What is the best all around camo for NorCal

[JLMZ28]

Hello everyone,
I am from Northern Ca.I go to school in Chico and my parents live in Concord. I hunt mostly between those two areas and wondered what was the best all around hunting camo. I just received an early present that is a Advantage Timber jacket and pant combo. Is this the best all around camo or should I change it up for something different. I also have an Advantage Wetlands combo for duck hunting so that is not a requirement for my choice.Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Thanks,
Jared

[Backcountry]

Ah, this opens up a can of worms... kind of like Ford vs. Chevy, or Remington vs. Winchester, or even Ginger vs. Mary Ann... http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-cool-shades-down.gif

First off, you&#39;re asking this question at a time that camo "technology" and choices are exploding. A dozen years ago about all a person had to choose from was Realtree and Military Woodland... these days, there is LOTS to choose from, and thus there is no simple answer to your question...

What you plan to hunt, where, and when will dictate what camo is best for you... if you hunt in different seasons, or for different game, or in different geographic regions, over time you may end up with several complete outfits of various different camo patterns.

Me? I’m a northern California hunter too and I have stuff in Advantage Wetlands, Advantage Timber, Advantage Max-4, Desert Sage, Desert Shadow, True Sage, Outfitter Brown, 2 shades of Mossy Oak, three different shades of Predator, Military Woodland, some old Realtree stuff from when it first came out, and a "no-name" snow camo pullover. Even though it may seem that I have “a lot” of camo compared to you, I have a disease that makes me want even more camo (be forewarned… this DOES NOT tend to help you with the ladies while at college http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-hitting-self.gif ).

Now, you ask, "what is the best all around camo"? My two cents, for what it&#39;s worth, and others may say different, is that Advantage Timber may not be the best “all around” camo... but again, we don&#39;t know much about what you hunt, where, or when, so for general purposes it probably will be just fine. But if you hunt in the sage of the high Sierras, or in the open oak savannah common along the edges of the Sacramento Valley, there are patterns better suited to that terrain. If you hunt mainly in slightly thicker woods, then Advantage Timber will be fine.

Personally, I think Predator makes the best "all around" camo patterns, basically because it is a much more "open" pattern. Darker/tighter patterns kind of make a person look like a camo blob or bear when they are silhouetted against a lighter background, and Predator patterns seem to overcome that, yet still work well in denser woods. Interestingly, I think Predator camo is the most "non-camo" looking camo to humans (e.g., the Mossy Oak stuff looks much more "realistic" to the human eye), but just because it looks different doesn&#39;t mean it doesn&#39;t work.

Finally, a question… what are you studying at Chico State?

…and a big WELCOME TO JHO greeting… http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-dancin-red.gif you’re in the right place for these type of questions so stick around!

http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif Backcountry

[JLMZ28]

Hey Backcountry,
Thanks for the reply.Here are some answers to your questions. I have lived in California for 10 years and have been hunting upland and waterfowl for the majoirity of the years. My waterfowling and pheasant hunting consists of Grizzly Island,private property in Maxwell and Colusa,and Willows.For that I have only used Advantage wetlands and has worked perfect.But my big game hunting has consisted only in Montana and Southern Illinois.I lived in both places for about 5 years.So when I moved out here I was foreign to all the big game huinting out here.So far I have hunted B6,private land in A zone and C4 near Paynes Creek.My pig hunting has consisted of the Paynes Creek area,private land in A zone at the base of Mt Diablo, and in Hollister. I currently have the realtree Hardwoods HD Grey.So those are the places I will definately go back to every year.With all these different styles out there I dont know what to choose.As far a Chico State goes I am a junior majoring in Business Admin with the option in Marketing.Thanks again for the welcome.I look forward to gaining some good info from you all.

Thanks,
Jared

[gonehunting]

Ah yes.......the can of worms, but hey, ya got to let them get some fresh air now and then http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-ugly-lol-bashing-sign.gif

Here is my http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/two-cents.gif ,

The most important thing is to break up your outline, thats what the animals reckognise. If you look at any patch of land, it is anything but one solid pattern. There are bushes, trees, rocks, logs, etc. So if you are wearing something in a similar shade of your surroundings( dont wear a dark camo pattern in a dry grassy field) and it is sparse enough as not to make you look like one solid object from a distance, then just about any camo pattern will work. As long as you dont look like a human, you will just look like a log or a bush to them. A good thing to do is have completely different patterns for your shirt and pants. It breaks you up even more. Personally, I think all these new camo patterns are for the hunters piece of mind than anything else, but thats just me. Also a few branches or log blocking the animals view of your lower half will help out alot.

I believe its usually movement or scent that spooks game, more so then what you are wearing, exceptions being full body skyline. But even then, I still think its mostly movement. Breathe worms, Breathe! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-ugly-lol-bashing-sign.gif

[JLMZ28]

Any one else have some ? Any guys from the same area as me? What do you wear?

Thanks,

Jared

[Sanger_Rainsford]

I live in NorCal and do a lot of waterfowling and upland hunting. I like Mossy Oak Shadowgrass because the western states are largely grassland and the pattern fits well with most conditions in California. For big game hunting, Advantage Timber or M. O. Breakup work well in the tree-covered foothills and mountains where there&#39;s sparse ground cover.

That said, what matters most is keeping still and making sure your body profile is broken up. Most camo patterns will do the job well enough.

I bought a couple of lightweight polyfleece blankets on sale, one in Breakup and another in Shadowgrass. I had the woman sew them together into one reversible blanket, which I use as a blind and cover. So far it works great.

[Arrowslinger]

Depending on terrain, time of year, and elevation...i either use Mossy Oak Breakup or Kings Desert Shadow, MO is "dark" and the King&#39;s is "lighter". For early season pigs and turkeys i&#39;ll use the MO &#39;cause the colors are darker and i blend in w/ the greenery better, when deer season rolls&#39;round, i switch to the King&#39;s camo, it&#39;s a bit lighter and helps me blend in a little better w/ the brown foilage...... http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif