Camouflage for hunting – how to blend in perfectly with nature while hunting
In hunting shops in our region, it is becoming increasingly common to see that the clothing on offer has a camouflage finish. The range on offer speaks for itself and quickly shows even inexperienced hunters how important camouflage can be for hunting success .
While it is still an unpopular and spurned clothing style for more traditional hunters, camouflage items and other camouflage clothing styles are becoming increasingly popular. The advantages in the field are simply too obvious. The look works particularly well in the Central European forests, but this color scheme would also be ideal for a hunting trip to Canada . It does exactly what was intended - you blend seamlessly into the green and brown tones of the forest and can devote your full concentration to your hunting target. In the best case scenario, the target does not notice your appearance and therefore presents itself as a calm target.
Match camouflage pattern to use
The camouflage look is just one option in the wide range of camouflage clothing. It's not about choosing a general camouflage style, but rather being able to react to all types of terrain with the right thing. In order to meet these requirements, the market offers many sophisticated models that are convincing in their respective areas of application. It should be noted that the color scheme does not always have to match the appearance of the hunting area one hundred percent. It is about capturing the color palette well and roughly taking this direction, but camouflage that is too perfect could also have the opposite effect and not harmonize with the rest of the surrounding objects. Always make sure that your clothing is neither too light nor too dark. This approach avoids conspicuous contrasts and, above all, blurred curves.
Camouflage clothing is ideal for stalking, but also for decoy and driven hunts . You can also benefit from the "invisible" properties when sitting or lying in wait. The animal you are hunting should also be taken into account when putting together your clothing. Various weaknesses of the animal can be exploited in this way and lead to a successful hunt.
For example, hoofed game has enormous difficulty recognizing colors well. The color red is barely perceptible to these animals. Blue, on the other hand, can be perceived fantastically by them. A deer, on the other hand, only recognizes shades of gray in the colors red and blue and cannot differentiate between them very well. These short excerpts from the perspectives of some animals show expressively that clothing can help guide a hunt in a successful direction.
Pay attention to acoustic camouflage
Camouflage is not just something you can quickly put on, even though most people would probably only think of clothing when they hear the term. Acoustic camouflage also plays a crucial role during a hunt. Furred game, for example, have excellent hearing and can perceive even the smallest acoustic signals . They can classify the origins of sounds with first-class accuracy. In the worst case scenario, this means that the hunter's work up to this point has been completely in vain. The hunting target quickly makes a run for it, leaving a bewildered hunter behind.
To avoid this scenario as much as possible, it is important to pay attention to all sources of noise and to switch them off if possible. This includes metal surfaces, which can be perfectly lined with felt or rubber. Clothing specially made for hunting also ensures that no rustling noises are generated. Soft soles have the advantage that no creaking noises are generated because they simply give way better on the ground and the foot can roll easily. Cartridges, keys or even lighters should not be carried in your trouser pocket, but stored in a sound-absorbing backpack. A thorough inspection of your own equipment could be a wise measure before starting the hunt. In this way, acoustic fine adjustments can be made to the hunting equipment and you can travel on quiet soles.
Odorless camouflage during hunting
The nose also camouflages! The fact that bears can detect smells such as toothpaste over long distances and are attracted by them clearly reflects how well developed the sense of smell of some animals is. This does not mean that you should smear yourself with toothpaste on your next hunt in order to attract the animals you want. Quite the opposite! As we have already discussed with clothing and noises, try not to attract too much attention with smells and thus gain an advantage.
It is essential to use perfume-free detergents . This also applies to fabric softeners and soaps. Odor-blocking agents can also ensure that no body odors such as sweat reach the surface of the skin during a strenuous hunt. In many hunting areas, the animals are largely used to the familiar smells of humans, but an even more inconspicuous approach is certainly not a bad idea.
Odor blockers are also available for clothing and work on the same principle as a deodorant roll-on. There are even differences in the soles of the shoes. For example, rubber soles absorb fewer odors from the ground than leather soles. Foreign odors that are carried over during stalking are not too dramatic if the right footwear is chosen. Try to take all of this into account during your next hunt and also pay attention to the direction of the wind. Wind rollers can transport odors quickly and can blow your cover.