3 Benefits Of Camouflage While Hunting

Human beings adopted hunting for the basic need to provide food. From the simple societies of ancient times, the practice has developed from a rudimentary activity to a technique where skill and ingenuity transform it into an art of sorts. Camouflage is one of the skills that, when employed, can make you into an expert hunter. In the wild, cryptic colouration, as it is also called, works as a defence mechanism that helps animals disguise themselves by blending with their surroundings.

Hidden in plain sight, prey can stay away from predators while the latter can sneak up close without detection. Out in the wild, camouflage does not only look good but also enhances your chances of getting clean and exhilarating shots. In this piece, we explore why you should consider investing in hunting camo for your next hunting expedition if you haven't already.

Do you Need camouflage?

Camouflage isn't only good for how badass and sneaky it makes you look. There are functional reasons for having it. While the lack of it has never hindered a successful hunt, some animals require you to have your silhouette disguised. That's the main reason camouflage has such funky patterns. These are meant to break straight lines from your body, such as your arms and legs. You blend in even better with your environment in 3D camouflage gear, which moves with the wind. This way, your attire masks your movements as you get a better shot of the game in your crosshairs.

Mimicry

Mimicry is a form of advanced hunting technique that attempts to copy your environment to conceal you. Ghillie suits are the most common type of mimicry camouflage. It copies the leaves, twigs, and foliage around you. This camouflage is also made to reduce the glow of Ultra Violet (UV) dyes. These are typically used to brighten colours on regular clothing through fluorescent whitening agents (FWA).

Ungulates (hooved mammals) have no filter for UV light. As such, their eyes capture more UV light. Keeping FAWs at a minimum in hunting clothing conceals you better from the game you are hunting simply because you are not as bright. It would also work well for hunting at night as ungulates can see better than you and I. Thanks to their big pupils, more light reaches the retinas of the ungulates, which camouflage clothing would take care of.

Psychological advantage

You could never show up at the office in shorts and a t-shirt. It just does fit. Looking like a professional is part of being one. Getting the best hunting gear is not just about functionality. Being in the hunting field in the proper attire gives you a psychological edge that gets you charged up for the hunt.

The truth of the matter is that camouflage does feel great to wear. Choosing the type of camouflage to wear is not only about the environment but also comfort. These days, hunting gear is developed with functionality and comfort in mind.

Camouflage for different animals

We're all quick to think about mean-looking camouflage suits when we think of cryptic colouration. While this is the gist, the type of camouflage you choose depends on the animal you are out to hunt. By now, ungulates need you to blend with the environment so they don't make out your shape.

Hunting down cats like cougars and bobcats needs you to know about the colour cells in their eyes as you pick your type of camouflage. While they can see the light, cats have a smaller range than humans but are better if not equal to ungulates. While they see blue quite well, they can't see red. In the cat's eyes, orange seems more like a yellowish-green.

They may have the visual acuity of a coyote during the day, which is blurrier than the human's, but their eyesight gets sharper at night. When hunting predators, concealment should not stop at disguising your appearance but also mimicking prey in distress.

Predators will come close to the sound out of curiosity.

Choosing the right type of camouflage

Choosing what camo to go with depends on a couple of factors. For starters, you must consider the terrain you intend to hunt. Consider also the type of game you target.

Winter/Snow Camo

These are camo patterns developed for snowy terrain. It's typically snow-like shades of white mixed in with elements of a snowy, bushy environment.

Woodland Camo

Woodland camo is the most commonly used type, which uses disruptive pattern material (DPM). These are designed to blend in with the leaves, trees, bushes, and twigs, allowing you to blend into areas like trenches, forests, and farms.

Brushstroke Camo

It gets its name from its design, which resembles paint brush strokes to replicate bushy environments. It is one of the most used camos. Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP)

This is a military-style pattern usable in different environments. It works best in light tan terrains such as an autumn bush or summer grass.

Last words

Camouflage, like most hunting, is often overcomplicated. The little camouflage you have probably worked just fine. Even so, we have to say that new gear will raise your chances of success in the wild.

You may get away with hunting with no camouflage, but we all know that the whole experience feels more wholesome when you have all the gear you need. We reckon you hunt purely for sport and not a necessity in these times. If so, you want a mean set of camouflage clothing for the next time you are on a forest excursion.

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