The art of concealment is the hunter’s superpower and camo plays a huge role
Would you like to speak to our readers? We offer sponsored articles and advertising to put you in front of our audience. Find out more.The shooter’s need for stealth when in pursuit of their quarry has resulted in a whole range of clever camo clothing. New materials and better understanding of what different quarry species can see means modern camo clothing is tailored to your every need – and to the ground on which you hunt. Varying colour palettes will help to break up your silhouette and get you closer to your target.
Bill Jordan founded Realtree in 1986, with various pattern iterations developed by his design team over the decades. Realtree patterns excel in hardwood forests, mixed timber environments and areas with varied vegetation. The realistic tree bark, branch and leaf patterns work exceptionally well for deerstalking, turkey hunting and wildfowling. Different variants such as Realtree Edge, Realtree Timber and Realtree MAX-5 are optimised for specific hunting scenarios – from close-range hunting in thick cover to long-range shooting in open timber. The three-dimensional appearance and natural colour palette help to break up the human silhouette effectively across various lighting conditions and seasonal changes.
Developed by Jack Pyke, English Oak Evolution camo is designed for British and European hunting conditions, including driven shoots, stalking and woodland hunting activities. This pattern is optimised for shooting in oak woodlands, mixed deciduous forests and the varied British countryside. It performs excellently for stalking, driven game and rough shooting in typical UK environments. The pattern incorporates European oak leaves, branches and bark textures that blend naturally with British and continental European vegetation. It’s particularly effective for hunting in areas with established woodland, agricultural edges and the transitional zones common in managed European hunting estates. The muted colour palette suits the often overcast conditions and subdued lighting typical of northern European hunting environments, making it ideal for use in the UK.
Toxey Haas created the first Mossy Oak pattern in 1986 using actual leaves, bark and natural elements from Mississippi woodlands. Developed specifically for hunting, with patterns tailored to various environments and seasons, the Mossy Oak range is particularly effective for stalking, pigeon shooting and wildfowling across diverse terrains. Break-Up Country works well in mixed agricultural and woodland settings, while Shadow Grass Blades excels in wetland and grassland. The brand’s strength lies in creating environment-specific patterns that match regional vegetation and hunting conditions. Mossy Oak’s realistic photographic approach captures fine details of natural elements, making it highly effective for close-encounter hunting situations.
Developed by KUIU, founded by former NFL player the late Jason Hairston in collaboration with camouflage experts and military pattern designers, this camo was created for stalking conditions, particularly high-altitude and varied terrain hunting across multiple seasons and environments. The Verde 2.0 excels in mountain hunting in diverse alpine environments. The pattern effectively works across elevation changes from desert floors to treeline, making it versatile for spot-and-stalk hunting. Its micro and macro pattern elements provide concealment at both close and long distances, crucial for western hunting where engagement distances vary greatly. The pattern performs well in rocky terrain, sage brush, aspen groves and mixed mountain vegetation. Verde 2.0’s strength lies in its adaptability across seasons and elevations, making it suitable for early-season hunting through late rifle seasons. The scientific approach to colour selection and pattern development ensures effectiveness across various lighting conditions common in open western landscapes.
Created by Sitka Gear in partnership with global materials science company WL Gore & Associates, using research on animal vision and digital camouflage technology, Optifade was specifically designed to exploit the visual limitations of deer and other big game animals. Optifade patterns are scientifically engineered based on how prey animals actually see, rather than human visual perception. Optifade Open Country is designed for longer-range hunting in open terrain, while Optifade Forest works in dense timber environments. The patterns excel in spot-and-stalk hunting. The unique micro-pattern approach disrupts animal vision at the distances where most hunting encounters occur. Optifade Ground Forest is optimised for ground-level hunting, using earth tones and forest floor elements. The scientific foundation makes these patterns highly effective across various hunting situations, with specific variants optimised for elevated hunting positions, ground-level hunting and different terrain types found throughout North America, which translate well to the UK.
Experts in innovative eyewear tell Felix Petit about the science behind the new designs that give shooters a safer and clearer sight of their target
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