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Article #131: The Art of Concealment

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






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