Hunters wear camouflage to blend into their surroundings. Animals, especially the kinds of animals you are hunting, have particularly good eyesight. These animals heavily rely on their senses as it is one of their greatest defenses against predators. While some colors might be difficult for them to see (longer and middle wavelength colors like orange, yellow, green, and red), texture and something out of place stands out like a sore thumb.
Learn more about blending in below.
How Necessary is Camouflage?
Some hunters insist they do not need to wear camo. Of course, you don’t need to wear it, but wearing camouflage does give you an edge as a hunter. We previously mentioned how animals rely on their senses to protect themselves and to know the world around them. They are particularly good at detecting movement. A small movement, like the turn of the head, can be a dead giveaway, and your game can quickly spot you. Wearing camo can break up your outline, blurring your shape, and help you blend into the surrounding scenery.
The Many Different Camo Patterns
If all hunting terrains were the same, there would only need to be one camo pattern. Since there are so many different looking terrains, there needs to be that many camouflage designs.
There are two main categories of camo:
Mimicry Camouflage — Mimicry camo helps hunters blend into their surroundings by mimicking the surrounding flora. You’ll see snowy, woodland, marsh, and brush camouflage patterns available on the market. Take a closer look and find that these patterns are filled with pictures of trees, brush, leaves, branches, and other vegetation.
Breakup, Concealment, or Digital Camouflage — Whichever name you decide to call it, this camouflage helps your online blur into the background. Digital camo uses a few different colors and random shapes to get the job done. You’ll notice that it doesn’t resemble natural vegetation or terrain like mimicry camo does.
How to Select the Right Camo
There are four hunting regions found in the U.S: North, South, East, and West. To determine the type of camouflage you need, you’ll need to do some research to figure out what your surroundings look like before you get dressed for your next hunting adventure. You’ll find several different types of terrain in each of these regions, but generally speaking:
Northern — If you are using a tree stand to hunt, like many hunters in the area use, you’ll want to make sure the camo you select blends into the tree line and the sky.
Southern — The southern regions are full of lush vegetation. Find a camo that has leaves, branches, and tree limbs on the print.
Eastern — Find an all-purpose camouflage that will make you blend into the diverse hunting terrains of this area.
Western — Use earth tones to help you disappear in the mountains and desert.
Contact R & K Hunting Company
While blending in is an essential part of the hunting experience, you’ll want to book your hunt with a stand out company. The expert guides at R & K Hunting Company will give you an experience of a lifetime. Book your next hunting adventure and avoid the headaches and hassle of planning. Contact us today.