Wind Is Important! Camo Is Not!!

[Elknut1]

  That seems like a fairly blunt statement! (grin) What do you guys think? I feel all will agree on the wind, it can be your friend or worst enemy!!! Never buck it! Camo is cool but not that important for Elk hunting! Is this true for you?

  ElkNut1

[BLUEBULLS]

couldn't be more right. I think I go through about 3 or 4 bottles of wind checker every fall. as far as camo goes, i wear it, (boosts my confidence i guess) but as long as you're wearing something that looks broken up i think you're fine. I think a lot of people try hiding from the elk too much, like staying in or behind brush or trees and it's probably kept a lot of people from getting shots. Just hold still and stay downwind, they're animals, not rocket scientists.

[groundhog]

Elknut,
I couldn't agree more! I know a guy that has taken a bunch of trophy bulls with his bow and he smokes ciggerettes like crazy! One time I asked him about it and his response was " Elk can't smell me as long as I am down wind of em, if you are up wind they will smell you know matter what you do to conceal your scent". I think he is right.

[ICEMAN]

Aside from the scent issue, wind helps with concealment of noise and your movement.

[groundhog]

I some how I got cut off there. I wear scent lock camo a lot but they still smell me if they get to my wind. I have taken lots of great pics and a couple of bulls with my bow while wearing olive drab (Carhart) type clothing. More important I think is picking the right "set up" and knowing when to draw your bow. I do believe in wearing gloves and a face mask! Some times the sun can make your face and hands look like neon!

[Hornseeker]

I do not go through many measures to try and be scent free...therefore...I hunt into the wind at all times. I probably should try a little harder on the scent issue... If an elk is dead down wind of you...he will smell you...guaranteed, unless you are locked in a bubble, but then he'll smell the bubble and be alarmed!!

If you go through much effort to lessen your human scent, there is a little more room for error. If the wind is blowing to 6 Oclock...and the bull is 50 yards down at 4 Oclock... if you are relatively scent free..you just may keep him around.. if you are stinky..there's a good chance some of that stink will make it to him off the main wind current... The more stink there is...the more spread out and alarming it will be.

Camo... definitely not a big deal for elk. I know several guys that wear plaid wool shirts and kill bulls every years with their bows... For me, alot of the "quiet" and well made, weather proof clothes are now in camo... so thats what I happen to have..

Ernie

[Intruder]

Absolutely correct!

In fact (I know this will ruffle some feathers) I truly believe a lot of the camo that people wear is probably a disadvantage because of its overall darkness and its inability to break up your outline.  Many of the popular camos patterns look great at 15' in good lighting but get 15 or 20 yards in low light and they turn into a big dark blob. 

With the exception of Predator and ASAT a lot of the most popular camos seem more fashion than function... my 2 cents.  But I guess that can be a whole other subject in the forum.

[BLUEBULLS]

Intruder is right on. i actually used to make my own camo with tan clothes and a black marker that resembled predator, now i just wear predator. most new camos work great if you're hiding from people but with animals the more contrast and break up the better.

[Ironhead]

Its all about wind ,motion and natural sounds.. To me the # 1 factor in archery hunting Elk is the wind, If they smell you it's all over #2 is movement, if they see movement that think is  a predator they are gone, #3 If they hear an un natural sound they are gone.  There is no fooling an Elks nose, You can fool their eyes, If they see you, you can become or remain motionless and they may decide the danger has passed (I personally feel more confident if I have my camo on when this happens) or was a passing Elk or other ungulate. You can also fool their ears with calls and natural Elk noises but, If they hear an un natural sound ( release against arrow or arrow against riser this sort of thing) they are just as gone as if they smelled you. These are 3 things I live by when archery Elk hunting.

[boneaddict]

I've brought in alot of bulls with my levis on and a regular shirt.  I've had them standing at 12 feet wondering whats up.  Ask Idabooner.  I put a gigantic bull in front of him that came to kick my ass.  The fir tree got the worst of it though.  Just have to watch movement.  Wind is important is an understatement.

[Hunting Cowboy]

I absoultely agree. Wind is the deal. Followed closely by ill-timed movement. I do agree with groundhog about concealing your hands. I make it a practice to wear green drab wool gloves. But wind is number one!

[jstamp]

So what you are telling me is that the $300 I spent on camo doesn't hide me from the elk. I was sure that's why it costed so much. Wind, who would of thought that. 

[lemondog]

Wind is #1 no doubt. Camo is cool for sure. It makes "me" feel like I am more a part of the enviorment and I tend to hunt better that way. The thing to watch though is your face. If a bull can make out your eyeballs on light colored face....your in trouble.

[Bigshooter]

My grandparents lived in alaska for almost 20 years.  They said the way you knew bear season had open was all the seattle people up there wearing camo.

[Houndhunter]

i think its good to wear atleast a natural type color. just dont wear BLUE thats the worst thing possible, its like wearing fluorescent to deer. and i know i know that some of you have called in huge bulls and seen huge bucks while wearing blue jeans and what not