How a deer sees Contrasting shades

sr77 · 01-07-2009, 04:35 PM

I know deer have a limited ability as far as colors are concerned and what they can see, but what I am wondering is how good are deer eyes at seeing contrasting shades of light and dark. Example if I am wearing light camo such as natural gear but I am perched against a tree with dark bark......do I stick out. Same goes for a darker pattern against a tree with a lighter shade of bark. I wasn't sure so I thought I would ask.

Thanks

Shane

NY/Al · 01-07-2009, 04:41 PM

From what I understand they see varying shades of blue and yellow, but not to very good extremes. As far as your question, they do pick up the contrast of light/dark pretty well, thats why so many people worry about the "blob effect." So its a good idea to have a few sets of camo to wear depending on the tree that you are in. Obviously its best to match your surrounding as much as possible.

sr77 · 01-07-2009, 06:06 PM

I have of course read about the "blob effect" but more in conjunction with darker camo patterns, does a lighter more open pattern also alert them in the same way. I guess my point to this post is trying to find out if lighter more open patterns such as"natural gear" or Predator camo are more versatile and more tolerable to deer than say a darker pattern like Advantage timber when all othervariables (lighting, foliage, cover)remain the same.

Shane

Quote:

ORIGINAL: NY/Al

From what I understand they see varying shades of blue and yellow, but not to very good extremes. As far as your question, they do pick up the contrast of light/dark pretty well, thats why so many people worry about the "blob effect." So its a good idea to have a few sets of camo to wear depending on the tree that you are in. Obviously its best to match your surrounding as much as possible.

NY/Al · 01-07-2009, 06:50 PM

Intersting thought, ive never tried it, but im sure that you would have the same blob type effect. If not, then im going out in my snows 24/7.[8D]

I would never wear a predator pattern in a black cherry, nor would I wear MOBU or treebarkin a beech.

sr77 · 01-08-2009, 11:52 AM

Anyone else have any insight on this topic?

Shane

BGfisher · 01-08-2009, 07:04 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: sr77

Anyone else have any insight on this topic?

Shane

I don't know if you'd call it insight. Maybe just an opinion of sorts. I think you really need to qualify things by stating in what situations certain camos will be used.

For instance, on the ground I think you could use almost any of these high fallutin camos put out by RealTree and others. Just try to match the natural surroundings as best you can.

When treestand hunting it's different. I don't think you need to worry about matching camo to a particular tree or bark pattern/coloring. To do so would be assuming that a deer is looking at you face on all the time with the tree directly behind you, which probably is not the case all the time. How many people actually take the time to look up at their treestand from several different angles and see what it looks like up there? Through the branches and leaves the sky comes through as one of those background colors and it's fairly light. Much lighter than that tree, and kind of splotchy too. To that end I personally think that Predator Fall Grey can work very well as a treestand camo as well as ASAT. The reason I like Predator is that it really has no pattern. Just random splotches.

Now later seasons when the leaves have dropped I think Fall Grey is good too, but I do wonder just how good some sort of snow camo would be. Maybe have somebody wander around your tree taking black and white pictures from different angles and distances would provide more insight.

BowtechHunting · 01-08-2009, 08:05 PM

I have a great article on that particular subject....I just got to find the mag! When I do I'll let you know.

dandbuck · 01-09-2009, 09:27 AM

Snow camo year round?
Did that same thing this year. I only got to hunt a few times this year, andI do not spend a lot of money on my clothes for hunting. I was hunting a misty evening this year mid October, cool, not cold. I wore my MO winter camo(mostly white), mostly because it is more water resistant. i wore this over my other stuff after I got in the tree. i had a nice doe come in straight on, head behind a tree I got to full draw and waited for her to turn. Took about 3-4 minutes and during that time she looked through me a couple times. i guess I just looked weird or maybe I was shaking after that long. Anyway, she proceeded on and finally turned and got one through the chest. She did not "see" me even though I'm sure I would have stuck out like a sore thumb to a hunter walking by. As a side not, i had a 2D decoy 20 yards from her that kept her interest duting those 3-4 minutes, which is why she had stopped where she did.
So, yes, snow camo year round would be fine, as long as your buddies don't see you!

Look at Troy's thread about hunting ND and look at the snow camo pic, he disappears except for his head and bow. Nice pic BTW Troy!