My late Mentor, Marty Simon, was a Vietnam combat veteran specializing in nighttime ambush raids. While he left his military career behind him and started a civilian survival school, he always provided lessons from his service to better assist the sportsmen who came through the program. As his lead survival instructor, I adopted much of his curriculum into my own sportsman practices and can attest to their viability in the field. One particular topic that came up frequently was avoiding detection while hunting, including camouflage and proper techniques. There are many ways one can teach camouflage, and all should be studied, but for this particular Fieldcraft Survival blog, I want to share one of the greatest lessons taught to me by one of the greatest woodsmen I’ve known. 

To understand what will make you stand out vs. what will allow you to blend in, you need to consider the “S’s.” Depending on who you speak to, there may be plus or minus a given number, but you must address these to be more effective as a hunter. Some relate to the animal’s sense of smell, some to their sense of sound, and some to their sense of sight. It is interesting to consider how many of these proven practices that relate to the hunting field can be adopted for those going downrange and into harm’s way, the same way Marty did during his Vietnam service. 

You must consider “S”ound. This consideration relates to the noises you make internally, such as coughing, sneezing, speaking, etc., as well as the noises your gear will make. Bowhunters likely have string silencers to prevent their prey from “jumping the string,” and if you are wise, you will make sure you have nothing that will go off accidentally, like your cell phone, even if it is on vibrate. Additionally, you should be aware of the sounds you make moving through the field. Kydex rubbing against branches makes a much more synthetic sound than leather and is more detected by animals. Also, heavy boots are great for supporting your ankles under a heavy pack, but they don’t let you feel the ground underneath you. A broken stick can alert animals to your presence. By the way, pay attention to birds' alerting noises when you pass through the woods. Trust that other animals are paying attention, too. 

Another “S” is scent. The animals you are pursuing have a much more sensitive olfactory system than humans. Many clothing manufacturers sell scent-eliminating clothing but don’t address the amount of scent in your breath. On another level, you must be aware of the wind and the direction it is blowing. Your scent matters, but you must also know if it doesn’t matter as much in those times and positions where the wind is in your face as you stare down a trophy-sized animal. Keep this in mind if you are camping around a smokey fire. Not only can the fire spook nearby game, but the residual scent can as well. One well-understood remedy to odor is increasing elevation where the airflow is different. Hunters who ground hunt vs. sit in tree stands will attest to the stand being a better option. 

The visual “S’s” are perhaps the most important. As previously mentioned, you will have different sources tell you there may be more or fewer than the following; silhouette, spacing, sudden movement, surface, shape, symmetry, and shadow. Silhouette can be described as easily making out the outline of the human body. Avoid this by breaking it up with vegetation, or at least avoid standing out on ridgelines and walking over roads when you can go under bridges. Spacing relates to the equal spacing between unnatural objects. Think of using a camouflage net over the grill of your vehicle, parts of your hunting stand, or other object you bring into the field that is built with equal spacing. Sudden movement creates disruption among the baseline. Move with the environment and when you notice openings. Keep in mind generations of hunters wore red plaid and sat still with incredible success. Surface (sometimes referred to as shine and or shade) relates to blending whatever surface you have with your environment. This may mean rattle canning your firearm to avoid shine and making sure the shade you use blends in with the environment. Shape is like silhouette but at a micro level. The human form is identifiable to an animal as a threat. If you can break up your shape with camouflage that matches the environment or utilize natural shapes in front and behind you, you will find success in avoiding detection. Symmetry is the human form separated in half, running from the top of your head to your toes. You can position yourself where only part of your body is exposed, breaking up this symmetry and improving your chances of not being seen. 

Shadow is the final “S”, and can spook game when you get close. This also plays a factor in fishing. Always think of where the sun is positioned in relation to you and what you are hunting. When you have a good understanding of camouflage, you start to see the world differently. You’ll not only pick up equipment to test how durability it is, you’ll shake it to see if it makes noise. You’ll start looking for items that are muted or drab in color instead of bright and shiny. If you’re like me, you won’t even want to wear these colors on a daily basis if you don’t have to because you want that ability to disappear and avoid detection. This blog is just the tip of the iceberg by the way. When you start to get into tracking and learning from guys like Fieldcraft Survival’s resident tracker Craig Caudill, you will realize how rewarding it can be to apply in the field.