Camouflage History

Camouflage is derived from the French word camoufler, which means "to blind or veil." Also known as protective concealment, it means to disguise an object, in plain view, for the purpose of concealing it from something or someone. American artist, Abbott Thayer, made an important observation about animals in nature In the late 1800s that became useful in the development of modern camouflage. Thayer noticed many animals had colors that gradually faded from dark on their backs, to almost white on their bellies. This is key to the use of modern camouflage. The graduation from dark to light breaks up an object's surface and makes it harder for one to see it as a single item. An object's three dimensional qualities are lost and it appears flat. Modern camouflage was created in 1915 by the French army. France created a new unit called the camouflage division and artists were some of the first people called in to help develop camouflage during W.W.I.

Animals use one of two methods to conceal themselves in the wild: General Resemblance and Special Resemblance.

General Resemblance

Animals use color to blend in to the surrounding environment, making them nearly invisible. Some animals known for doing this are: chameleons, hares, tree frogs, grasshoppers, and lizards.

Special Resemblance

Animals use a combination of colors, shape and behavior to help them appear resemble their environment. In other words, they are mistaken for something else. A great example of this is the walking stick, which becomes almost invisible due to the shape of its body, coloration and slow movement. It looks and acts like a twig on a bush or tree.

Camouflage for the Hunter

Camouflage is very important for hunting deer. It is not a fashion statement. Its primary purpose is to break up your outline. Deer are twice as likely to detect movement than they are a hunter with no camouflage. For instance, a deer will more likely notice a camouflaged hunter moving in a treestand, than a hunter in regular street clothes sitting still in a treestand.

But, this is not to say you should not buy camouflage. It still breaks up your outline and helps you blend in better with your surroundings. For example, camouflage is used to help animals attack their prey. As a hunter you want to be able to hunt and spot deer without them knowing you are there. Camouflage allows you to do just that.

To tie the importance of camouflage and movement together, take for example the white-tailed deer. It does not rely on its camouflage alone. Even though it is perfectly camouflaged with the colors, black, white, brown, gray, and reddish brown, it still is easily detected when it moves. As long as a deer stands still or moves ever so slightly, it is virtually invisible.

As a hunter, having both camouflage and minimal movement greatly improves your hunting success.

Choosing Camouflage

When choosing your camouflage, consider the environment where you hunt most and try to match it to the pattern as best as you can. The most popular patterns are Mossy Oak™ Break-up, Obsession, Realtree™ Hardwoods, Advantage™ Wetlands, MAX-4 and Classic. These patterns are available in our camouflage bedding and as well as baby camo clothes.