ASAT doesn't work

[johnnyk71]

oops. double post.

[BWD]

IMO, camo patterns are like fishing lures, designed to catch us, not the fish/critter.

[Burnsie]

Best I ever had was the old original Skyline -  Apparition.  Exceptional when up in a tree stand.

[Shadowhnter]

Originally posted by BAK:
I am talking about later in the year when you don't have all the leaves to hide behind.

There are (or should be) tons of twigs, and limbs in the canopy around you....esp when on the ground looking up. Clouds are light colored many times....the whole skyward is lighter. You would blend perfectly,,,especially without leaves. ASAT, Skyline Apparition, and Predator Fall gray, all capitalize on this fact.

If you actually got seen late, id guess the camo had nothing to do with it. Once light fades, everything goes into silhouette. If so, you'd look like a totally black blob up there in the shape of a person. Camo goes away when no light can reflect detail. ....and/or you moved!

[KSdan]

I have been using ASAT before there was "ASAT."  I use to make my own.  Been using it commercially for 30 years.  Sure like it.  Sure have a lot of deer and turkeys look "right through/past me."  

I know the arguments- and I agree that wool has a soft edge and tones that are tremendous.  I also like the original BROWN Predator (which I do have in wool from Bemidji- woohoo!!)  

But assuming deer don't see color, look at the above posted photo here in black/white. Imagine it in focus with the surrounding area (out of focus in photo).  There is no "blob." ASAT "disappears." And truly- my overall experience is animals look past me.

When it comes to trad- I have to draw a bow in the animal presence.  Dead quiet (DEAD quiet- fleece, wool, or well worn cotton!!).  And broken patterns sure seem to work well.

   

Dan in KS

[Doc Nock]

I hung coveralls, coat and pants in trees of varied camo patterns once...

The big bold light and dark blotch stuff did well close and far off.  The common stuff we see today with many colors with small limb patterns, blended into one "man outline blob "when you got back more then 20 yards...

However, what we did notice, was standing their talking 40 yards away, with the varied patterns off our shoulder in peripheral vision, was when a breeze moved the garments, the big blob of lighter patterns "FLASHED" and caught our eye.

So the concept of movement gets one more vote from me.  Lighter segments seem to reflect ambient light way more.

Traditionally, I wear one pattern up top and a different type /style camo bottoms, just to avoid the blobing of a man silhouette. .  

I've also hunted with guys who used their wife's laundry product which most all have "brighteners" in them... As the light dropped, I could spot them like a blue-ish glow off in the woods...

I think (agree w/ others) brighteners, UV and movement trump all but the darkest patterns. I also agree positive and negative spaces in linear fashion help conceal to a point especially in late season tree tops!

Many of us have experienced or read that gun hunting, we'd sit with flour orange on and have deer step over outstretched feet/legs, if the wind was right and we remained motionless.

[Gdpolk]

To my eyes the Asbell wool is more camouflaged than the high dollar ASAT.

[Shadowhnter]

How much is Asbell wool anyway? I can get ASAT pretty darn cheap....

[Stumpkiller]

It's not the pattern, it's the movement or the sight of a big glob up in a tree.

Rule #1 - don't stare at a deer ever except when drawing and picking the spot.  NEVER make eye contact.  

It helps, but no camo makes you invisible.  A deer would be just as alarmed by a moving stump with eyes as a human.

The buck in my avatar was 15 yards from me while still hunting at ground level in solid dull colors.  No camo at all except a Winona forage cap (I did have face paint when I shot).  I only moved when the deer's head was behind a tree.

[frank bullitt]

I like my original Predator camo!

[tarponnut]

What Sean B said. (UV killer helps)

ASAT camo is very effective because it works visually at the distance most game animals will be encountered. It doesn't turn into a dark blob at twenty yards like many modern camo patterns do.

I like the old 1940's WWII style camo Fred Bear used to wear,too.Big shapes and lots of contrast.

[tomsm44]

Here's my theory on it.  How many animals have patterns on them to help them blend in?   I know there are a few, but most are predominantly a solid color, usually brown or gray.  And we all know how quickly a deer will disappear when it stops moving.  Camo patterns add limbs, leaves, shadows, etc., but those things already exist in nature.  If there are lots of limbs, they will be crisscrossed both behind and in front of you.  If there are shadows being cast, they will be cast on top of you as well.  Solid brown, green, or gray doesn't look like a big sheet of solid colored paper when you wear it, it has various shades because the varying angles, shapes, and folds show up as light or dark spots depending on the lighting conditions.  It's the same principal that allows you to distinguish the outline of a dear's shoulder, ribs, and hind quarters even though it's a uniform color throughout.  Most of last year, I hunted in OD green cargo pants and a brown fleece pullover.  My go to spot is a 14" ladder with a fairly small amount of cover, and I watched deer all year from as close as 4-5 yards.  The only times I got busted was when they smelled me, when they were in a position where my outline was visible, or when they caught me moving.  Not saying the various camo patterns don't work well in certain situations, but I think dull solids or softer patterns like plaid wool or flannel are more versatile for using in a variety of areas.

[Tajue17]

Originally posted by M60gunner:
Not trying to be a jerk but the wool in the above photo to  my eyes blends in better than the camo. Our eyes are all made the same but our mind "see's" a little different from person to person.

what he said...

Originally posted by Tajue17:
 

Originally posted by M60gunner:
....the wool in the above photo to  my eyes blends in better than the camo.

what he said... [/b]

X3 here...

Also, it has become apparent to me through the years that if I use two totally different "patterns" on top and bottom, my "blob" appearance is diminished by half.  Years ago I took Terry's approach to wearing a dull, earth toned pant with my Brown Deception pullover.  It worked well on the ground and up high.

[Longtoke]

I agree a lot with what  matt said, lots of game has been taken in my area by people wearing brown carhartt pants and bibs.

I like predator because the big open spaces kind of create the illusion that you are looking "through" it. At least in my mind. But big block plaid can act much the same.

I also wash my hunting gear with baking soda instead of laundry detergent, I have no clue what a deer does and does not see, but its easy enough to wash them separately so why not.

[KSdan]

Try stalking turkeys and you will get an education on camo.  ASAT has beat a lot of birds for me.  Notice in the BW photo above that if everything were in focus- like reality- you would never see the edge of the hunters outline. I see on this thread a lot about movement- I get away with a lot of movement with either ASAT or Predator.     Also- I have friends who use ASAT leafy for ground hunting.  Deer often look through them even when they are drawing their bows.

Just 2C more
Dan in KS

[Shadowhnter]

X2 KSdan

[LB_hntr]

If asat doesn't work I should be in real trouble cause I rarely wear camo at all...lol
I'm usually in solid color cargo pants and a solid color shirt with a camo vest and solid hat.
But to mimic as said above asat is one of the best camo designs for how animals see. For get how it looks to us. It's all about the animals view.

More importantly, if you are relying on your camo ad part of your 'hiding system" you should rethink things a bit. Any camo is highly over rated. It's your front and rear cover, skylining, etc that gets makes or breaks the hunt in my opinion.
But it I had to pick one camo pattern as the best my vote would be for asat. Regardless of material type.

[tomsm44]

Originally posted by LB_hntr:
If asat doesn't work I should be in real trouble cause I rarely wear camo at all...lol
I'm usually in solid color cargo pants and a solid color shirt with a camo vest and solid hat.
But to mimic as said above asat is one of the best camo designs for how animals see. For get how it looks to us. It's all about the animals view.

More importantly, if you are relying on your camo ad part of your 'hiding system" you should rethink things a bit. Any camo is highly over rated. It's your front and rear cover, skylining, etc that gets makes or breaks the hunt in my opinion.
But it I had to pick one camo pattern as the best my vote would be for asat. Regardless of material type.

Couldn't agree more.  In spite of what I said above about not needing camo, asat is one of the better looking camos I've seen.  The modern high definition photographic patterns haven't impressed me in real world applications.

[Roger Norris]

Originally posted by 9 Shocks:
 

I think it blends in pretty well where I hunt.  Buddy took this shot of me after  he walked over to find me after a morning hunt and couldn't.  He was like, you blend in so good!

Asbell wool and Asat bibs.

That is a fantastic picture....and I swear on my honor I am not trying to sell wool here.....but I think the wool plaid blends better than the ASAT