The Best Military Camo for Hunting
Hunting camouflage is military-grade. The military invests much in camo. Not perfect. Most people use camouflage in the pursuit of hunting, so I have gathered a few of my favorite military camouflage patterns for you to use.
These are our recommendations for the best military camo for hunting on the market:
The Best Military Camo for Hunting
Rothco MARPAT Camo BDU
MARPAT, or Marine Pattern, camouflage is available in two varieties: woodland and desert. I think the forest is a better choice for the United States and hunting. MARPAT woodland was created in 2001 and is a very effective pattern. From 2002 to 2005, it was gradually implemented in the Marine Corps. At that time, it became the Marine Corps’ main camouflage choice. MARPAT woodland is designed to look like a digital camouflage.
The Rothco BDU is not the same as the USMC blouse but is designed to look like the older four-pocket BDUs. People like this design because it is based on utility and has four large pockets, making it easy to carry things and organize gear. You don’t have to worry about tearing the fabric at the elbows while lying down.
The four-pocket design lets you access your gear while you are sitting down. You don’t have to stand up and move around to get what you need. The BDU jackets are comfortable and are the perfect weight for the southeastern United States. They will let you blend in without being too hot or too cold.
Propper Men’s Woodland BDUs
The Classic woodland BDU camouflage is popular and still in use today. The MARSOC Raiders, a famous special forces group, still wear this old-school camo pattern. It is a very effective pattern because it is simple and effective at breaking up the user’s silhouette and blending into almost any woodland environment.
This camo pattern is old-school. Impressive length. Modern militaries frequently change camouflage schemes. Propper is a good company; they make uniforms for agencies, state agencies, and law enforcement officers around the country. The Propper design is a classic four-pocket BDU. As previously said, the advantages of a four-pocket BDU are numerous, particularly when it comes to hunting applications. These pockets even have holes that let water escape if you fall.
Propper BDUs are machine-washable and military-grade. There’s a reason why the old-school design is so well-known. It’s also a fantastic hunting camo.
Tru-Spec OCP Coat
The OCP is a type of camouflage that is modern and stylish. It is the newest type of camouflage used by the United States Army. The Tru-Spec coat is different from the Army coat but is also contemporary and modern. The OCP pattern is new, but it is very effective. It has a wide range of applications.
The Tru-Spec coat has two angled pockets, so it is easy to reach inside them. This curved design means you can move less and quickly get what you need. The shoulders also have small pockets to make it easy to get to your gear. You may readily reach your gear whether seated, kneeling, or even lying down, as with the four-pocket BDU design. It is important when you are hunting because you might be in a position where it is hard to move around.
This camouflage design is very effective and popular with hunters. It also costs a reasonable amount of money, and Tru-Spec has a good reputation for making quality hunting gear. It is one of the best military camo designs currently available in terms of price and quality.
German Flecktarn Pattern
The Flecktarn pattern has been a modern version of Germany’s camouflage for many years. The design is better suited for the Northwest because it has darker colors. However, it is still an effective way to break up the silhouette and profile of a hunter.
The ZFlecktarn was one of the earliest camouflage patterns to use a digital, splotchy design to disguise its user. This pattern makes it difficult for others to see you while sitting still. The chest has two large square pockets for gear storage, and two hand pockets similar to a hoodie pocket—perfect for gear storage and keeping your hands warm. The hand pockets zipper shut, so you don’t have to worry about losing anything.
This heavy parka design is much better for colder seasons than spring turkey. It’s long and covers your butt. The sleeves seal tight to prevent body heat from escaping, and the hood will add some warmth too. Even though it’s German, this is a great hunting camo.
The Best Hunting Camo
Archery stores sell many different types of camouflage clothing. You can find turtlenecks, long-sleeve and short-sleeve shirts, and other types of clothing. Camouflage clothing helps you blend in with your surroundings, so you are not as quickly seen.
It can be hard to understand how bowhunters use all of that camouflage. How do you determine which clothing is appropriate for your intended hunts?
We’re here to help!
What is Camouflage?
The hunting industry started designing its camo patterns in the late 1970s. Camouflage patterns of all shapes, colors and practices have been created to match nearly every habitat and hunting situation imaginable. This image illustrates one such design.
Camouflage comes from the French word “camouflage,” which means “to disguise.” Camouflage is a way for animals to avoid being seen or detected by predators or prey. Some animals use camouflage to hide in the environment, while others use it to move around without being seen.
Animals use camouflage to hide from predators or prey. After World War II, hunters started using military surplus gear to hide from animals. The hunting industry started designing its camo patterns in the late 1970s. This is thanks to Jim Crumley, who used a permanent marker to create the camouflage pattern he later patented as “Treebark.”
Camouflage patterns are popular because they help hunters blend in with their surroundings. Hunters can choose from various colors and designs to match their hunting environment.
Does Camo Matter?
Camouflage clothing helps bowhunters stay hidden from animals. Animals see the world differently than we do, so it is essential to be aware of this when hunting.
For example, let’s look at white-tailed deer. Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences studied how well deer see. They found that deer have more rods than cones in their retina. That is important because rods are photoreceptors and are more sensitive to light. However, they don’t see colors as well as cones, do. Deer also lack a UV filter in their eye.
Deer have eyes with more rods, which means they can see better in low-light conditions. They also have fewer cones, which means they see colors differently than humans. Researchers believe that deer can see blues better than humans but cannot distinguish reds, oranges, and greens.
A Quality Deer Management Association article cites research by Marty Banks, a professor of optometry and vision science at the University of California-Berkeley, that found deer can see much of their surrounding world, even when eating.
Deer have eyes that are differently shaped from humans. Their pupils are horizontally elongated, while human pupils are circular. This difference, combined with the deer’s side-oriented eyes, gives them a much wider field of view than what humans see – 300 degrees, to be exact. Human vision is limited to 180 degrees, including our peripheral vision!
The different eye characteristics between deer and humans help to explain why deer can see us better than we can see them. This is another reason why it is essential to wear camouflage when hunting deer.
Which Camo Works Best?
Dick’s Sporting Goods reports that most hunters use four popular camouflage patterns:
1. Woodland patterns help hunters hide in wooded areas. Different patterns work for different seasons. In the early season, use green leaves. In the late fall and early spring, use brown branches.
2. Brush patterns help hunters blend into open areas. This makes it easier for them to sneak up on prey without being seen.
3. Marsh patterns help hunters look like reeds, cattails, tall grasses, and other elements you would find in swampy areas.
4. Snow and winter patterns help hunters hide in the late season. These white patterns mix dark colors and tree branches, assisting hunters in blending in.
Scent-Proof Camo?
Many companies that make camo clothing also make clothes that absorb or trap smells. These clothes might be practical, but it is hard for researchers to test this. However, hunters must be as odorless as possible when hunting deer and other big game. They have a powerful sense of smell.
It is impossible to get rid of human smells completely, but following good scent-management practices can help. Hunters should bathe or shower with soap that doesn’t have a scent and wash their clothes in detergent that doesn’t smell. They can also dry their hunting clothes in a dryer with clothes that have an earthy smell.
Is Layering Important?
It is essential to dress in layers when you go bowhunting. This is because you will be very active sometimes and then have to wait in the cold for a long time. This way, you can take off layers when you are enthusiastic and put them back on when you are staying.
Should Bowhunters Wear Orange?
When hunting, it is essential to stay safe. Most states require hunters to wear blaze orange, color humans can see easily. Meanwhile, deer and other big game animals cannot see this color, which will help keep you safe.
Final Thoughts
One of the ten essentials you need for bowhunting is camouflage. If you are overwhelmed by the many camouflage options, ask experts at an archery store for help.
Military camouflage can help you hide from people while you are hunting. It is often cheaper than other types of camouflage. You wear camouflage to make it hard for people to see you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Best Military Camo for Hunting
Xtra Green is the best camouflage pattern for deer hunting during the early season. The green color blends in with the surroundings during that time when everything is still green outside. It’s a good choice for hunts during September and early to mid-October, and it’s also good for turkey hunting after the spring green-up.
Military camouflage must work well in different environments and must work when the person wearing it is moving. Hunting camouflage only needs to work well when you are in one spot. That’s because you will be blending in with that spot.
You don’t need a $200+ jacket to kill deer. You can use BDUs (battle dress uniforms). The camo patterns on them will work perfectly fine. No camo pattern will hide movement, and most (maybe all) camo patterns will break up your outline.
The U.S. Army transitioned to CARC paint and changed its camouflage color scheme to NATO 3. This new paint was meant for all NATO ground forces.
During the Vietnam War, U.S. advisers adopted the Vietnamese military’s jungle camouflage scheme, which consisted of black stripes across green, brown, and khaki plains. This motif has become popular among elite groups such as the Special Forces. They organized, trained, and escorted indigenous partner forces into battle.
The Army announced the selection of a new camo pattern, the Operational Camouflage Pattern, to replace the UCP-based Army Combat Uniform. The new camo looks similar to Crye Precision’s MultiCam.
The military’s new digital ACU camo is MUCH better than the old woodland camo they used to use. MILLIONS were spent on its development, and it has been proven to work in various situations, making it so good.
Canadian Disruptive Pattern (CADPAT) is the digital camouflage pattern used by the Canadian Armed Forces (C.F.). CADPAT was first issued in 1997 and was fully standardized by 2002.
Hunters wear blaze orange to help others see them in the woods. Deer cannot see the color, but other hunters can. It makes it safer for everyone in the woods.
Marines primarily wear cammies in the green print known as “Woodlands.” However, when deployed in a desert area, they will wear a tan and brown variation called “Desert.” And when they are in cold weather, they will wear a white and gray-patterned design.
The Office of Naval Research study showed that soldiers wearing the Marine pattern camo (MARPAT) could be detected in 2.5 seconds, while soldiers wearing monocolor, or the large, blotchy NATO camo, could be seen in just about one second.
In general, camouflage is helpful when hunting. However, it is less critical in some situations than in others. For example, upland bird hunting is not as crucial as rifle hunting deer. Camouflage is also more critical when bowing hunting ungulates or hunting predators.