Moving in Camouflage

[Dr. Bullseye]

I subscribe to some European "Woodcraft" channels on youtube. This is sort of like camping, backpacking, wilderness survival rolled into one. A subset of this woodcraft is stealth camping. This means camping near other campers but remaining undetected by them. This is a thing in Germany and Austria, maybe all over Europe and there are videos on it.

In discussing stealth camping, the subject of camouflage came up. Of course they have great camo available to them in Germany but this person told me words like---Camouflage is great if you remain stationary but if you are moving, solid colors are less detectable.

At first, I dismissed this but then thought about it. If you got an average of the green of your particular forest, for example, that might "flash" less than the multi-color camo if you were moving. And when would you move? Going from cover to cover or just trying to get to cover in the first place---the most vulnerable of all situations.

The Marines in Vietnam used a solid green color. Was this the reason? What do you think of the idea that camo is more detectable moving than solid colors? Is this person right?

[flenna]

I subscribe to some European "Woodcraft" channels on youtube. This is sort of like camping, backpacking, wilderness survival rolled into one. A subset of this woodcraft is stealth camping. This means camping near other campers but remaining undetected by them. This is a thing in Germany and Austria, maybe all over Europe and there are videos on it.

In discussing stealth camping, the subject of camouflage came up. Of course they have great camo available to them in Germany but this person told me words like---Camouflage is great if you remain stationary but if you are moving, solid colors are less detectable.

At first, I dismissed this but then thought about it. If you got an average of the green of your particular forest, for example, that might "flash" less than the multi-color camo if you were moving. And when would you move? Going from cover to cover or just trying to get to cover in the first place---the most vulnerable of all situations.

The Marines in Vietnam used a solid green color. Was this the reason? What do you think of the idea that camo is more detectable moving than solid colors? Is this person right?

Having bowhunted deer for 25+ years these are my observations:

Learn to move when your prey is not looking or their view of you is blocked by a tree, bush, etc... Learning to draw a bow when there are 6 skittish whitetails standing around will teach this. Move slowly and avoid fast, jerky movements. Movement will get you busted quickly.

I've found that camo with neutral colors that break up my outline has been most effective in getting close to game. Natural Gear has been my favorite for general use.

I can see how solids can be effective - watch a deer walk slowly through the woods and they can be difficult to see. One stands still and they are even more difficult to see. If you aren't looking for them it is easy to miss them altogether- their khaki/brown blends in that well.

[jsbhike]

Having bowhunted deer for 25+ years these are my observations:

Learn to move when your prey is not looking or their view of you is blocked by a tree, bush, etc... Learning to draw a bow when there are 6 skittish whitetails standing around will teach this. Move slowly and avoid fast, jerky movements. Movement will get you busted quickly.

I've found that camo with neutral colors that break up my outline has been most effective in getting close to game. Natural Gear has been my favorite for general use.

I can see how solids can be effective - watch a deer walk slowly through the woods and they can be difficult to see. One stands still and they are even more difficult to see. If you aren't looking for them it is easy to miss them altogether- their khaki/brown blends in that well.

Do the deer down there usually start turning grey as the weather gets colder?

An oddity, saw one Wednesday evening while setting stands that was very dark grey...much darker than any I recall seeing before.

[Keith E.]

Do the deer down there usually start turning grey as the weather gets colder?

An oddity, saw one Wednesday evening while setting stands that was very dark grey...much darker than any I recall seeing before.

"Swamp/Wetland Deer"? Serious question.

Keith

[robbins290]

I have seen some dark brown and almost black deer. and Kieth is right. Swamp deer can be almost black. I shot a doe about 10 years ago was so dark, you could have mistaking it for a light colored bear. And it was in a swamp.

[jsbhike]

"Swamp/Wetland Deer"? Serious question.

Keith

No, not any swampy marshy areas of any size. This is the eastern edge of central KY. Rolling terrain, mix of cleared farms and mixed(various hardwoods and hemlock) forests, and lots of flowing creeks and rivers.

Depending on fall weather, deer here sometimes get the grey hue by modern gun season in November or sometimes closer to new years if fall has been warmer. Even in cold years I don't recall seeing one this dark of a grey.

Western KY around LBL is where full on swamp land starts to be seen.

[jpmuscle]

I subscribe to some European "Woodcraft" channels on youtube. This is sort of like camping, backpacking, wilderness survival rolled into one. A subset of this woodcraft is stealth camping. This means camping near other campers but remaining undetected by them. This is a thing in Germany and Austria, maybe all over Europe and there are videos on it.

Ok that sounds like a really creepy fetish. Not going to lie.

Value in the skill set but damn that’s a lil weird no?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[pinzgauer]

In Europe and Scandinavia the laws often are a little different. People are allowed to camp on land without obtaining permission as long as it's 50 or 100 m from buildings or similar.

There are typically restrictions on noise, fire size and such.

Their laws about public transit on land are a bit different.

Some countries it's just culturally accepted as reasonable. In others they are not happy about it but the law allows it.

I could see stealth or low key camping as being a thing there.

I just took down a tent someone left on my back property, probably kids but someone was camping. If they had asked I would have given them permission with some conditions.

[Dr. Bullseye]

Whether it is creepy or what the laws are in Europe is not the point. Deer are not the point. The questions is if you think this person's observation is valid and, again, that observation is that it is easier FOR A HUMAN to spot someone moving in camo than in solid colors which match the environment.

Is this true or not?

[jsbhike]

Going to go with doubting it.


Trying to think of animals and where they live, but seems like a fairly even mix of solid vs. Patterned colors.