Military Camo Patterns

[Wednesday Caste]

I had a chance last year to pick up some excellent condition ECWCS military pattern camo parka and pants for a steal.  How many of you use military pattern camo rather than the commercial patterns ie mossy etc. for hunting?  Is it just as effective as the commercial patterns?
Thanks.Quinn

[duck'n]

I shot my first deer with a bow back in the late 80's wearing military woodland camo from head to foot.  She was all of 10-12 yards and never knew what hit her.

[Shell]

The classic military camo is what I have always used too...had some left over from the CAP days that I still wear and always seemed to be the most effective breakup in all our ground hunting which is how we hunt most, on the ground.
Worked extremely well in both wooded and in more open situations.

Surplus military stores are a great place to get them also for a great price.    

Going to look into the ECWCS for the colder weather now that you mentioned it...Thanks!

[Shell]

We do have other styled camo brands as well and does work great too, but think the breakup of this military pattern has just been a winner for us as any other and my all time favorite for our mainly woodland hunting areas.
And successful too like Brian mentioned          
 
(I would be interested to hear about others as well, good post!)

[elk ninja]

The older style brown black tan green blobby stuff works great.... older style, that's funny because thats what I wore in boot camp and now nobody wears it.  Anyway, the newer digital USMC camp works well too.  Not as sure about the army stuff....
Works well, but my only caveat would be a lot of it has cotton in it.  Obviously not the ECWCS stuff, but a lot does have cotton content so be carefull in the back 40 or the backcountry not to get wet and catch hypothermia.
Mike

[nutmeg]

The Viet Nam pattern works extremly well in our early deer season here in CT. when the woods are still thick and green and I do most of my hunting on the ground from natural blinds. Works pretty well in the spring turkey season also.
The pattern I really liked the best was the old brown, black and green pattern for the early fall. Similar to the stuff you see in so many of Fred Bear's photos. wish I still had some.  

[joe skipp]

I used Tiger Stripe in the early 70's. Very effective in the areas I use to hunt back then.

I then switched to the old Brown Woodland camo when I started still hunting more, my buddy back then the Tiger Stripe made me look sorta "black" easing through the hardwoods.

[NDTerminator]

Altthough there are now some great commercial patterns, after all the years of hunting our Badlands in North Dakota, my favorite pattern out there is the now obsolete 6 Color Desert Camo.  I have several sets of BDU's, boonie hats, and a field jacket in this pattern.

Not only is "chocaloate chip" great in the brown grass/rocks of the Badlands, it's great anywhere that has prairie when the grass turns brown...

I have to say the Army's new green/grey digital pattern is amazing.  We have the big state National Guard base just outside of town, so we see a lot of it.  I swear, those guys disappear when they stand still in a parking lot!

That pattern & color would be unreal out in the Badlands!!!!

[Shell]

Jon you're right, I remember watching a special on the digital camo when they came out with it...it is amazing stuff!

[vermonster13]

I have a digital camo rain suit I picked up cheap. It works excellent.

[Jon Stewart]

I use the cammo that Shell posted a photo of.  Its cheap at yard sales and second hand stores.  Big side pockets make it nice to carry stuff.

[SouthMDShooter]

i shot a 130 inch 10 point from the ground this year wearing military camo... never had a clue

[tradtusker]

i have done most of my hunting in old military cammo the best iv found is the old german cammo very good cammo for lots of different areas, its tough and comfortable.

[Caleb the bow breaker]

that extreme cold weather stuff is pretty pricey.

wow
Caleb

[Wednesday Caste]

Yeh, I know!  Got it at a thrift store in Los Angeles area (the only place in the country where this stuff wouldn't be picked up in a blink of an eye).  Get this, $12 for the parka and pants and another $6 for 3 cotton pants  out ta door and no tax!!!  I figure a 95% discount is a good deal- glad to know I didn't waste 18 bucks though (man I'm cheap). Hardly worn if ever.  They'll be good gear for some cold weather up here in the Sierras/high desert.  The visor on the hood and face protection on the jacket just pretty much covers my face and I'm invisible.
Sometimes visiting family and weddings can be a very good thing. LOL

[42WLA]

I've got lots of woodland camo. I've been in the USAF for 24 years. I modified a set for last season. I added two leg pockets to the back of the shirt and created a game bag inside the back with buttoned side slits for access. I added sleeve pockets too. One sleeve pockets fits a thermacell. I got lots of room to carry everything I need and it did not cost anything but time at the sewing machine. I even added a tiny pocket at the knee to hold the tip of my bow when resting.

[Arwin]

I have the Swiss Camo for small game hunting but the old Desert Storm camo seems like it would be comparable to Predator camo if you added some black branch lines to it.

[WidowEater]

I am a fan of the newer MARPAT (Marine Pattern)  Its like the old woodland but digital.  I also have found that the 3 color desert camo the USAF still uses is excellent for grassy or badland type areas.  Its the color of my hydration unit which seems to fit hand in hand.  I still use the commercial patterns but almost always have something on that is MilSpec.  I love the parachute silk scarves used as a bandana.  Brings me back to my military days...

[Dave Huff]

I started out with green and brown woodland and worked very well.  I use the old night time desert camo for early spring turkeys and groundhoggin'.  I like the new digitals but haven't bought any yet.  I unfortuanlty have jumped on the new age commercial train.

[Rufus]

Here in the Texas Panhandle the past few years, if you can look like dead, dry grass you got it made. Desert camo is great. You can even move as long as you lean from southwest to northeast and back in 25-35 mph gusts.