Never before have there been so many options when choosing hunting clothes. The sheer number of camo patterns alone is mind-boggling. Add in the hundreds of types of fabrics, styles, insulation and scent-elimination technologies and brother – picking the right outfit can get downright confusing. So if you’re on-the-prowl for a new set of hunting duds, make things easy by shopping with three things in mind: Ears, Eyes & Skies EARS Some game animals, like turkeys, have great eyesight. Others, like whitetails, rely mostly on their noses to detect danger. But the thing that all species have in common is acute hearing. One false sound in the forest can spell disaster on a hunt. Therefore, the best sound when hunting is no sound at all. Total silence
So when you’re at the outdoor store trying on jackets, move around and listen. Simulate coming to full draw with your bow or raising your rifle. If the garment makes any noise at all, put it back on the rack.
Also remember that some fabrics, although silent when warm, can get stiff and “crunchy” in extremely cold temperatures. Read the hang tags carefully, and select a fabric that promises silence under all climate conditions. When you find the suit that’s silent and has the cut, pockets and features you want, then it’s time to consider the ideal concealment pattern you need. EYES Beating an animal’s eyes with today’s technical camo patterns isn’t too difficult. And honestly, even without modern camouflage, it still isn’t rocket science. The single most important way to go visually undetected is to NOT MOVE! Think of all the amazing hunters who consistently harvested big, wary animals before the advent of branded camouflage. They did it by being motionless. However, today’s patterns do give you some advantages. Manufacturers have achieved a level of photo-realism that does a fantastic job of blending into a wide variety of environments. They also design patterns that are very situation-specific (grasslands, wetlands, springtime woods, autumn woods, winter, etc.). Therefore, if you hunt primarily from the ground in open-prairie settings, a grassland pattern will serve you better than camouflage that emulates a wooded environment
Many hunters own a variety of patterns that appeal to different situations. But that can be costly. So, most opt for one versatile camo that fits the bill in any terrain. When choosing that single pattern, I always lean toward camo that’s very light in tone. Darker patterns tend to form a human-shaped blob when viewed from a distance. But light-toned garments seem to perform better. Also, to break up your silhouette even more, try two wildly different patterns for your pants and jacket, respectively. This creates a bold contrast that helps disrupt your outline. SKIES By “skies” I’m talking about weather. Heat, cold, rain, snow, whatever Mother Nature dishes out from one day to the next. As it pertains to weather, I think the number-one prerequisite for any hunting outerwear is that it’s waterproof. Not water-resistant. WaterPROOF! With taped seams to eliminate water creeping in. The state-of-the-art waterproof AND breathable fabrics that exist today are truly unbelievable. I strongly recommend coughing up a little more money to buy the most premium outerwear you can afford. Instead of getting anything that’s insulated, choose a silent, waterproof, breathable “shell” outfit instead. That way, you can wear as much or as little as you need underneath – and own a set of hunting duds that will serve you as well in September as they will in December. Hunting prowess is certainly the pivotal reason behind your success in the field. But the gear we use as hunters definitely plays into our odds. So, this season, do yourself a favor and invest in outerwear that cheats their ears, beats their eyes and meets the challenges of adverse conditions. I promise, it’ll make you a more successful hunter. Good Hunting. | 
