Tips for Boosting Your Camouflage and Staying Hidden in the Woods

Not all camouflage patterns and gear are created equal. Before you ever even pick out a tiger stripe camo shirt or camouflage pants, you should give some thought to your reasons for staying concealed, as well as that from which you are trying to stay concealed. 

With that said, here are some high-level tips for staying hidden in the woods, whether you are hunting predators, playing airsoft and trying to stay hidden from human eyes, or just deer hunting. 

Match the Pattern and Surroundings 

The most important element of camouflage, regardless of the macros and micros it contains, is that it is suitable for the environment in which you expect to find yourself. 

For instance, Realtree Edge and US Woodland are effective in deciduous forests, but will never be particularly effective in a high montane environment with a snowy backdrop, or in the desert. They are just too predominantly green and brown. 

Similarly, tiger stripe camo is not going to be particularly effective in the lowlands for duck hunting, among the reeds - because reeds grow vertically and tiger stripe camo has horizontally slashed macros that are intended to blend into the backdrop of a jungle. 

So, all in all, make sure you get a camouflage pattern that is suitable for your background, not just in terms of the overall color palette, but also in terms of the macros and micros utilized. 

Use Natural Cover

Sometimes the best natural cover is around you, not what you’re wearing. You can blend into the background wearing little more than a tan jacket and khakis if the background matches you and you have natural cover. 

You can also cut branches, reeds, dry grasses and turf to cover your blind or gear, if they’re sticking out - doing so can be highly effective because using what’s around you is a guaranteed way to match the color and general gist of the environment, anyway. 

Camouflage Your Gear

Remember that when you’re hunting, or playing airsoft or paintball, it’s not just your person that can betray your position, but your gear as well, notably your gun or pack. 

Your pack can easily be concealed with what you have around you, especially if it is just lying on the ground next to you; cover it with some brush and that’ll go a long way. 

As for your gun or bow, natural cover can also be used here, or you can use less than conventional methods of concealment, such as camouflage tape, or even a makeshift spray camouflage job. 

Concealing a Shiny Face and Hands with What You Have

It’s important to remember that the sharp eyes of some game animals, especially predators and game birds like turkey and waterfowl, can often see what you haven’t concealed - your exposed face and hands - even if the rest of you is concealed under an appropriate camouflage pattern.

While there are commercial solutions - gloves and gaiters and hoods - you can also use a variety of natural materials to remove some of the “shine” from any exposed skin. Some good materials include charcoal, mud, clay, and wood ash. 

Any of these materials can be smeared on exposed skin to help reduce some of the shine as well as to create contrast that will break up your outline. 

Stay Still 

It’s also important to remember that stillness is one of the most important attributes of concealment, especially if what you’re hunting (or just hiding from) has sharp eyes. In fact, in some situations, stillness is more effective than your camouflage pattern in keeping you concealed. 

Moreover, staying still will help eliminate the chances that you make a noise that betrays your position - so remember, stay still, especially if you are stand hunting. 

Beyond Camouflage: Scent Control 

Lastly, and while it won’t make a difference if you’re hiding from humans during an outdoor sport like airsoft or camouflage, remember that scent control is every ounce as important as camouflage concealment, and when you’re hunting mammals, even more important. 

Where practical, use scent controlling measures, like special washes and deodorants, but more importantly, be cognizant of wind direction so you can stay on top of your scent cone. Also, be prepared for predators approaching from downwind - in all circumstances in which they can, they will approach your apparent position from downwind so they can scent you before they can see you.

Tiger Stripe Camo Cargo Shorts, Camo Shirts and More

For our part, we can help you stay concealed in the woods with appropriate camo gear and patterns. Shop our Multicam camo gear and Tiger Stripe camo collections, as well as our collections of camo shirts, camo cargo shorts, and camouflage pants.

Take a look through our collections and put some of these tips into practice the next time you’re in the field - you might find they’ll help.