Camouflage hunting gear helps hunters blend into their environment, enabling them to approach prey more closely without being detected. Camouflage patterns are specifically tailored to exploit animal vision abilities such as color vision or UV sensitivity.

Kuiu provides top-of-the-line clothing for big game, whitetail deer, and waterfowl hunting. Angie Kokes was particularly pleased to experience how warm yet lightweight the Super Down LT was while hunting in windy Western Nebraska.

Traditional

As hunting has grown more popular over time, manufacturers have created an abundance of camo patterns and options. Some brands specialize in specific terrains or species while others create patterns which work effectively across environments.

Military camo patterns were originally developed by the military for use during combat situations to shield troops from enemy fire, and later adopted by hunters. One well-known pattern is Mossy Oak which was developed using hand-drawn artwork by a local artist in 1986.

Some brands cater specifically to certain types of hunters, like bowhunters or western big game hunters. Kuiu offers Proximity camo designed specifically for stand hunters as well as new waterfowl patterns this year; others such as Sitka Gear produce clothing suitable for big game and whitetail hunters that can be worn across various seasons and habitats.

Digital

Camouflage’s aim is to blend in with your surroundings, so as not to be noticed by animals. Be it from 100 yards or setting up in a stand for turkeys – being noticed is never good; which is why manufacturers work tirelessly on developing ways for hunters to stay unnoticed in their environment.

One of the latest techniques in digital camo is inspired by military patterns; this pixelated style works great at short distances as it obscures an animal’s vision systems and uses color blending, with lighter tones blended in with darker ones for Optifade and Veil types of digital camo.

ASIO Gear’s RAPTOR CAMO pattern was specifically created with whitetail bowhunters in mind, offering optimal concealment in any terrain. Their line includes pants, shirts, vests and windproof jackets suitable for early season hunts in warmer conditions or late season pursuits in snow. Nine testers conducted rigorous trials using pieces from ASIO Gear in environments from Minnesota and Nebraska through Alaska and Colorado backcountry environments.

Concealment

One of the key considerations when purchasing camouflage hunting gear is ensuring it matches your environment perfectly. Certain patterns are better suited to particular terrain types; so do your research prior to making your purchase decision.

Concealment camo’s aim is to disguise human form and reduce prey’s natural instinct to panic upon seeing us approaching, using spots, stripes, or patches as cover to disguise and blend into their environment.

Contrast concealment camo to mimicry camo in that it does not aim to blend in with the hunter’s environment, instead being focused on disorienting prey through distraction and disorientation techniques such as Realtree or Optifade patterns.

Realtree camo is an iconic example of this style, designed to confuse and disorient predators with its open pattern design featuring leaves and branches over diagonal bark patterns. Ideal for wooded areas and waiting for prey to move through gaps in the brush, Realtree works wonders when stalking prey or waiting for them to enter an opening in the foliage.