When you think about hunting, there are probably several images that come to mind. For me, I think about being decked out in camo and freezing my tail off in a tree stand. I also think about hiding in the brush and calling turkeys in the springtime. Really, any image of hunting I think of involves some form of camouflage. It has just become the standard for most types of hunting.
I know it just makes sense to suit up in camo because it makes us harder to see. But have you ever considered why camouflage works the way that it does?
Camouflage in general is just the process of changing your appearance to blend in with your surroundings. Different environments are going to require very different types of camouflage. Desert camo looks completely different than forest camo. Arctic camo looks different from jungle camo. As different as these patterns look, they all follow the same rules.
As great as we look in our Mossy Oak, man cannot take credit for creating camouflage. There are far better examples of camo found all throughout nature. Just think about the ‘walking stick’ for a common example. This bug is shaped and colored almost identically to the branches they live on. Unless they move, you would never know there was an insect there.
Around here we have one of the best examples of camouflage I have seen. The copperhead snake is a venomous snake found in much of the United States. This snake is responsible for a large number of bites each year. It is dangerous not because it is aggressive, but because it is passive. It has perfect forest floor camouflage and sits completely still hoping not to be noticed. If you step too close, you are going to regret it.
There are so many animals that have evolved to blend in with their surroundings. This natural camouflage can both help animals hide from predators and can also help predators hide from prey. By looking at the shapes, colors, and patterns found on animals with natural camo we started designing our own patterns for blending in.
Camouflage has grown and evolved quite a bit since we started printing patterns on clothing. Lots of brilliant people have helped create the most effective patterns that we see today. I have a special tie to the development we have seen the last few decades as one of my cousins helped create a camo pattern that was sold by some of the biggest retailers in the country. It is fascinating to look at the psychological principles tied to vision that have caused specific changes in camo patterns.
Gestalt Theories of Perception
There are a series of psychological laws created in the 1920s called the Gestalt Theories of Perception. These theories related to how people and animals visually perceive nature. It was identified that both humans and other species look for patterns as a shortcut to avoid processing all of the shapes and colors we see. We look for entire objects instead of specific shapes, as “Gestalt” is the German word for “whole”. There are four specific laws that affect our visual perception:
The Law of Similarity states that objects with a similar appearance will be viewed as part of a pattern. Objects can appear similar because of their color, size, or shape. As this relates to hunting camouflage, you want to avoid having your shape identified as a human. You should break up the edges of your body with colors and shapes similar to your surroundings. If you can break up your silhouette in any way, it makes a huge difference. This is why I like to sit with my back to a big tree or bush. Ghillie suits were designed specifically for this purpose. The material changes your overall shape and visual texture, so you look far from human. If these suits are good enough for snipers, they are good enough for me.
The Law of Closure states that our minds will complete a contour and create a shape while ignoring gaps in the contour. Basically, we see shapes as a whole even if we can’t see the whole shape. For example, you may see the head and tail of a turkey but the rest of the animal is behind a rock. You will still identify that as a turkey. Animals do the same thing, so it is important to break up your profile.
The Law of Proximity states that shapes that are relatively close to each other will be grouped together versus viewing them separately. For example, if you see the tail, head, and antlers of a deer your mind combines them to identify it as a deer. Therefore, one of the best ways to blend in is to make sure the different parts of your body get grouped with your surroundings. If you are on a tree stand in an oak tree and have oak leaves and bark on your camo pattern, you will look like part of the tree.
The Law of Continuity states that colors and shapes that are similar to a pattern will visually be perceived as part of the pattern. For example, if you are next to a tree with branches every foot or so up the trunk and have a similar pattern on your camo you will look like the tree. The other way this law affects camouflage is that random shapes and colors with no pattern can just be seen as background.
Camo Variables
We now have a scientific foundation for what makes camouflage work. Now we need to consider how that affects the camo that we purchase and how we use it in the field. Always remember that your strategy for blending in goes way beyond the clothing that you wear. You must always consider how you move, the noise you make, and the path you take as they will always affect your ability to blend in.
I find that one of my biggest issues I have with staying hidden is avoiding movement. Movement is one of the fastest ways to get spotted in the wild. If you move through the woods with no regard for your silhouette or how you blend in, you will almost always be spotted. If you keep low to change your outline and move slowly and deliberately in proper camo, you are less likely to be seen. The best way to blend in is to stay completely still. Unfortunately this is not always possible, so you must have a strategy when you move. Snipers in ghillie suits often stay completely still for days at a time.
If you stare out into the woods, you will notice that there is not much contrast in nature. There are exceptions, but typically the browns, greens, and grays will all sort of blend together. Contrast is one of the key things animals will notice in the wild. If you have large chunks of colors that do not fit in with the surroundings, you will be spotted. Camouflage is designed to use the colors and patterns we see in nature to eliminate contrast.
Do be aware that different species will perceive images in different ways. You may wonder why we are able to wear hunter orange during deer season without scaring away the deer. I can see another hunter dressed in orange at over 50 yards even in a dense forest. Deer are unable to see warm colors like orange, yellow, and red. Ideally, you will still want to have hunter orange gear that has a broken-up pattern. This will eliminate having a large chunk of the same color on your back. Of course, if you wear hunter orange during turkey season you will be in trouble. They see orange just fine.
Shadows in the forest can be your best friend if you use them correctly. Generally, you will have the most dramatic shadows in the early morning and late evening. You want to work within the shadows as much as possible so the sun is directly shining on you as little as possible. Sunlight on your body will give away motion and will create a big person-shaped shadow. This is the wrong way to use shadows. If you work down in hollers, densely wooded areas, rocky outcrops, and along tree lines you can use shadows to your advantage and stay hidden. Your shadow will simply blend in with all of the other shadows around you. These shadows can also hide your movement if you need to change positions.
One red flag that most animals watch for is a human profile. This happens most obviously when you stand straight up against a light background. For example, if you stand on top of a ridge you will have the sky behind you creating a dark profile. Your best bet is to crouch down and stay off of ridges and hilltops. Walk down in hollers or halfway up the slope instead. Good camouflage will help eliminate your profile when you stay on lower ground.
One typical mistake that hunters make when trying to blend in is bringing shiny objects. Often glare off of a soda can or a scope lens can scare away animals. If you must bring shiny objects, try to cover them or dull them down with soot or some other substance. Sound is another dead giveaway for animals if the sounds are human. The sound of a cell phone or a zipper would be specific to humans and could scare animals. Any metallic or electronic sounds are off-limits.
Camo Options
We have now reviewed the science of camouflage and the different points of focus we need to consider to stay hidden. We must now decide what camo works best. We need to avoid contrast and break up any patterns. There are two different types of camouflage that can get this done. Camo can mimic shapes, colors, and patterns found in your hunting area. This could be rocks, leaves, bark, or other shapes. It could also just use completely random colors and shapes to become a kind of background for your surroundings.
Patterns should vary based on where you will be hunting. Snow camo needs to be mostly white shades, and forest camo will need lots of browns and greens. For mimic camo, you will see lots of branches, leaves, bark, and acorns. These shapes and colors will make you look like an active part of your forest. However, camo that sticks to random designs will look like a photo that is pixelated from zooming in too close. It is just a hodgepodge of different colored squares that become background to animals.
Face Paint
I still know hunters that choose to paint their faces with camouflage instead of wearing a mask. My father says the mask limits his visibility and it gets hot. Face paint can work well for camouflage, but you cannot just slap it on however you like. Sometimes in movies, you will see just a couple of black smears across the face. This will not suffice.
Your priorities will be to use the colors of your surroundings to dull down the face. Use darker colors for low light and brighter for better light. Stick to small smears of color so you do not create contrast. Try to use darker colors on your nose, chin, and cheeks as these points will catch the light. You want your face to appear to be a flat surface once you are finished. Be sure to address your hands, ears, and any other exposed skin.
You probably never thought there was so much science behind the camouflage you wear when you hunt. If you want to buy the most effective camouflage, you need to know how it works. This gear can get pricey, so be sure you take the time to do your research and compare options. If you use the right camouflage and follow our other rules to stay hidden, you will be much more successful with your hunting efforts.