How important do you think a camo/stock or whole rifle, shotgun is?

How important is an either full or partial camo rifle or shotgun is to successful coyote hunting.....

Are the Camo Stocks just pretty or does the coyote notice the difference? I read an article in Predator Extreme several months ago, (3 part, I think), that dealt with what a coyote can and can't see and to be truthful, many of the rifles are only camo'd to us? Wrong? What do you think?

Granted they are beautiful, I have several, but just wonder if some basic breaking up of the lines would be as effective?


Thanks,
Desert

Coyotes have no idea what the sillhouette of a rifle means nor do they care about the color. They do have acute vision and will notice anything shiney or the slightest bit reflective, especially if it's moving. If you have the rifle trained on them, they are only seeing the frontal view of the rifle, which is pretty small. The biggest give away is the reflection off a front scope lens and (some over look this)
the reflection from the inside of the front scope lens cover.
One of the simplest ways to kill glare is cover your rifle with nylon stockings or a leg of panty hose.

[img width=600 height=139]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/UtahMike/MY%20Guns%20and%20Camping%20Trips/FirstAtemptatcamoairbrush.jpg[/img]


I tried my hand at camo painting with an old air brush I had around
-- I read the Predator Extreme article and tried to stay away from Black and Dark Greens, the bad colors, for now just some burlap over the scope should break it up enough.

I dropped it out in the west Desert the other day and had a hard time seeing it... true.ism....Used my Military Tamayia paints air brush Flat Military and 3 colors of Krylon Camo along with one Allumahyde II Matte Clear over coat.... for hardness.

I was asleep when I wrote this last night, lol..

The rifle is an old Remington 700BDL--- in 243win, with a cheap scope on it right now.... I keep it for quick shots while driving on dirt, desert and mountians.....

That is a good picture to learn from. Study the picture and notice the parts of the gun that reflect the flash from the camera. That is what Wiley will see on a bright sunlit day.

Sharpshooter, like I said, this is my first "stock" camo job.... I purposely didn't do the scope and barreled action until I see if I can do a decent job....

I wonder if just spraying the entire rifle minus the stock with a "flat clear or flat black" would keep the coyote from seeing the rifle or does the scope and barreled action need to be airbrush camo'd also....?

+4 for Sharpshooter
Color means nothing, reflectivity, and movement are the killers

color of your gun is just as important as the label on your pet food!

So stay away from shinny smelly stuff? I just stole all my wife's pantyhose, think she'll notice? I just don't need to put them on until I'm hunting! lol!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deserthunter

So stay away from shinny smelly stuff? I just stole all my wife's pantyhose, think she'll notice? I just don't need to put them on until I'm hunting! lol!

---

Just make sure to shave your legs first ;D

Back to camo questions,

I see a number of Anti-Reflection devices that fit over or in the objective lens, are they effective or is the pantyhose route just as effective and cheaper? How much do they cut down on the amount of light entering the lens?

I've called in and shot yotes from point blank to 250yds. The advice above is spot on. It's movement and non natural glare that will scare them off.

One yote came to me so quick, we literally had a faceoff at about 6ft. I didn't shoot then cause the rifle wasn't in the proper position. After a 2 min staredown he moved out to about 15yds. The rifle was at my shoulder and I was looking through the scope when he stopped for one last look see. It was his last look at anything.

That was a wood stocked, blued rifle, and black matte scope (leaning against the tree). I was in camo head to toe, including a face mask, and I avoided looking right at him during the closeup staredown.

http://handirifle.com/images/17hmr.2.jpg

Half of the camo paint jobs and 80% of camo clothing turn black at a distance, especially on a cloudy day. If I could only have one pattern of camo clothing for hunting, it would be Nat Gear. Stay light with your camo and dull anything that shines.

[img width=600 height=386]http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r279/brentwin/001.jpg[/img]

This rifle has had the metal Cerama-Coated and the stock camo'd. After I sealed the stock with several coats of clear, I lightly rubbed it with 4/0 steel wool to kill the shine.

The scope is the only problem and I don't like painting decent scopes, so I wrap a little camo cloth around it.

There is some very good vet type wrap that comes in multiple camo patterns, including snow camo. I wrap in around the barrel, scope and the front half of the rifle. It cuts down on all the glare. It sticks to itself and leaves NO glue on your rifle after taking it off. Yes I will spray paint my Savage 6mmAI once it has a good load worked up for it, never did like the black Tupperware stocks. I read the same article on what coyotes can see and talked to the writer on the issue. Very good article. The camo pattern does not have to be picture perfect as they do not see the details clearly.

I've also got a couple of rolls of that "Camo Form" in "snow and mossy oak brush", I was extremely disappointed in the product..... They show it so perfect wrapping a rifle, yet it only sticks to itself, not the gun, cutting a opening for the bolt, etc. is a joke.... But I will try it one more time to wrap the barrel and scope, loosely to see if it will work.....

A tip from my grandson, designated sniper for his Marine SPEC OPS unit while in Iraq.
The scope lens is a reflector, if you have no webbing cloth to stretch across, take some fine grass and make a "birdsnest" in the recessed space the forward lens sets in.

It's very important if you can paint wicked awesome camo.

I can't paint, but it's f'funnnnn trying......

I think predator, turkey, waterfowl hunt'n it's a must.

I make sure the only coyotes that are close enough to see the rifle are already dead. Would not say this for the shotgun users though.

I have busted plenty of dogs with blued wood stocked guns. That being said it is always fun to personalize ;D
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...1/100_0129.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...1/100_0127.jpg

love it

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...e/IMG_0452.jpg


I haven't finished yet, but

The straight black barrel is what stands out in the country I hunt, heavy sage. When my partner and I split for a stand I can spot him right away by the black barrel sticking out of the cover, it is tatally forgien to the surroundings. usually the stock is faf enough back and low enough that it can't be spotted from a coyote on the ground.

Wrapping or painting the barrel works well but I do paint the whole rifle because I like the look.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...ake2010021.jpg

375Win

I haven't decided weather or not to paint the barrel, however I did have the barrel "bead blasted" to remove the shine out in the sun.... I hope that is enough... I have another rifle, a 700bdl in 243w that I carry behind the pickup set that has a wrapped barrel... http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...e/IMG_0237.jpg

I have been hunting for other 30 years and to this date have never had a Deer, hog, yote, dove, etc thank me for killing them with a camo painted gun instead of a plain ol factory Black synthetic stock or wood stock gun.

I would think unless you are hunting humans, camo is not really important.

I have read through this thread and there are alot of good points made that's why I like the diversity of this site that being said: the ? How important is it to camo up a gun IMO it's a marketing tool just as the tacti-cool market used to be 3-9x30 scopes on hunting rifles parallax free at 100 yards no knobs switches bells whistles crap to mess with while in the field.. To hunt a hunter "predator" if you're packing a 26" stainless gun with a gloss stock and scope and expect to be remotely successful I doubt it. Painting a gun lock stock an barrel you don't have to get a wrap or make one out of a pair of bdu camos if that's all you have. Alot of us back "varmint" rifles to do coyote hunting heavy barrel light triggers so you cringe when you grab the primer and set out to paint a weapon. It's a tool that's all it is, painted or not you want your success rate higher a coyote can see a field mouse jump at 100 yards or further that 26" shiny lightning stick don't help your odds at all.. My .02 fwiw

quickkillaught6 --- I was just wondering, how many coyotes did you take last year? Are you an avid hunter, just wondering ? And what rifle did you use...

I waited a while on this, but I guess I'll put in my $ .02

Like many have already said, I don't think a camo weapon is absolutely necessary. On the other hand, if you're a serious hunter, it certainly doesn't hurt anything either.

The most important thing is to be careful about movement, as movement will get you spotted faster than anything. Stay in the shadows when possible. Don't silhouette yourself. For animals with good noses, pay attention to wind direction. Etc, etc. Just good basic technique will take you a long way.

If you do decide to camo your weapon, don't halfway do it or you're defeating the purpose. Paint the entire thing, scope and all, just remember to tape off the numbers on the various scope knobs.

squirrelsniper -- As a side note, did you happen to read the article in "Predator Extreme" magazine about the eyesite of coyotes? It was a 3 or 4 part article on the ability of coyotes to see colors, etc. and how well... I think you can probably "Google" the net and find the article.... I think it made very very good ready.... I mentioned this when I started the topic....
Desert.

No, I haven't read it. I've never had a subscription to the mag so I've only read one here and there when I saw it somewhere. I'll look around the net and see if I can find it though. Thanks.

Hunter I shot 35 dogs and 4 fox last year in Indiana my goal was 50 didn't quite get there but maybe this year took most of them doing ambush set ups when you put enough distance to your target it's a little easier I used 2 rifles no shotgun and got one with a muzzle loader the rifles were a remington sps 223 and a savage 30-06 camo'd pics in pic section the r700 is all matte and is getting painted this year didn't have time to psi t it last year. Another good thing about paint is it's easily changed I use primer grey as a base about 3 coats so If the paint gets scratched it's not s big deal I also do quite a bit of night time hunting when a coyotes eyes are in a red light they really can't see your gun if it's a tool I don't hesitate to painter up

Just a side note to the problem of lens glare. On some of my sniping setups at sunrise I will close the front lens cover until the coyote hits my magic 200-300 Yrd's mark, then open it at the right moment. Also remember that your bino's have the same problem. Why look into the sun, well mister wind dictates it in some locations.

quickkillaugh6 -- I have a 40yr old son who lives in Muncie, he doesn't have anyone to hunt with, If your close maybe the two of you could get together.... He is an avid hunter, reloader, he does blackpowder and molds his own bullets and even has the press' for making 22cal and I think 6mm vld type bullets..... I'll get you his name if your intrested, pm me..... I'm sure he would love to get out....

Thanks, Desert.....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deserthunter

I've also got a couple of rolls of that "Camo Form" in "snow and mossy oak brush", I was extremely disappointed in the product..... They show it so perfect wrapping a rifle, yet it only sticks to itself, not the gun, cutting a opening for the bolt, etc. is a joke.... But I will try it one more time to wrap the barrel and scope, loosely to see if it will work.....

---

If you are talking about the stuff that is for leg wrapping. converted to camo, than there is no need to cut any holes, just wrap it so it doesn't interfere with the bolt or ejection. Not every cm of the gun need to be covered, just the most obvious ones. Remember, most of the receiver will be covered by your face anyway.

i have 2 camo'd guns that i did myself with krylone, my primary bushy predator and my mossy 835. i had all my other hunting guns painted then took it all off. the PE article is good and i wear ASAT camo and leafy suit. movement is key. i broke my record last year with preds and pelts paid for my entire year. but i'm taking all the camo off the 2 other rifles this summer after my self imposed rattlesnake season starts. movement is your enemy and camo just looks like a blob anyway so a dog isn't going to notice a black barrel sticking out at him. ARD's are nice if you can find one in your size other wise mesh works. all you have to do is knock off the shiny parts, you are not a sniper where a human can discern another human and react. i've actually had a coyote in my lap and it was not due to the camo of my weapon but of what i was wearing. the stock camo jobs that you pay extra for are mostly the wrong colors any way. if i do camo anymore it is just with a sponge and some flat tan and just a little darker brown, just enough to look like i dropped it in the mud. my .05