Hunting for wild game is a good way to survive during emergencies. If you live in Arizona, then you’re set to hunt for a diverse range of animals that will be your primary source of protein.
What’s the best cam for Arizona? Arizona is a desert-like habitat for big game like elk, javelina, mule deer, turkey, and more. The best camouflage for Arizona is mimicry camouflage. This camouflage resembles sage desert plants with a sandy brown base shade. This will break up your silhouette and help you blend seamlessly with the background.
Camouflage attire is only effective when it matches the environment and is paired with good hunting habits. The general rule is to stay as still as possible to remain unseen.
Hunting In Arizona
Arizona is a desert-like terrain that is home to different wild game. Some of these species include:
- Big game:
- Pronghorn
- Black bear
- Bison
- Bighorn sheep
- Elk
- Javelina
- Turkey
- Mule deer
- White-tailed deer
- Mountain lion
- Small game:
- Predator
- Furbearer
- Beaver
- Muskrat
- Badger
- Racoon
- Otter
- Weasel
- Ringtail
Best Camouflage Brands
The best camouflage for Arizona is mimicry with 3D patterns. The texture must diffuse your human outline. The base color should be sandy brown to help you blend with the sprawling sand dunes and different desert plants. Investing in a high-quality camouflage outfit can be a game-changer for hunters. Here are some of the best brands that offer camouflage in Arizona:
- King’s Camo Desert Shadow
- All-Season All Terrain (ASAT) Camo
- Mossy Oak New Break-Up
- Real Tree AP
- Natural Gear
- Mossy Oak Brush
- Kuiu Verde
- Sitka Gear’s Optifade Open Country
- Sitka Gear’s Subalpine
- Kuiu Valo
Best Camo for Arizona
There are three main types of camouflage: mimicry, breakup, and 3D. Breakup camouflage is the most popular camouflage option.
Mimicry
As the name implies, this pattern helps you “mimic” the colors and patterns of your environment. This is a bit challenging to achieve because it’s actually very hard to mimic the exact color shades of nature. Seasons change all the time and so do the colors.
A green-based mimicry camouflage outfit may work well in the first week of the summer season but be completely useless a week later. There are so many factors that affect leaf color changes and these changes occur really quickly. It’s going to be expensive to purchase camouflage outfits for every color palette in the season.
A deer’s eyesight may be poor, but it’s good enough to distinguish your silhouette. Your silhouette will be apparent the moment there’s a difference in the shades of your camouflage outfit and your background. It’s ideal to use mimicry if there are little to no seasonal changes in your area. Otherwise, try out other camouflage patterns.
Breakup
This camouflage pattern is named as such because it tries to “break up” your general outline. A successful breakup camouflage will make you look like a natural part of the background, whether it be a log or a stump. This is very effective for big game like turkeys, waterfowl, elk, and deer.
This is ideal for hunting because it hides your movements well. You can choose between two types of breakup camouflage: micro-breakup is best for close-range hunting while macro-breakup is best for long-range hunting.
3D
This adds texture to your camouflage outfit. The 3D design is not literal. It’s only printed on your camouflage set instead of having actual leaves or branches hanging from you. This is best for stationary hunting. If you’re going to move a lot, it’s better to pair this with breakup or mimicry camouflage patterns.
Here’s how to select the correct camo pattern based on your environment:
What Do Game Animals See?
Knowing what game animals see can help you adjust your hunting pattern and behavior. Humans see a broad spectrum of colors. Animals don’t possess the same capability. For example, deer can only detect colors like yellow, green, and blue. That means red and orange just blend with everything else. Their poor eyesight means that they rely on their sense of hearing or smell for survival.
Conversely, birds see more colors than human beings. They are alert and sharp, detecting even the slightest movements or changes in detail. When hunting turkey or waterfowl, don your best and most realistic camouflage outfit. Stay as still as possible because the slightest movement can set them off.
Predators have similar eyesight to ungulates. They only have green, blue, and yellow light cells which means that colors like red and orange will be harder to determine. This also means that their sense of hearing and smell will be sharper. Try to be as odorless as possible when hunting
Arizona Hunting Checklist:
- Hunting license
- Permit tag
- A weapon with ammunition (bullets for firearms or arrows for a crossbow)
- Weapon accessories like release, sling, and bipod
- Backpack
- Binoculars with 10x lens
- Portable field cushion
- Camping pillow
- Toiletries
- Deodorant
- Washcloth
- Wipes
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Hiking bottles
- Camera
- Bug repellant
- Pocket knife
- Thick hiking socks
- Belt
- Extra battery packs for the electronics
- Camouflage cap
- Hiking boots that have good traction and sufficient ankle support
- Thermal underwear
- Rain jacket or poncho
- Camouflage Beanie
- First-aid kit
- Snacks or trail mix
- Earplugs to protect from rifle recoil
- Cooler with ice for a game
- Tweezers
- Grunt tube or rattling horns
- Sunscreen
- Hiking pole
Hunting Reminders
There are a few tips that can significantly improve the way you hunt for the big game.
Stay Lightweight
Pack lightly so that you can keep yourself mobile. A heavy backpack will weigh you down and cause you to move at a slower pace. Look for the portable counterparts of the hunting items that you need. Don’t bring anything that won’t directly contribute to your hunting.
Wear The Proper Hunting Gear
Your outfit should be as comfortable as possible. Hunting involves a lot of walking so make sure to wear the proper hiking shoes. You can use a hiking pole to walk more comfortably. Wear loose clothing so that you can move freely. Make sure your entire camo outfit matches, from your headgear to your footwear.
It’s important to prepare for the weather so that you can dress accordingly. Arizona is a desert but it can still snow or reach subzero temperatures during nightfall. Prepare a field jacket with liners that you can just put on whenever it gets cold.
Move Quietly
Avoid wearing fabrics that shuffle when you move. Always look where you’re going so that you’ll avoid stepping on branches. Once you spot your target, hold your position, and limit your movements. The slightest movement can scare them away. Most importantly, be patient in holding your position.
