Do game animals get used to camo.

[howie]

I have heard this mentioned by several hunters and never really gave it a thought until last night when I was speaking to a mate who is heading up to Toomba Station next week. He is a truely switched on hunter with many trophies to his credit and a wealth of hunting experience, so when he talks, I listen. He has made up a type of gullie suit that matches the grasses and terrain that he will be hunting. In heavily hunted areas where game animals constantly see humans dressed in cams, and at times - at very close distances, do these animals or can these animals become switched on and recognise the camo outfit as a threat.
Your thoughts!!! Howie

[Timmsy]

There was a study about how deer can see ultraviolet light, where they detect colours in the middle wavelengths. Middle wavelengths like green will be perceived as yellow and blue and purple.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/timmsy/Bow/deer-vision.jpg

The left pic is how we see the hunter, and the other 2 is how the deer see it

as for other animals??



Cheers

[Evil Taco]

that middle one is pretty bad, i hope rabbits can't see like that, then again if they do atleast i have an excuse....

[Dale Furze]

Over Easter Howie, I was chasing the little spotty Palm antlered fellas in some planted non-natives, I slid to within 23m. of a nice stag, wind blowing across me with him unaware. I sat there for about 3-4 mins. waiting for an opportunity to present. With the wind still blowing across, he lifted his gaze from the tree he was thrashing toward me, stared for about 5 seconds, did an about face and made good his escape.

I retold this story to my mates who have hunted this area for years, and they bluntly told me that I didn't belong there, even dressed from head to toe in a yowie suit, he still picked me out because it's HIS area and he knows what should be there and what shouldn't.

After being told this it made me think a little.... I would know if something was out of place in my back yard too! Even if it was made to look like it should be there.

[Antarcher]

A little more on what Dale said. I like to think of it in the way I purvey my own surroundings.

I know my own backyard off by heart. When I walk outside of a morning I don't really look over it, but I have a general feel for what is in its place. If, for example, the kids next door hit a tennis ball over the fence and it is somewhere in my yard, then the first I will be drawn to, will be that tennis ball as it is not normally there.

Also, when I glass for deer, I know every bush and rock in the area and pick up deer straight away as I know there isn't normally a lump there. Other people that come with me, who are not familiar with the landscape, can't believe how you spot them or they calling everything a deer when it isn't.

I like think that this is what a deer does too. They have nothing to protect themselves bar their instincts and knowing what is where. They usually have a range that they scour and know escape routes, rub trees, scrapes and game trails, as they are certainly a creature of habit. If you suddenly plonk yourself in their domain, then they will pick you up, just like you would a tennis ball or fallen branch in your yard.

This is one of the reasons that I have not worn camo on many occasions. I always try and take the concealed route, so not matter what you wear, you will not be seen. Still I have been caught out and not had deer spook as I remained perfectly still. Other times I have been blown out of the water unexplicably. If camo gives that confident edge then go for it. It's all a confidence thing and believing in yourself that you can get close enough for a shot.

Deer live off their wits and stalking them is just that, a game of wits. Who wins in the end is the one who can best break their defences down. This is what makes bowhunting so pleasurable as there are so many ways it can all wrong, but when it all goes right, the satisfaction is always immense.

[howie]

Just typed out a long reply and lost it so here we go again. Some very positive replies from some experienced bowhunters.
I have read that when washing your hunting attire in the usual household washing powder/machine, the clothes absord the UV brighteners. These brighteners apparently can be seen by game animals as a full body hue or glow, especially around the first and last hours of daylight, being prime hunting times. I have a butchers tub that has been previously washed out with LUX flakes, I place my hunting clothers/backpack etc with LUX and warm water and let soak for several hours, remove and allow to dry outside - away from any un-natural odours, car exhaust etc. Lux flakes dont have the UV brighteners others do. Something else I recommend when chasing deer, using camo paint around your eyes with a full face mask. If I could use the analogy of when speaking to someone, you look them in the eyes/face. Being super close to game animals, with their awesome eyesight, I believe they can detect your eyes or any white coloured human flesh. I have trialled this on goats at very close ranges, under 10 yards, they had spotted me but were un-alarmed, I slowly lifted my head and stared directly at there eyes, immediately their body actions changed, the snorting and foot stamping commenced and they were alarmed.
Dale, been there buddy and done that, keep at em champion.

[ado250]

The answer is not to wash my clothes :confused:

I can do that!!! :P

[HOOD]

Like Howie I use the Lux soap flakes.

I see it like Ant put it if something is out of place in your home/yard you'd know so would the deer or any other animal for that matter.
So making like a rock or a dead tree doesn't always help no matter how good a camo your wearing.

[Luke]

A very good question Howie...

Based on my recent trip up north on the chital with the boys I am now a rather confronted hunter by the question of camo effectiveness vs necessity.

I can say from my own experience... having some 150m's (at least) of not ONE scrap of cover (we're talking bare, barron, bowling green type cover :cool: ) to get to the stag I picked out of a mob of 50 or so deer, and being looked at, over and "through" by the deer in the mob from all sorts of distances (as little as 30m's to as far out as 100m) that I believe my camo helped.

I reckon I would have been looked at 100's of times in the 3 and a half hours it took me to get to the last 35m's or so where I could finally get on my hands and knees and crawl using the grass as cover. I did however make sure that I remained TOTALLY frozen to the spot on the occasions when the deer were looking at me, and this for sure was the difference.

I know in one instance I got caught on one foot and the agony of the 5 minute stand off seemed to last forever but my determination paid off with the dozen deer that were looking at me, eventually going back to relaxed feeding (this at a distance of about 40m's).

I cannot really say if I would have had the same success wearing plain clothes, but Ant's successes during the week certainly highlighted for me that good hunting/stalking skills go a very long way to getting in close for that one opportunity.

As for the deer becoming "used" to camo... I couldn't really say but that "sixth" sense of theirs sure is freaky sometimes. :confused::confused::confused:

;)

[GREG D]

I have heard the same as howie in regard to washing powder. I just use warm water and air dry. One thing I have noticed though is that after a few days in an area wearing the same cams, I get noticed less often. Perhaps because my equipment and I take on the smell of the local area.

Or I have just chilled out and relaxed into the wild life, with nothing to stress me other than deciding which direction to hunt in today!!!

[wazza_X force]

it surprises me all the time, not only with deer, but how i can sit on a damn watching a mob of goats playing and drinking for 20 mins sitting excrutiatingly still, that for some reason, and not because of wind or any other signs, a nanny(its always a bloody nanny!!!:mad:) will stare the life out of me, let off a grunt and there goes the mob... i think that especially in areas that any game frequents, they definately do get used to what should and shouldnt be there, especially mature bucks/stags and such. thats why i always feel more comfortable hunting even in light cover. i think the key to getting close and undetected is to blend in with your surroundings, not just look like them..

wazza

[howie]

This thread has certainly raised some theories, lets hear some more on this issue. Howie

[wazza_X force]

its very interesting to hear what people think... and i guarantee quite a few people will better their camoflage due to those theories, especially ones given by the more accomplished bowhunters...

wazza

[HOOD]

The time I got stuck int he open with a doe staring me down. I didn't look straight at her but more at the ground in front of her.
The very moment that I lifted my eyes and looked at her's she barked/grunted and they all exited stage left.
So eye contact is a big NO NO.

I was in full ASAT 3D suit with mask.
The one thing that wasn't covered was my hands so I'll be investing in some camo gloves before i head out after them again......When ever that maybe.

[woody]

http://www.atsko.com/

The link to the sports wash and UV killers should help with washing the camo.

I have bought these products thru Sno Gum stores.

Take some photos or video of your self in camo, some times its very educational to see how your camo is blending, or not, with the surroundings.

Face and hands need attention, and nothing helps if you move when game is looking your way.

If it was easy it wouldnt be such fun trying...

[mickus]

I was having similar experiences while hunting Fallow, that is being busted for no apparent reason.I also put it down to the Stags detecting something not usaully in there territory.
I decided to concentrate most of my hunting opportunites on stags that were on the move. I would set an ambush on the game trail the Stag was travelling on.I found that Deer can sometimes get single minded when on the move and this SOMETIMES gave me the upper hand.