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

LEDE Top 10 Optics
LEDE Top 10 Optics

Hot from SHOT: Best Optics of 2026

In the market for a new optic? You're in luck. In this installment of our 2026 SHOT coverage, we tasked experienced hunter and longtime contributor Brad Fenson with rounding up the best new optics of 2026. Read on to see what made his exacting cut.

New for 2026: EAA Balikli Blue Label O/U

This year, EAA has debuted the latest in its line of imports, with the Balikli Blue Label Over/Under shotgun.

Hot from SHOT: The Best New Hunting Rifles for 2026

The annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas is a launch pad for many new firearm platforms. Here is a list of the best new hunting guns arriving in 2026.

New for 2026: Hornady American Whitetail Tipped

Hornady’s American Whitetail ammo line has been a huge success, offering a no nonsense combination of Hornady’s InterLock and their excellent brass cases. Deer hunters now have even more to be happy about, with the release of the Hornady American Whitetail Tipped.

First Look: Galco Brush Hog Belt Holster

Galco has launched the Brush Hog Belt Holster, to protect hunters' pistols from nature and the elements while keeping them ready for quick action in the field.

New for 2026: First Breach Ammo

Hagerstown, Maryland’s First Breach is a new company, based on a father/son team who are passionate about quality ammunition.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.