Any colorblind bow hunters

[DTS]

Any of you color blind bow hunters have any secrets.  Just had a color vision test and can't even see primary colors, what ever that is.  I know I can't blood track but seem to pick up animals faster than most especially at night.  It would be nice to hear some stories that I can identify with to let me know others are dealing with this also. My color vision seems to be getting worse as I age.  Any one else?  God bless

[Otto]

Yep...I'm red/green colorblind to the max.  Found out when I was 9.  I'm 47 now.  At first it totally sucked.  I used to shoot deer, and if I didn't see em go down, I'd go get help.  On those that did go down in sight, rather than run over to where they lay, I would force myself to go to the point of impact, and track the deer.  Even though I knew it was laying 75 yds away, I woulf force myself to look for the signs a deer leaves when they are hit.  I learned what blood looked like when I found it, I learned how to read turned over leaves and earth.  To look for hair on the sides of trees etc....  I've taught myself to be a pretty decent tracker and now I no longer fear not being able to see blood.  I can't see it as clearly as folks who ain't color blind, but I can find blood and follow a trail.  It just takes time to learn.  I've not tried hydrogen peroxide (makes foam when it contacts blood) because if I find something I think is blood, I just wipe my finger through it.  I see blood real well on my finger, just not on the multi colored forest floor.  Haven't used any of the blood lights and other crap like that cause, well, just because.  I'm a bit of a hardhead and I'd just as soon do without those things.

[mike p]

Im with you guys. I am 90% plus color blind I use a tracker string on my bow this helps alot. Gives me a good feeling I also have 2 boys that are blood hounds. Funny thing is I was just lookin at the gerber blood light at fleet farm yesterday. Yes I also notice movement faster than some. Can you notice any color on traffic lights? I cannot have to count the lights to know what color I have.

[Landshark160]

Yep, what Otto said.  Red/Green here too.

[Shakes.602]

Mine is of  ALL  things, Grey & Purple, I cant distinguish the Shades of Either One. I  KNOW  there Has to Be More Hiding in there!!  DANG IT!!!      

[wapiti]

Same as the majority of men I guess,red green brown. Had to learn how to track rather than blood trail. Can't see blood even if it is from my own nose!(almost anyway). Some think I am crazy to go to the extremes but if bowhunting wasn't hard I wouldn't be doing it. Good feeling when you can pull it altogether and take an animal.
  I haven't used the H2O2 yet but may give it a whirl someday. I know it works for many. My problem is EVERY dark spot looks like blood. I would have to carry a keg of it into the field!

[bm22]

i am not color blind but i have considered this little tool to help find my deer too and i could see how it could really help someone who was color blind.
its a little pricey at first but how much is that big buck or any deer period you lost worth ?
a guy on texasbowhunter uses it alot. and i think he liked it.
 http://www.northamericanst.com/bowbug.htm

[Missouri CK]

Two questions for those of you who are color blind.

I would say you guys are the best judges of camouflage since your eyesight is closer to how a deer views the world. So what is your opinion on the matter?  What pattern or type of camo is the most effective to your eyes?

Second question is about game tracker strings and their use for recovering deer.  I know lots of guys swear by them for turkey but what about larger animals?

Great topic. Thanks for the responses

Chris

[DTS]

To answer some of the questions.  For traffic lights I just know the dark light means stop the lightest light means go and middle means get ready to stop.  I stop at all blinking lights unless traffic ahead gives me a hint.  Camo for me is ASAT, Stics-n-limbs or military with heavy black. I can spot all the others pretty easily.  Stics-n-limbs sewing quality is pretty sad but works good enough. Been meaning to send them an e-mail.  As far as tracking, forget it for me unless its on plain dirt.  I look for tracks and ground disturbance.  I did not realize how bad my color vision was until this last test which was a new one.  The same color might look totally differant two minutes later.  Through the years I have learned to narrow my guess down to three or like I tell my girls...its fish color or deer color or pig color.

[BUFF]

I'm as color blind as you can get. I also like the sticks and limbs camo as well as predator. I was going to give up hunting hogs as I was loosing about 1 out of 3. I will second the vote for the BowBug it looks like heck on your arrow but works

[aromakr]

I have to add to this conversation, even though I'm NOT color blind. I hunted in South Africa a few years ago with a PH that was color blind, and he was without a doubt the best tracker I've ever seen. If you have ever been there you know there are tracks everwhere going in every direction you can think of. He would point to the ground and say see there he goes, see how he is limping on his left fore leg!!! In no time at all we walked up to the bedded Gemsbok, where I was able to get another arrow into him.
Bob

[Big_Al]

I have a prob with dark colors - dark brown, dark blue, dark hunter green, deep maroon colors- they all look black to me unless I look really close.  So long as I get bright frothy blood, I'm okay ;-)

[Mike Bolin]

Red/greem color blind...getting worse as I get older. I loose the color difference at about the same distance I need my bifocals-3'to 4'. I bought a decent set of amber shooting glasses and they help some, but they a usually at home when I need them anyway. I just go slow and actually take off my gloves and touch the sign. I've noticed I have an easier time on overcast days versus sunny days.. As far as camo, Predator, ASAT and the old Stick & Limbs. Mike

[bowmac]

Me also, greens,reds,browns all look the same. Been that way my whole life, learn't how to pick up movement better than most. Look at the grass, leaves, twigs etc. on trailing. If necessary I crawl on my hands and knees to see if I can get some blood on my hands. Its even worse at dusk or dark, I look for wet spots and check them out. Sometimes its just dew or urine but sometimes I'm lucky and its blood. Have learned how to track as good as most over the years. As far as the deer go, I think they see everything similar to me and usually thats dark. I don't think the camo is all that important but I have found that Walmarts Fusion has worked as well as any others out there.

[Seeking Trad Deer]

About fifteen years ago my father popped a deer with an .06.  He couldn't find it so I began blood trailing it for him about 100 yards until we found it.   Not being color blind I really realized that day how significant this can be...he couldn't even see the blood on the leaves.  His deer usually fell within sight and I guess this is the way he counted on always being able to find the deer.

[Cinghiale]

I'm red/green colors blind, I have many problems to track an animal by myself, specially on wet grass and leaves.
A friend or a dog can be a good solution.
For next season I'm thinking about to spend time to coach a small dog like a basset or a jag terrier I will have a new hunting partner.
Ciao

[52 bow]

Can,t see 80% of blood trails-makes my hunting season longer-gotta look at the good side of everything!Just told a member that is interested in a riser that it was light gold but when I walked though my sun room it was reddish-started out as purpleheart!!!!Doesn't get worse-started that way!John Benetti