Camo fabric question

[Submarinokotbw]

Does camouflage fabric matter? I have heard rumors that wool is best because it doesn't mess with light in an unnatural way. I ask because I am thinking of investing in new camo. I am ever so fond of ASAT. I am eyeing the Elite package. However, if just plain wool plaid pattern will out perform ASAT based on the fabric, I see no sense in getting fancy. Any thoughts?

[Charlie Lamb]

Camoflage is as much about technique and attitude as it is about a specific pattern.

Knowing when to move and when not to move is important for any camo to be effective.

[Roadkill]

Amen, mr lamb

[LookMomNoSights]

Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
Camoflage is as much about technique and attitude as it is about a specific pattern.

Knowing when to move and when not to move is important for any camo to be effective.

     
BINGO!!!!!

[pcg]

And consider the possibility that camo is far more important to marketers than to actually remaining hidden from game. Many traditional hunters hunt successfully wearing old wool check patterns. But it's hard to resist camo when every store and every magazine makes it seem mandatory. I'll be convinced when someone shows me a photo of Bear, Schulz or Hill in camo. Until then, it's an unneeded and very expensive purchase.

[Stixbowdrew]

Dayone makes wool asat! There ya go problem solved

[twitchstick]

To me the fabric is more important than the pattern. Wicking for early season fleece and wool for late season. Gore-Tex or something waterproof and breathable for storms. It must be quite and non reflective IMO. My first elk I was wearing purple shorts.

[pcg]

Heck, everyone knows to wear purple shorts when they're Elk hunting. But purple camo shorts? Nah.

[ChuckC]

Fred wore camo on occasion, but he also wore the wool or flannel checked shirt.

ChuckC

[johnnyk71]

it's very anti-fashionable and romantic amongst the trad community to discount camo completely, and I get the backlash against all the advertising and marketing.

however, I can tell you from personal experience that ASAT is an extremely effective and well-designed pattern. I've had all manner of animals (including turkeys) look right through me, walk right by me, and in some instances land on me or walk right over me while wearing my ASAT leafy suit.

sure, there are plenty of ways to remain undetected wearing no camo at all, but you asked specifically about ASAT, so I thought I would share my experience. it's a great product and it works very well.

[joe skipp]

I believe totally in ASAT but I want quietness. My clothes are either Fleece, Brushed Twill or Wool. I also believe in playing the shadows when still hunting, moving real slow and the use of well concealed natural blinds or ambush locations.

Buying a tad size larger allows me to layer for the cold weather. Brushed twill or fleece for early season, Wool and fleece for the colder temps. My latest ASAT addition is a soft, brushed twill bomber jacket lined with Holofill. Very light but very warm.

[Submarinokotbw]

Thanks everyone for your input, it is much appreciated. Noted, filed, and hopefully remembered.

[Mojostick]

I own the whole Day One Camo wool outfit in ASAT. It's first class all the way. I also own KOM and Pendleton camo. The Day One ASAT wool is as nice as any of it. Expensive, but worth every penny.
 http://www.dayonecamouflage.com/

[Knawbone]

Originally posted by joe skipp:
I believe totally in ASAT but I want quietness. My clothes are either Fleece, Brushed Twill or Wool. I also believe in playing the shadows when still hunting, moving real slow and the use of well concealed natural blinds or ambush locations.

Buying a tad size larger allows me to layer for the cold weather. Brushed twill or fleece for early season, Wool and fleece for the colder temps. My latest ASAT addition is a soft, brushed twill bomber jacket lined with Holofill. Very
light but very warm.

I get all the wool and fleece hunting clothing I need from Salvation Army stores. Found a WWII German army wool pants with adjustable waist, kaky color, perfect shape,mid heavy weight, 5.00
Several wool and fleece shirts, 2.00-3.00 a pc.
Two pair of grey fleece pants, a few bucks
Light pair of 80% wool dress pants I converted to hunting pants,4.00
Complete hunting wardrobe-about 20.00    

The German wool pants are premium quality, I really lucked out on that find. A new hunting weight pant of comparable quality would probably cost 300.00.

[Kingsnake]

Love my Viet Nam Tiger Stripe pattern, but he damn rip-stop fabric is too darn noisy!

Kingsnake

[njloco]

I had a coyote less than thee feet from me in Texas, I was sitting on a stool on the ground, wearing 3-D leafy ASAT, he, or she looked passed me three times and never saw me, so yeah it works, but if I had moved, it would have busted me for sure.

[amicus]

Originally posted by Submarinokotbw:
Does camouflage fabric matter?  

In my opinon yes. I think there are some materials out there that reflect light more than others. For me wool is the best and the quitest material I have tried.

Gilbert

[pcg]

It's not the camo that allows animals to miss you. It's other traditional factors that hunters for 1,000s of years have always known about: wind direction, hunter movement (even eye movement), reflections off clothing... I've had turkeys, rabbits, deer, a fox, multiple birds--including hawks and eagles--come within a couple feet while I was wearing wool alone, usually a checked wool pattern. The key though to spook wildlife seems to be movement, followed by scent carried on the wind.

[Sam McMichael]

I think the fabric is very important. Wool is generally quiet, but other fabric work good as well. I have 2 sets of military camo in the cotton/poly blend that are also fairly quiet. They are the old woodland pattern, which is great here in Middle Georgia. Some other synthetics are also quiet, but many are very noisy. Whenever I go into a shop, I feel the fabric to test it for noise and frankly would never buy most of what is there.

Next thing to consider is the dye used. Most camo patterns will work, but some use brighteners in the dyes that get into the UV range that deer can readily perceive. Military stuff does not have this issue.

So, whether you prefer traditional items such as  plaids or the latest computer designed camo patterns, the fabric it is made from (and the dye used) is important.

[Deeter]

You can get camo wool gear from cabelas.  Then you can have the best of both worlds.