I was wondering what peoples thoughts and opinions were on the different shades of camo. Not the actuall pattern but the darkness. Do you like dark camo patterns or lightr camo patterns?

I would have to say I like a "medium too lighter" color camo, particularly the background. That is why I am NOT fond of Mossy Oak Breakup and particularly the New Break Up. At 40 yds they are essentially black! But I was always partial too the original Bottomland (and even the grayer Upland!) that was the original pattern from 1986. My personal favorite Mossy Oak patterns were Treestand and Fall Foilage but I realize that "the big 2" camo makers are about what sales instead of what works best.

My favorite pattern to EVER come from Bill Jordan is Hardwoods. I just like it and it works great (IMHO) anytime in a treestand and gets the job done while turkey hunting. It's a little gray for duck hunting (unless in timber) but a properly brushed blind would allow you to wear pink and still be affective!!! LOL when RealTree first came out I used to dye it brown, looked just like Mossy Oak Bottomland then...

I really like NatGear as well. For working on the ground it is tough to beat. The grayer variation works well in treestands and dark timber. ASAT and other large, open patterns are actually the most effective if you ask me. I study alot of and take alot of black and white pictures (colorblind if you will) and the larger patterns and even medium/light floral patterns are much less obtrusive than "black" patterns like most of the larger commercial camos produced today.

When it gets down too it, as long as you aren't moving and the material isn't shiny or noisy the color is of much less importance than many other factors!
RA

I don't believe it !
Red and I agree for once ...

I also prefer Hardwoods and Natgear .

I feel that the camo should match the background as closely as possible, pattern and shade can make or break you in the woods. All the deer needs to see is an outline.

The most effective camo I've used or seen used, for almost every occasion, was the original Treebark. I still buy it whenever I can find it and I continue to prove it works to my hunting budds every year. I think camo is most effective with a larger, lighter pattern. I guess everyone has their favorites, Treebark is mine.

I semi-agree with Red Allison...at least about the Mossy Oak Breakup. Too dark of a pattern and I prefer medium...not too light like some of these open patterns and not too dark like Breakup....though I would tend to lump Realtree Hardwoods in the same category with the original breakup.

My all time favorite camo was Sniper Fall Brown by Trebark. They stopped making it several years ago but it blended in so well with its browns and tans. Great pattern on the ground or up in a tree in my opinion. It was a slightly darker pattern overall but the tans broke up the solidness of it.

Next choice and especially for early season would be Realtree Xtra Brown. The Tan, Green and Brown combo blended in perfectly for the early season deer woods in my neck of PA. Again, the tans nicely offset the greens and browns.

For later in the year I prefer Advantage Timber, a darker pattern...simply because it is more brown than gray though both colors are present.

I have an outfit in a new pattern..Buckhorn camo...coming shortly. I look forward to trying it out as it appears to be somewhere in the middle as well.

I like the realtree hardwoods.

i like realtree for the fall....and i like mossy oak obsession for spring turkey...its real bright and blends in perfectly in the springtime

Here's an interesting site regarding camo.

http://whitetail.com/camo1.html

Lighter patterns for me.