Which Camo Pattern Should You Choose?

by
posted on April 7, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
qa_ah2015_fs.jpg (22)

undefinedQ: There are so many camo patterns to choose from today that I'm not sure which one to buy. Can you help?

A: Despite what you may see in ads, no single pattern is optimal in all environments. The most important thing to think about is matching a pattern to your hunting location and its landscape.

If you are planning your hunt in the American West or Africa, choose an open pattern like Realtree Max-1 or Cabela's Zonz Western. Striped patterns such as Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades and Predator 3D Deception work well in reedy and brushy terrain. On the other hand, blotched patterns like Cabela's Seclusion 3D and Realtree Xtra Green blend with leafy, deciduous terrain. If snow covers the landscape, go with something that has a good bit of white in it.

You may want to consider mixing patterns. Turkey hunters sometimes choose one type of camo for their trousers and another for their jacket or shirt. Wearing this combination, their bottom half blends with the ground while their torso matches a tree trunk when they set up to call. For the utmost concealment, don't forget to camouflage your face and your equipment, as both can reflect sunlight.

Latest

Ledeworlds Biggest
Ledeworlds Biggest

World’s Largest Gathering of Outdoor Enthusiasts Begins Saturday

More than 200,000 hunters, shooters, anglers, RVers and virtually every other flavor of outdoor enthusiast will attend NRA’s Great American Outdoor Show (GAOS). It opens Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa., and is the place to be if you want to see your favorite pursuit’s latest and greatest, book a trip and more.

Year-Round Gear Care

Every fall season I hear one or two horror stories involving equipment failures in the field. All too often these stories include personal injuries. Let's take a few minutes to help you avoid such costly circumstances.

New for 2026: Mossberg Maverick Semi-Automatic Shotgun

Mossberg has introduced its Maverick SA Semi-Auto line of shotguns, engineered to be multi-season workhorses, chambered for both 2.75-inch and 3-inch shotshells and featuring a 6-shot capacity.

First Look: Blocker Outdoors Finisher Chest Pack Pro

The Blocker Outdoors Finisher Chest Pack Pro is the kind of gear that takes the basic tenets of turkey hunting into consideration, while attempting to minimize the burden of a cumbersome full-size vest. This makes it a a straightforward alternative to a full-size turkey vest for run-and-gun hunters who want to balance loadout with freedom of movement.

The Value of Post Season Scouting in the Snow

Although for most of the country deer season is over, there are some important aspects of deer hunting to be understood, particularly when it snows during the winter months. In my part of the country, we don’t often get a good blanket of snow until the deer season closes. However, when it does snow, I make a point to get outdoors and visit each of my hunting areas to learn when the learning is best.

Tuo Introduces New Camouflage Pattern: Ryse

Tuo launched its proprietary Verse camo pattern in 2024. While the supplemental light tans and sharp lines render effectiveness in wooded environments as well, Tuo wanted to offer a second exclusive pattern for whitetail hunters. It has done so with Ryse.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.