Outdoor Adventure USA

Camouflage

Definitions

Merriam-Webster

Camouflage, noun https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/camouflage
1. the disguising especially of military equipment or installations with paint, nets, or foliage and the disguise so applied
2. concealment by means of disguise.
3. behavior or artifice designed to deceive or hide.

Disguise https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disguise
1. apparel assumed to conceal one's identity or counterfeit another's
2. the act of disguising
3. form misrepresenting the true nature of something.
4. an artificial manner.

Dictionary.Com

Camouflage, noun https://www.dictionary.com/browse/camouflage
1. the act, means, or result of obscuring things to deceive an enemy, as by painting or screening objects so that they are lost to view in the
background, or by making up objects that from a distance have the appearance of fortifications, guns, roads, etc.
2. concealment by some means that alters or obscures the appearance.
3. a device or stratagem used for concealment.
4. clothing made of fabric with a mottled design, usually in shades of green and brown, as that used in military camouflage.

Operative Words

Disguise Vs Obscure

Where is Waldo? Disguised or Obscured?





The net tonight is primarily focused on camouflage for outdoor recreation. However, the concepts generally apply to other activities one might undertake.

Product Spotlight - Ghillie Suit

I wanted to spotlight a particular type of camouflage clothing that I believe is both effective and relatively inexpensive.

When you think of ghillie suit-style camouflage, you probably think of the following military style, which is available from various sources. They have the disadvantages of being bulky, somewhat heavy, tend to tangle and shed strands, and pick up hard-to-remove twigs and dirt. I'm not sure if this looks more like a Yeti / Sasquatch or Robinson Crusoe.


First Lite Phantom Leafy Suit

However, there are more modern takes on this which generally use a lightweight fabric foundation (sometimes mesh) to which nylon leafy material is sewn. These are compact when stored, breathable, lightweight, and effective. An advantage is that they can be worn over any regular outdoor clothing, which might reduce your expenditures for special-purpose hunting clothing. They are essentially neutral with respect to temperature regulation.

The example I'm most familiar with is from First Lite, a name that you might recognize as a major sponsor of the excellent Meateater series of programs and podcasts (https://www.themeateater.com/ "I live to hunt, and hunt to live. I am a meat eater.").

It's available in various sizes and three styles of camo. Probably size up if you plan on wearing this over a jacket, and just let it remain loose when you're not.

First Lite doesn't make a bottom, but bottoms would likely get beat up walking through bushes.

By the way, there appears to be a Spring sale going on *now* at First Lite, with some prices 10 to 40% below regular. This particular item is on sale for $81. Here's my wife wearing the leafy top. I think it conceals fairly well, especially breaking up her outline. Her red down vest is completely hidden except for the collar.

First Lite Phantom Balaclava
You can wear the top above with a face-concealing leafy balaclava, but I generally like to wear something blaze orange on my head. The balaclava might be well suited for turkey hunting, which I've never done, but I understand requires better camouflage.



Low Cost Alternative?

Looking at Amazon for "ghillie suit", there are similar items at much lower cost. As I've never used any others, I can't say whether they're any good, but relative to the cost of going hunting, the price is almost in the disposable category.

The Art and Science of Camouflage

The Art of Camouflage

"Some say there’s a science to creating quality camo patterns. And there is if you look at the technology side of designing patterns. But if you’re looking purely at how well a camo pattern blends into its surrounding environment, that’s an art. Nature itself is art. And whatever we wear while out in it must be the same." https://www.realtree.com/brow-tines-and ... mo-pattern

The Science of Camouflagehttps://www.hunterselement.com/pages/ca ... camo-works

THE COLORS THAT ANIMALS SEE
"Most all animal’s eyes are made up of a series of internal rods and cones. Each of these serves a function of interpreting light as shape and color. Ungulates or hooved animals have been determined to lack the cones required to easily discern colors in the red spectrum. From this we can determine that they are effectively red-green color-blind. This means that most shades of greens, browns, yellows, oranges and reds are all seen as one similar color to deer. This is why hunters are able to wear bright blaze orange clothes without standing out from the natural surrounding environment. However, it should be noted that the other side of the color table, blue, can be determined as extremely out of place to a deer just as it is to the human eye."



ULTRA VIOLET (UV) LIGHT
"UV light can be thought about from the human perspective as a type of glowing light. The Human eye has a built-in filter that blocks out about 99% of UV light. If that filter wasn’t in our eyes we would see some short-wavelength colors stand out from the crowd like something shiny reflecting in the sunlight. Examples of seeing UV light are when looking at neon paints or bright white T-Shirts that glow in nightclubs under black lights. Ungulates do not have this filter covering their eyes, meaning these colors in the UV spectrum glow a lot brighter, especially in low light conditions. This UV glow doesn’t naturally occur very often in the natural environment. Many modern dyes and laundry products used in the creation and washing of hunting clothing contain color brighteners which in fact are UV enhancers. Some less sophisticated hunting clothing manufacturers are unaware of this and this may be why experienced hunters will often swear to have had more success at getting close to deer in their old “worn in” hunting clothes."




DEPTH PERCEPTION AND CLARITY
"Most hooved animals have their eyes located more on the sides of their head than humans. The advantage to this is that they have a field of vision that spans about 270 degrees, compared to the human's 140 degrees of vision. The downside to this though is that the clarity with which they see is diminished. Now this is where it gets a bit technical and theoretical depending on which study you look at.




"The main thing that we really need to know though is that both the detail and clarity are reduced in ungulate vision compared to human vision. The easiest way to think of this is to imagine that deer see a slightly blurry image, as if they need glasses. Now because of this they identify their potential threats based primarily on outlines and shapes. They are hard wired to identify harsh outlines of objects and symmetry in these outlines. So for example a tigers silhouette has a sharp outline too it compared to a broken up bush with thousands of small leaves. Also the tiger facing front on to the prey will also have a nice symmetrical shape to it. Both of these elements set off a warning signal to the prey. Now this is probably the most important point when we think about camouflaging ourselves from our prey. This tells us that the detail and realism of the leaf and stick shapes in the camouflage pattern aren’t actually very important as they aren’t able to be clearly defined by an ungulate anyway. What is important, is our outline!"




DISRUPTION VS MIMICRY
"The majority of the hunting camouflage scene is saturated with what we can call “mimicry” patterns. These use pictures or photos of sticks, leaves, bark, trees, etc. These mimicry patterns naturally look the best to the human eye. Because our vision is so much sharper than that of ungulates, we interpret the detail as matching that of the environment it is meant to mimic. Unfortunately, as discussed above, this is the wrong approach to take when trying to fool a deer. Although we see this fine detail, the ungulates do not. With their cloudier vision, they perceive these sticks and leaves as blobs of blurry colour. So they will see a bush on a hillside as a green blob, or a twig as a brown bar. They will see these mimicry camo patterns as big brown blobs as well as they these patterns only use low contrast, micro patterns. So unfortunately all that nice detail in the camo is lost on a deer. What they do see then is a brown blob with a defined outline, just as we would if we were to look at another hunter dressed in a solid brown jersey. Disruption is therefore the key to fooling ungulates into not seeing us. Disruption in camouflage terms refers to breaking up this vitally important outline. Disruption will in essence trick the animals eyes into not recognising the subject as one single object. Instead it will use different sized patterns to create the illusion of depth. To the animal it will look as though one part of the pattern is a small object 50 meters away, and another part of the pattern is a small object 200 meters away, for example. Based on the science behind their vision, this will be a far more effective and logical approach than trying to trick them into believing that one big object is something that it is not. In essence, mimicry camo tries to trick the animal to believe that the subject is something that it isn’t, where disruption camo tricks the animals eyes into not seeing any subject at all."




NIGHT VISION
"How animals see at night shouldn’t really affect most hunters as we can’t see ourselves. However, it is interesting to shed some light on why deer are more likely to move around at first and last light. Ungulates have a layer in their eyes called the Tapetum Lucidum which sits just behind the retina. This layer acts like a type of mirror and this is what we see when shining a light at them at night. This layer sits at the back of the eye so that any light that isn’t absorbed by the retina on the first pass, gets a chance to be soaked up on the way back out."




"Because of this process deer and most other hooved animals have far greater night vision than humans. This Tapetum Lucidum layer has probably evolved to give prey animals the ability to feed at night under the cover of darkness when their predators are in bed. Unfortunately for the prey however it seems that most of their natural predators, big cats, dogs etc, have evolved to keep up and now see just as well in the dark."




THE COMPLETE VIEW
"When all these element are brought together the view looks extremely messy to our eyes. The important thing to consider is that although we cannot comprehend how the world would look through their eyes, we can use the individual aspects to draw a picture of how we can attempt to manipulate their weaknesses."



Hunting Camouflage Vs Military Camouflage https://ufpro.com/us/blog/hunting-vs-mi ... difference

"Let’s start by examining two recognised patterns, Realtree Xtra and MultiCam. We see that they are unalike—in part because their designs employ very different methodologies. For Realtree Xtra, the methodology is mimicry; for MultiCam, it’s blending effects. That they embrace different methodologies is understandable in light of the fact that each pattern is meant for vastly different use cases."

"Realtree Xtra (photo below on left) is made primarily for hunters who will be staying in one spot and seek to conceal themselves from animals."

"MultiCam (photo below on right) is made mainly for breaking the silhouette of a moving operator through multiple environments (like dense forests and urban areas) and is designed to work against human perception."

Camouflage for Outdoor Recreation

A number of factors come into play when considering the use and selection of camouflage for outdoor recreational pursuits such as hunting or wildlife photography. These factors include but are not limited to the following:

1. Terrain
2. Season
3. Weather
4. Game pursued
5. Method of take
6. Interactive distance
7. Regulatory
8. Who else is out there?
9. Budget

1. Terrain

Terrain refers to a tract of land and specifically to its physical features.

Common hunting terrain includes:

1. Woodlands
2. Brush
3. Marsh/Wetlands
4. Grassland
5. Plains
6. Prairie
7. Farmland

An effective camouflage system needs to consider the terrain.

2. Season

Season refers to the period of the year and specifically the characteristics (e.g., climate) of the season.

1. Summer
2. Fall
3. Winter
4. Spring

An effective camouflage system needs to consider the season and the general climate and conditions associated with the season. For example, an area with lots of deciduous trees may be green and heavily leafed in the summer and nearly leafless and snow-covered in the winter.

3. Weather

Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, cloudiness, moisture, pressure, etc. at a particular point in time.

1. Temperature
2. Wind
3. Cloud cover
4. Precipitation (rain or snow)

An effective camouflage system needs to consider the weather. While seasons can generally be associated with climate, weather within a season can vary dramatically.

4. Game Pursued

Game pursued refers to the target species for the hunt.

1. Deer
2. Elk
3. Bear
4. Hogs
5. Turkey
6. Pheasant
7. Quail
8. Ducks
9. Geese

An effective camouflage system needs to consider the species of game pursued.

5. Method of Take

Method of Take refers to the implement used to harvest the game being pursued.

1. Rifle
2. Pistol
3. Muzzleloader
4. Archery
5. Spear
6. Knife
7. Trap

An effective camouflage system needs to consider the proposed Method of Take.

6. Interactive Distance

Interactive Distance refers to the distance between the hunter and the target species during spotting, stalking, and the harvest.

1. Direct contact: hunter and target species are in physical contact
2. Very short distance: hunter and target species are ~1 yard to 25 yards apart
3. Short distance: hunter and target species are ~26 yards to 50 yards apart
4. Medium distance: hunter and target species are 51 yards to 100 yards apart
5. Distant: hunter and target species are 101 yards to 200 yards apart
6. Long Distance: hunter and target species are 201 yards to 300 yards apart
7. Very Long Distance: hunter and target species are 301 yards or further apart

An effective camouflage system needs to consider the distance between the hunter and the target species during spotting, stalking, and the harvest.

7. Regulatory

Regulatory refers to the laws, regulations, and rules that may govern the taking of game.

1. Blaze orange requirements
2. Blaze orange coverage percentage
3. Blaze orange position
4. License visibility requirements

An effective camouflage system needs to consider regulatory requirements applicable to the hunt.

8. Who else is out there?

"Who else is out there?" refers to the possible proximity of other hunters, landusers, recreationists, workers, and residents.

1. Hunting inside a large private landholding with access control
2. Hunting inside a large private landholding with little or no access control
3. Hunting inside a large private landholding with other users known to be on site
4. Hunting public property

An effective camouflage system needs to consider the proximity of other hunters in particular, but also land users, recreationists, workers, and residents.

9. Budget

Budget refers to how much, if anything, one is able to devote to the purchase or making of camouflage.

1. No budget.
2. Low budget, <=$125
3. Medium budget, <=$250
4. HIgh budget, <=$500
5. Very High budget, >=$500

An effective camouflage system needs to consider the budget of the hunter. Keep in mind that some hunters may need multiple sets of camouflage gear. The budget ranges above are per a single set of camouflage.

Word of Advice: Don't let the cost of camouflage jeopardize a hunt. Camouflage is just one factor in the success of a hunt. Having a suitable firearm, optic, binoculars, ammunition, boots, and spotting and stalking skills are likely going to be more important than camouflage. Remember, that blacktail deer out there at 100 yards does not care if you spent a bunch of money on camouflage...if it sees your movement, camo or no camo, it will likely bolt.

Branded Camouflage Examples

Mossy Oak https://www.mossyoak.com/camouflage

1. Country DNA


2. Bottomland


3. Shadow Grass Habitat


4. Elements Terra


5. Breakup Country


6. Obsession


7. Overwatch The official camouflage pattern of the NRA


8. Mountain Country


9. Eclipse (In Blind Concealment)


RealTree https://www.realtree.com/

10. Edge Same camouflage pattern in three different environments






11. Escape Same camouflage pattern in three different environments






12. Max-5 Same camouflage pattern in three different environments






13. Timber Same camouflage pattern in three different environments






D.I.Y. Camouflage

The best substitute for money is ingenuity ...
-- Patti Page

We've always been do-it-yourself. In that we've had complete control.
--Keren Woodward

Having someone do certain things for you is like getting someone to chew your food for you. It might be easier to swallow but it loses all its flavor...And you want the flavor!
--Ze Frank

14. Jacket- DIY from a solid khaki Columbia jacket



15. Pants- DIY from Wrangler Stretch Pants from Walmart



16. Ghillie Suit- DIY from New Burlap, Used Fishing Net, Dye, and Locally Sourced Vegetation



17. Boonie Hat- DIY from New Hat, Spray Paint, and Leaves and Branches



18. Temporary Camouflage- DIY Face Paint

Please check in -

John - KN6VL

Bruce - KD6GCO

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation - Southern California Chapter is holding its annual Big Game Banquet on May 21, 2022 at the Elks Club in Redlands. This is the not-to-miss Big Game Banquet of the year.

Rumor has it that the RMEF Committee has slated ~30 to 35 firearms as prizes for the evening. That's about 1 firearm for every 5 or 6 attendees!

The Big Game Banquet features a series of games that can yield chances to win great prizes. There is also the always popular BUGLE Craps game with players competing for a chance to win $10,000!

There is a live auction too, with many bidders working to get a chance to win the Mystery Safe that is filled with things that go bang: the winner gets not only the contents of the safe, but the safe too!

Dinner has a Country Hoedown Theme, and will feature a whole roasted pig and country sides. Of course, there are appetizers and desserts too.

The venue for the Big Game Banquet is smaller this year, and the banquet is expected to sell out early.

Register for this amazing event here: https://events.rmef.org/shop/southernca ... vents_page

PLEASE check me in for today's net. THIS looks like a fun one.

Thank you.

Check in please - Thanks - Bernie

Please check me in: Bob ~~ WY6R.