, over the last 100 years.

Not that I am a proponent of wearing plaid. Just not a big fan of camo. Camo in Africa seems to be a trend since the 90's. Really more like the 2000's.

Camo also seems to be more of a Southern Africa thing. Possibly starting in conjunction with cable TV hunting/ marketing in America and game farms in RSA.

 

[johnnyblues]

Camo or not to camo that is the question. Lol.. Not necessary

 

[bruce moulds]

I am honestly curious about your sources with regard to blue spectrum. The camo studies I have seen found blue as effective as any of the earth tones. I personally don't have much use for camouflage hunting anything but turkeys and waterfowl, but I have been around a number of scouts and trackers wearing blue - in three cases blue camo field jackets - twice in Namibia and once in the RSA. And I have worn blue jeans a lot while hunting whitetail. I can think of no instance in nearly sixty years in the field where I though the color of what I was wearing ever frightened a big game animal. Ducks and geese - absolutely. Ungulates - not so much.

I am an old man, and this is the first I have ever seen recommending blue for hunting.
can't remember sources, as no point, but consistent from many years.
what I have noticed of latter years is marketing campaigns presenting as being an authority on the subject, when they in fact do not fully understand the issue.
they do not actually care about reality, but rather selling a product for money.
cynicism is the only defence to such things, particularly when people start to believe them.
ultimately the best way to break up your outline is to be next to or in front of a rock or bush, and preferably in the shade, keeping still.
when you see a guy standing on a ridge or rock glassing, you know that he is advertising his presence with a neon sign.
hunting into the wind negates any form of hiding.
I would absolutely hate to be a safari tracker from what I have seen on videos.
the trackers mostly can really hunt, and they are trying to get a guy who seems to know nothing into a position. how stressful for them.
bruce.

 

[Philip Glass]

In anticipation of my third annual Safari to South Africa with Sun Africa Safaris in Pearston, Eastern Cape, I have been watching a lot of YouTube videos in an attempt to become a better Hunter and a better Client as well shooting, shooting and shooting and reading every recent and classic book I can find on hunting in Africa. All the written documentation stresses the keen eyesight, exceptional hearing and extrodinary sence of smell that each of my intended quarry possesses, yet the videos in YouTube show PHs in bright blue shirts, white shirts, dark shirts with white or nearly white suspenders and even white polo shirts with red stripes on the sleeves and red collars. What is with that??? I would be really upset if my poorly dressed PH sent a magnificent trophy over the next hill because his favorite color was bright blue or white with red trim. In past years I have worn soft colored camo in the Karoo and darker greener camo in the hills. My PH wears neutral tan and olive colors and that seems to work well. Am I over critical or does color of clothing not matter a damn?

It depends on the situation. We know Camo works plain and simple. For some reason it’s not “Classic Africa” to wear Camo. I can guarantee you when I’m stalking an animal Camo can help me to get closer. I will usually opt for solid pants and Camo shirt but again it depends on the hunt. It is up to you really.
I’m glad to hear you are doing your homework for your Safari.
Philip

 

[ack]

First trip to Namibia we filmed ourselves ..I am sitting under a tree in plain sight and cannot be seen no matter how hard we tried...I had military desert storm tan shirt jack on..It blended perfectly with the dead grass around me...I took it because it is comfortable with plenty of pockets and I don't care about fashion when hunting anyway..Probably wrong for green brush,,who knows...They claim animals don't see color and PH's wore whatever they wear everyday..

 

[Adrian]

You don't need camo.
Go naked and take a donkey dressed as a Gemsbok.

 

[BeeMaa]

I've stuck with darker earth tones like dark brown, olive, dark greens and even a dark red/rust color.
Mostly because it's what I normally wear and I didn't have to buy anything special for the safari.
I don't own much, if any camo clothing.
I try to be stealthy to the people around me as much as the animals I'm hunting.
Nothing screams "HUNTER OVER HERE" like camo does.

 

[bruce moulds]

here is the thing about camo.
camo is the very top of the pyramid in benefit.
the other 99.99% of what matters is a little bit more important, especially the base of the pyramid.
in this day and age we tend to think that you buy it and all is taken care of.
our society (civilized?) has got so far away from the basics of nature that we have pretty much lost it.
interesting comment about African game compared to say north American deer reaction to hunters.
videos show plains game perfectly relaxed as lions etc wander through the herd.
try that with a deer!
bruce.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Here ya go! Public Service Announcement for those that hate camo. We know you just love that haute couture look.

Let us know how wearing it helps you not muff the shot.

 

[rookhawk]

Regarding blue:

https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/g...r-blue-jeans-and-other-important-facts-about/

 

[wesheltonj]

I am honestly curious about your sources with regard to blue spectrum. The camo studies I have seen found blue as effective as any of the earth tones. I personally don't have much use for camouflage hunting anything but turkeys and waterfowl, but I have been around a number of scouts and trackers wearing blue - in three cases blue camo field jackets - twice in Namibia and once in the RSA. And I have worn blue jeans a lot while hunting whitetail. I can think of no instance in nearly sixty years in the field where I though the color of what I was wearing ever frightened a big game animal. Ducks and geese - absolutely. Ungulates - not so much.

Their were a couple of articles in White-tail Magazine, I think they where from some Ph.D. with the University of Alabama The deal was that White-tail see blues and UV (besides White and grays). Now, if that converts to animals residing in Africa is another story.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I'm beginning to realize why the Blue Wildebeest is a prime prey animal. He's easy to see.

 

[Ryan]

Their were a couple of articles in White-tail Magazine, I think they where from some Ph.D. with the University of Alabama The deal was that White-tail see blues and UV (besides White and grays). Now, if that converts to animals residing in Africa is another story.

Not sure about Alabama, but I am sure University of Georgia has done a lot of research on the subject.

 

[Hank2211]

As has been noted, in some countries camo clothing is illegal. In those countries, obviously, you should obey the law.

In other countries, I suggest you wear whatever you like. I have some camo clothing, and some plain clothing. I wear what I feel like wearing when I get up to go hunting. I think you should too.

Hunters really can argue just about anything!

 

[Tra3]

I didn’t hunt in camo until I was in my early 30’s (a little over 10 yrs ago). Scent and movement are the bigger problems.
With that said, I appreciate camo today for the functional design of the items, and the simple fact that camo does a really good job of hiding blood stains...

I’m a sucker for kuiu gear, it is almost as good as Patagonia clothing.