Sitka Optifade Forest

[wv lungbuster]

Whats your thoughts on the sitka forest camo for treestand hunting. I know thats what it was designed for but it looks really dark almost like it has a blue tint. Any close encounter with game while wearing it?

[Bowwild]

Sitka in optifade forest is the only camo I've used the past two years. I love it!  I like the fit, durability, design, and pattern. In fact, I've bagged up 20+ years of various camo and it's going to Goodwill very soon.

I've had lots of close encounters with the camo.

Honestly though I don't credit the pattern to my staying hidden. I like trees with lots of cover I keep my movement nil when the deer can see me. Frankly, I would probably have been just as well-hidden wearing my Mario Brothers PJs.  

The downside is of course the expense. However, I have always been able to find really good deals.

[202turkey]

Dang Roy, Don't do that. Bring that stuff to Tradfest and give us a shot at it. Or at least tell me which Goodwill it's going to. I have never been able to find anything good at there stores. Someone must allways beat me to it.

[wv lungbuster]

Yeah I'm big on stand placement and not much movement. I was just wondering if any one did get seen on picked off what the animals reaction was. I'm basically looking at the outer layer pants like the accent or 90%. I need something more forgiving than cotton or micrtex. More stretch for climbing in to stands with base layer on.

[awbowman]

Like it, but I like the Kuiu more

[Herdbull]

I have taken 4 or 5 deer wearing forest optifade. I have gotten close to and even had many birds come right up to me while wearing it. Like others have said, it won't make up for excess movement - you still have to be a hunter. A lot of camo is designed to market to the human hunter. This stuff is kind of reverse. A lot of guys don't like it when they see it in the showroom or up close, but when you get it out there in the woods, it works very well for them. As far as the "blue" look, I guess that's right, I sat at about 10 feet in a cedar tree with its blue hue and berries all around me while watching this buck look directly at me several times as he walked to less than 5 yards from the trees base.  I like the stuff. Mike
 

[Herdbull]

This coyote looked right through me as well.
 

[Bowwild]

Here's a picture my son took after a doe-kill last year.

There are some "problems" in the picture so forgive me: white interior of day pack is showing, I don't wear gloves no matter how cold it is, from right under the tree the sky outlines me pretty good, and yep, I didn't have the safey vest on for the picture (it was on the ground where I climbed down.

This was a cold morning and I had more on than normal; Bibs and Parka.

 

[snakebit40]

I would love to try this stuff out. I just can't bring myself to drop that much money on camo. I most likely will someday    

[wv lungbuster]

Thanks for the pix guys. That's another great thing about sitka gear. Its not bulky and has an athletic fit. More string clearance.

[SecondSeason]

ok i will play.

a number of years ago i stopped buying patagonia or as we call it patagucci based on price alone.  what i learned was that nothing held up the way i needed it to hold up.  

fast forward to today- my closet is filled with patagonia some of which is 20 years old.  my camo collection has been mainly cotten crap and non of it has held up for more than a couple of years.  the sitka gear looks like it is made at the patagoinia plant with the same standards.  if your into layering of clothing use it.  if your into insulated clothing it may not be for you.  

as for how well does it work.  I closed the deal on an elk this year as i was getting into position 6yards away she picked up movement and ran out to 10 yards.  she stopped and looked right at me for nearly 45 seconds then went back to grazing before my arrow hit her.  

I also closed the deal on my first white tail.  bored out of my head without action for 4 hours in the stand i swung my head at the sound of a branch cracking.  30 yards to my left a doe was looking right at me. a big blue bump on the side of a tree.  she watched me for over a minute and then walked down the hill into position.  thank god i missed that shot because the next day i picked up a sweet 4 pt buck well it should have been a 4x4 but half the rack was broken off.  so it was a 4x1.

i think the camo is worth every dollar not for the camo but for how well it is made.  it will last me for 15 years if i do not plump out.  the camo style is amazing if you have a decent back drop.


if this doesn't help well listen to that country song about camo that will convince you for sure.  good luck

[RedShaft]

my brother has the complete SETS of the sitka stuff, i mean all of it, even the inferno series. thousands of dollars worth of stuff.... he seems to stand out to me in the woods lol. i dont care much for the pattern personally. i like the feel of the material. if you can find it in asat, very hard... but it looks pretty good. my brother did not buy his sets from a dealer, bought it all used online or new being sold cheap. there is a huge market for this stuff esp in patterns that they no longer make. you would be amazed at what guys are doing and going through to complete sets.. like my brother. lol.. western hunters pay top dollar for stuff they want(old patterns) that is no longer produced.  if your a high mountains hunter staying on the move i think it would be good. but being from WV, i have hunted your country for quite a few years and its similar to where i live.. my advice, i would save your money it dont blend that well for the dollar cost to comparison on lesser priced stuff. but there hunting packs are top notch.

[beendare]

Preferred their original camo pattern myself