| Concealment, though it is often confused with | | | | are up against with a deer's sense of sight. |
| camouflage is really much more. You cannot | | | | The first is color and pattern, choose |
| simply go out and buy a Ghillie Suit or some | | | | camouflage pattern that blends well with the |
| other high quality camouflage and expect to | | | | surroundings. The second challenge is your |
| remain concealed. | | | | profile or silhouette, if your hunting |
| | | | terrain and vegetation allow, a Ghillie Suit |
| Concealment is the skill or art of keeping | | | | is a great way to diffuse or soften your |
| from being seen, found, discovered or | | | | profile. |
| observed; camouflage is just one step in | | | | |
| concealment. | | | | Now that we are all experts in concealment, |
| | | | lets make a practical application of our new |
| For this article we will use the example of a | | | | skill and some other helpful hunting |
| deer hunt, we will discuss how to keep | | | | knowledge. Remember, nature is lazy, water |
| concealed in different types of hunts, and | | | | flows down hill, electricity takes the path |
| how to place yourself in a position to get a | | | | of least resistance and have you ever seen a |
| good shot. There are typically 3 different | | | | cow trail the goes up the steepest side of a |
| types of deer hunting. Stationary hunting | | | | hill? No. Keep this in mind when you are |
| typically from a tree stand or blind is a | | | | hunting. |
| method often used for bow hunting. The | | | | |
| "Scope and Stalk" method also known as the | | | | When hunting from a tree stand, the goal is |
| "Sniper" Method is used by bow hunters and | | | | to hunt deer that are completely un-aware of |
| rifle hunters alike. The "drive" or walking | | | | your presence. Deer in transition between |
| hunt is typically used by larger hunting | | | | night feeding and morning bedding or between |
| parties using rifles. Since it is not | | | | daytime bedding and evening feeding are great |
| typically the objective of the driving hunt | | | | targets. They are not spooked, typically a |
| to remain camouflaged or concealed, we will | | | | combination of walking and standing until |
| not discuss the "drive" in this article. | | | | they get to the feeding grounds. When you |
| | | | are in a tree-stand or in a blind you cannot |
| We have already touched briefly on | | | | move so location is critical. It is a good |
| camouflage, and will return to it again | | | | idea to scout out several locations that may |
| later. When practicing concealment consider | | | | be effective in different wind. Remember |
| all of the senses your target has available, | | | | nature is lazy, much like water deer will |
| sight, scent and hearing are the most | | | | follow low lying areas as long as possible. |
| powerful ones. | | | | Position yourself at a natural bottle-neck in |
| | | | the terrain, where two or more coulees |
| With the wind in their favor deer can smell a | | | | converge or where a stand of trees is |
| human well over a mile away. There are | | | | narrowed by hills, water, agricultural |
| "scent blockers" that may help, but the best | | | | development, etc. Another option is to place |
| result will always come when you position | | | | yourself at the edge of the cover near the |
| yourself downwind of the deer. This means | | | | feeding area. Deer will often walk to the |
| walking into the wind, stalking into the wind | | | | edge of the cover and stand for minutes at a |
| and positioning your tree-stand such that | | | | time before they are comfortable enough to |
| your most likely shooting opportunity will be | | | | break cover and feed. This can provide some |
| upwind. | | | | exceptional opportunities. |
| | | | |
| Exercising a little common sense with regards | | | | The Sniper method is different from hunting |
| to wind direction has now brought you well | | | | in a tree stand in a couple ways, typical |
| within the one mile zone of your prey. The | | | | Sniper hunting is performed during the day |
| next two challenges are really equally | | | | when the deer are not moving. The objecting |
| important; How do you beat the deer's sight | | | | is to conceal yourself in a position that |
| and hearing. It may be easier than you | | | | offers a good viewing range, "scope" or |
| think, everything in nature moves and makes | | | | "glass" the surrounding hills especially |
| noise, so "if you can't beat 'em join 'em". | | | | upwind. If you have not spotted any deer, |
| Be as quiet as you can, but don't be afraid | | | | back down the hill into some low lying gully |
| to make a little noise. Just make the right | | | | or coulee, slowly and quietly make your way |
| type of noise at the right time. Listen for | | | | to a spot you have already scoped and are |
| a wind gust blowing up through the tree tops | | | | confident there are no deer. This will put |
| and move when the background noise is near | | | | you in a position where you will not disturb |
| its peak. Watch how a deer moves, a couple | | | | any un-scoped hunting ground while offering |
| steps and a pause, a few more steps and a | | | | you a new vantage point to glass your new |
| pause. Constant evenly paced foot steps will | | | | surroundings. When you have spotted a deer, |
| give you away like a marching band. Be aware | | | | chances are that it is out of range, this is |
| of your surrounding and make your noises | | | | where the stalk comes into play. Determine |
| appear natural. | | | | where you need to be to have a good shot and |
| | | | plan a route to get there that will keep you |
| Now we will return to camouflage. When you | | | | out of sight. Keep in mind all of the tips |
| apply what you have learned so far with the | | | | discussed earlier about movement and natural |
| proper application of camouflage you will be | | | | sounding noise and begin the stalk. |
| a master at concealment. When choosing | | | | |
| camouflage, consider the two challenges you | | | | Happy hunting. |