To Be Seen Or Not....?? 2024
Crow Horse reply :
While fishing I've always felt most comfortable blending in with the environment. Being that I'm in a yak (sit in) I'll choose my camo top of the day depending on the weather and how I plan to fish my local pond. My yak is OD and overall, I blend in pretty well. Sometimes so well that my GF on the other side of the pond (14 acre) can't see me. Either way, I'll continue to do the same but was wondering if others feel the need to blend in....
tracker01 reply :
I would say no. To me it’s a safety issue. If your GF has a problem seeing you sometimes, how about a first responder.
Paul Roberts reply :
Absolutely. But, not necessarily bc the fish might see me. I simply do not want to leave so much as a track. 
As to the bass, they see everything anyways. They are hyper-aware, but alarming them enough to affect your fishing is entirely contextual. Fish are pretty sophisticated critters. They know their waters very well, and are hyper-vigilant both for food, and for predators. This near-dichotomy essentially runs their lives. At least the parts anglers are mostly interested in.
Crow Horse reply :
On 1/27/2019 at 5:22 AM, tracker01 said:I would say no. To me it’s a safety issue. If your GF has a problem seeing you sometimes, how about a first responder.
Both of us have 2 way radios, so if she can't see me she can always shout me on the radio. I'm not sure in what context you mean regarding first responders. Can you expand on this?
N Florida Mike reply :
I wear a blue shirt on a sunnier day, and gray shirt on cloudier days. I dont know if it helps but it seems to. I also try not to fish with the sun at my back unless its a bait that will cast a long way.
I really want a couple of blue and gray camo type shirts.
Darren. reply :
Not me. I'd rather be seen when on the water when kayaking.
But you're on a small body of water, I'm not so sure it matters
much there. But even on the reservoirs I fish - electric only - I'd
rather be seen than not seen. Guess it's in-grained safety switch
hard-wired into my brain .
Scott F reply :
I’m not sure a kayak, no matter how it’s colored, is going to sneak by a bass unnoticed.
TnRiver46 reply :
I just grab whichever shirt I see first laying on the bedroom floor........
Harold Scoggins reply :
For the most part, glitter boats stay away from me. Although, I'm not sure why.
Glaucus reply :
Some fishermen: fluoro, camo, walk around the pond hunting wabbits
Other fishermen: braid with no leader, using the atrocity that is the Tokyo rig
Everyone catching fish.
Moral of the story : doesn't matter it's in your head
scaleface reply :
I had big un-pressured smallmouth follow my canoe around like dogs . After introducing them to fishing pressure that type of behavior stopped .
Crow Horse reply :
I have a copy of "What Fish See" and although I haven't read it in it's entirety, I might add another dimension to this...
Bluebasser86 reply :
I have a bright chartreuse shirt that says "If you can read this, you're fishing too close", in big, bold, black lettering. Also wear black, and orange shirts pretty often. I don't really put much thought into it.
Choporoz reply :
My PFD is yellow. I always fly an orange flag and/light from my yak and I only use paddles with bright white or yellow blades.
Crow Horse reply :
I should have been clearer. Safety first, always. But when safety won't be an issue, maybe a stealthy approach could be advantageous.... I always felt more comfortable in doing so.....
WRB reply :
If the lake or pond is remote you want to blend in, on a public reservior blending in could get you run over, it can be dangerous in a white bass boat at times! Clothing I wear what is comfortable and SPF 50 unless it's raining, then my outer wear is navy.
Tom
MassYak85 reply :
On 1/27/2019 at 8:55 AM, WRB said:If the lake or pond is remote you want to blend in, on a public reservior blending in could get you run over, it can be dangerous in a white bass boat at times! Clothing I wear what is comfortable and SPF 50 unless it's raining, then my outer wear is navy.
Tom
x2, usually in my Yak I am fishing remote ponds with very few motor boats. But on larger lakes I have a neon orange flag sticking up behind me for safety reasons.
BoatSquirrel reply :
All of us old deer hunters know camo is IMPORTANT!
stratoliner92 reply :
On 1/27/2019 at 7:53 AM, Crow Horse said:I should have been clearer. Safety first, always. But when safety won't be an issue, maybe a stealthy approach could be advantageous.... I always felt more comfortable in doing so.....
I use to do same when going in my canoe, mostly white or blue shirts. But after owning two different red bass boats and a white center console I don't think it makes any difference. I fish muddy to gin clear water and it doesn't seem to change my catch rate using canoe vs red bass boat. Fish can see you quicker standing on deck vs sitting in canoe/yak but at casting distance to bass it makes no difference in my opinion. Off topic regarding safety I was coming back to ramp in dark after sunset and two yaks were in middle of lake with no lights never saw them until right on them, thankfully I wasn't running and just at idle or it could've been tragic--something that still scares me.
Gundog reply :
I don't prescribe to the adage of blending in. I have had bass follow my canoe, swim right towards my canoe and I have even caught bass directly under my canoe in gin clear water. Sight fishing works well and if you can see them, they can see you.
NYWayfarer reply :
When Kayaking I want to be seen by other boaters. My kayak is lime green, rods are bright colors as well as my paddle. I have a ultra loud whistle around my neck for colorblind boaters. Bright unnatural colors have had no effect on my fishing while kayaking in gin clear waters. I have had Bass chase lures right to the side of my kayak.
Bank fishing I wear colors that blend into my surroundings as I have spooked shallow Bass at times. I think it was from noise and vibration from my walking more than what I was wearing.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
As a lot mentioned, for safety purposes I wear bright color long sleeves shirt when im in water, because I share water with all those speed boats.
When blank fish I also where color (a lot of color from blue, green, yellow, red you name it just to be in fashion ????. ). The color I don’t wear is black or nevy blue.
Catt reply :
On 1/27/2019 at 5:22 AM, tracker01 said:I would say no. To me it’s a safety issue. If your GF has a problem seeing you sometimes, how about a first responder.
My thoughts exactly!
I've been involved rescue searches, I've pulled guys out of the water after wrecking, flipping, or sinking, I pulled a guy out of the water after being thrown from a bass boat & ran over by said bass boat, the damage from a prop is unimaginable, & I've pulled a dead body out after it been underwater 3-4 days.
It would be nice if y'all would help make it easier! ????
tracker01 reply :
On 1/27/2019 at 5:58 AM, Crow Horse said:Both of us have 2 way radios, so if she can't see me she can always shout me on the radio. I'm not sure in what context you mean regarding first responders. Can you expand on this?
The people called upon to preform a water rescue.
fishwizzard reply :
I want to be as visiable as possiable. It helps that Chartreuse Green is my favorite color, so that’s the color I picked for my yak and starting next season, my pfd. My paddle has orange blades and if I ever rememeber I will put reflective tape on it.
Oregon Native reply :
I surely wish that the kayaker's around here were as safe minded as you all. Gosh...they like to blend in for the most part … even around dark they don't even use lights!!!
Mobasser reply :
We have a 17ft wide bottom aluminum canoe we use for smaller waters. It's unpainted. A friend said we should paint it camo, but I won't. Hasn't made any difference in fishing either
TnRiver46 reply :
On 1/27/2019 at 9:06 PM, Oregon Native said:I surely wish that the kayaker's around here were as safe minded as you all. Gosh...they like to blend in for the most part … even around dark they don't even use lights!!!
They have time trials every Wednesday near my house and they stretch across the entire river. I have almost hit a few. I’m a kayaker myself but dang I stay out of the barge channel hahaha
NHBull reply :
If fishing for money, blend in,
If not, be visable.....
I know many that split the difference and wear neutral colors
Crow Horse reply :
Understood that safety trumps all. When we go out and there's the remote possibility that we will be on the water after dark I run the lights as pictured. We almost never go out on a body of water that allows motorized water craft and if we do, we'll stay tight to shore. Our usual fishing spot gets very little fishing pressure and we're the only one's on the water for 98% of the time. In that case, we don't have to worry about a collision scenario. The only issue that we had was ending up in the line of fire when some reckless kids decided to shoot into the pond (they knew we were there). It's a little disconcerting when you hear a bullet "zing" by you. We bugged out and then I straightened out the misguided youths.......
Catt reply :
On 1/27/2019 at 9:40 PM, NHBull said:If fishing for money, blend in,
Ever see a Pro tournament?
They aint exactly blending in! ????
roadwarrior reply :
On 1/27/2019 at 10:09 PM, Catt said:
Ever see a Pro tournament?
They aint exactly blending in! ????
A lot of guys (most guys) like camo, but that's just their preference. I don't think anything you wear has
an affect on the fish.
Angry John reply :
On 1/27/2019 at 10:33 PM, roadwarrior said:A lot of guys (most guys) like camo, but that's just their preference. I don't think anything you wear has
an affect on the fish.
I believe this to be mostly true, the exception is very clear shallow water. To define it loosely if you have great clarity for jerk baits or swimbaits, I believe it matters. How much does it matter that's anyone's guess
NYWayfarer reply :
On 1/27/2019 at 10:09 PM, Catt said:
Ever see a Pro tournament?
They aint exactly blending in! ????
Crow Horse reply :
This is interesting. Just something to noodle...
Paul Roberts reply :
Lots of ways bass could see you, and care. (Even more, if you add sound and water movement.)
First, can they see you?
As I'd mentioned above, bass are VERY vigilant and aware of what's going on around them. They seem to be more easily spooked when shallow, of course. And it might not take much to get them to bolt for safety. Fish seem not to be much concerned when I'm in boats. Even my float tube, which has legs with fins dangling overhead. I can alarm them, or put them off, but, in general, they don't seem to be concerned about me in my tube.
From shore, things are different. Possibly bc they are more apt to be shallow fish, but they seem to be hyper aware of motion. And pressure wakes emanating from my footfalls is a serious spooker. I tend to wear dark drab clothes, esp when fishing from shore so that I am not highlighted against the background. Crow Horse's image above can show why. Rod motion can be a problem, which is one reason I do not like light colored rods. From a boat, possibly less of an issue, but I came to respect the effects of line flash too, at times, and so all my rods are dark.
Sky and water conditions matter here -a lot.
But, do they care?
Fish can become habituated to the presence of... all kinds of things. Even heavy equipment around some of the quarries I've fished; Big yellow monsters thundering by belching smoke! On the flip-side, they can also be educated to fishing pressure. Some waters are fished harder than others, some waters expose us more, and some individual fish are spookier than others.
Again, sky and water conditions matter -a lot.
If a bass sees you, but doesn’t bolt, does it care? They sure can...
Once upon a time... I spotted four large LMs holding, separately, along a shoreline of a large pond. This was late June –well past the spawn. A couple other anglers that had already been there said those big ones wouldn’t bite anything. I approached quietly, but somewhat visibly, and tried several things including a swimming worm, plastic craws, and 4” wacky’d finesse worms, to no avail.
I noticed, though, that when I approached, the bass would react to my presence, but subtly. Their erect fins would sag a bit, and they’d drop a bit lower in the water column –they “sulked”. If you are a fly-fisher, sight-fishing -or "head-hunting" as it's called- for large brown trout, you'll know this behavior well. Their erect fins droop, and they sink ever-so slightly deeper. "Sulking" is a good descriptor. Apparently, bass can sulk too. They saw me, and “cared”.
So… just like with big browns, I rested them, then rotated back through each fish. This time I approached low to the water’s edge and kept hidden behind shoreline willows. Casting was difficult from behind the bushes, but the bass did not see me, and did not sulk. And I caught three of the four.
Two tipped up for the swimming worm on the first cast like a trout coming up for a dry fly. Number three took the worm on the second cast. She was interested but turned away on the first, and took the worm killed and twitched on the second. The fourth had moved, and spotted me on my attempted approach, and she'd had enough and vacated. The bass I got a thumb lock on were two 19s” and a 20” –top fish in that water.
I don't know what would have happened had I been wearing a white shirt with Mickey Mouse on it, but...
Crow Horse reply :
Awesome info!!!!!! Thanks!
Steveo-1969 reply :
When I'm wading in clear water I wear a blue shirt for blue sky and a gray shirt for cloudy. If it's partly cloudy, I probably wear the blue shirt because I like that one more...
I don't think my shirt color makes much difference though. If they are close enough to see me they probably already sensed me standing/shuffling in the water.
roadwarrior reply :
On 1/29/2019 at 2:42 AM, Paul Roberts said:Lots of ways bass could see you, and care. (Even more, if you add sound and water movement.)
First, can they see you?
As I'd mentioned above, bass are VERY vigilant and aware of what's going on around them. They seem to be more easily spooked when shallow, of course. And it might not take much to get them to bolt for safety. Fish seem not to be much concerned when I'm in boats. Even my float tube, which has legs with fins dangling overhead. I can alarm them, or put them off, but, in general, they don't seem to be concerned about me in my tube.
From shore, things are different. Possibly bc they are more apt to be shallow fish, but they seem to be hyper aware of motion. And pressure wakes emanating from my footfalls is a serious spooker. I tend to wear dark drab clothes, esp when fishing from shore so that I am not highlighted against the background. Crow Horse's image above can show why. Rod motion can be a problem, which is one reason I do not like light colored rods. From a boat, possibly less of an issue, but I came to respect the effects of line flash too, at times, and so all my rods are dark.
Sky and water conditions matter here -a lot.
But, do they care?
Fish can become habituated to the presence of... all kinds of things. Even heavy equipment around some of the quarries I've fished; Big yellow monsters thundering by belching smoke! On the flip-side, they can also be educated to fishing pressure. Some waters are fished harder than others, some waters expose us more, and some individual fish are spookier than others.
Again, sky and water conditions matter -a lot.
If a bass sees you, but doesn’t bolt, does it care? They sure can...
Once upon a time... I spotted four large LMs holding, separately, along a shoreline of a large pond. This was late June –well past the spawn. A couple other anglers that had already been there said those big ones wouldn’t bite anything. I approached quietly, but somewhat visibly, and tried several things including a swimming worm, plastic craws, and 4” wacky’d finesse worms, to no avail.
I noticed, though, that when I approached, the bass would react to my presence, but subtly. Their erect fins would sag a bit, and they’d drop a bit lower in the water column –they “sulked”. If you are a fly-fisher, sight-fishing -or "head-hunting" as it's called- for large brown trout, you'll know this behavior well. Their erect fins droop, and they sink ever-so slightly deeper. "Sulking" is a good descriptor. Apparently, bass can sulk too. They saw me, and “cared”.
So… just like with big browns, I rested them, then rotated back through each fish. This time I approached low to the water’s edge and kept hidden behind shoreline willows. Casting was difficult from behind the bushes, but the bass did not see me, and did not sulk. And I caught three of the four.
Two tipped up for the swimming worm on the first cast like a trout coming up for a dry fly. Number three took the worm on the second cast. She was interested but turned away on the first, and took the worm killed and twitched on the second. The fourth had moved, and spotted me on my attempted approach, and she'd had enough and vacated. The bass I got a thumb lock on were two 19s” and a 20” –top fish in that water.
I don't know what would have happened had I been wearing a white shirt with Mickey Mouse on it, but...
WOW!
I am not going to argue with our resident scientist, but this would not be in line with
my experience over the past 22+ years of serious bass fishing. My guys dress "dull"
just because that' the way they are, but sometimes that meas bright red! I can't get
my arms around any connection with one's clothing.
Paul Roberts reply :
On 1/29/2019 at 6:43 AM, roadwarrior said:WOW!
I am not going to argue with our resident scientist, but this would not be in line with
my experience over the past 22+ years of serious bass fishing. My guys dress "dull"
just because that' the way they are, but sometimes that meas bright red! I can't get
my arms around any connection with one's clothing.
I hear you. And... I agree. It's not the clothing. That heavy equipment I mentioned was wearing bright yellow! No, it's not the clothing, but what you do in it. And... I suppose how long you go about it: I found that, on flat trout stream pools, in which there was no way to approach without spooking them, all I had to do was wade right in on them -spooking them- and... just wait. 5 minutes would do it for brookies; about 10min for browns. This was for "fished over" trout. Here in the high Rockies, where I can hit streams that are not fished, those naive brookies and cutts only take about 10seconds, and you can actually stick them -repeatedly- before they get a clue.
That said, and as "our resident scientist", I can tell you that, as curious as I generally am, I will be NOT be running any white Mickey Mouse shirt experiments! I have my own fashion statement to uphold. I'll be sticking to my stealth-mode fishing clothes: drab cotton long-sleeved pocketed button-downs from Goodwill at $3 ea. Worn more than a few out I have.
Hey Kent, do you realize we had close to this same conversation... probably a decade ago now?! Two old codgers holding on to the same ideas. But, I don't think we're all that far off, since both could yield similar results.
This brings to mind an old whitetail doe I knew. I had some pretty fancy camo -even had artificial leaves affixed. But, she only had to identify me once, after which she had me pegged everywhere and everything I tried to weave myself into. I guess I might as well have been wearing a white Mickey Mouse shirt.
Crow Horse reply :
I'll be sticking to my stealth-mode fishing clothes: drab cotton long-sleeved pocketed button-downs from Goodwill at $3 ea. Worn more than a few out I have.
I have a Viet Nam era ERDL (jungle leaf) camo that's just been retired from the fishing rotation. I figure after 50 years it doesn't owe me anything. Now it's either ABU tigers or Marpat (desert or woodland) to keep stealthy.....
For most this must sound insignificant or just plain ridiculous but my approach is to pay attention to details, no matter how seemingly insignificant. It's a mental game and just might make the difference when it counts......
CrankFate reply :
On 1/28/2019 at 3:20 AM, Crow Horse said:This is interesting. Just something to noodle...
Safety aside, if they see actual human beings they spook. They are programmed with instinct to know we eat them. I don’t like to be seen by them, because it makes them startle. Especially when they have big eyes like these that only curve upwards. Just look at the eye. That eye is huge, well developed and designed for spotting people.
Oregon Native reply :
I'll go with the belief that it's the sudden movements that frighten fish the most. After all they spend a good portion of their lives up shallow when they are young and up there they have many enemy's. Kingfishers, herons, snakes, man and the list goes on. A quick movement usually means danger. Stealth over color!!
Crow Horse reply :
More food for thought....
https://www.bassfishingandcatching.com/bass-eyesight.html
JoshFromBolo reply :
Honestly I don't think your clothes are gonna have much effect on if fish can see you or not.
But with that said, if wearing camo or certain colors give you confidence to catch more fish go for it! F
Choporoz reply :
Maybe a greater lesson than outerwear colors is that there may be significant value in letting things settle .....take a little time between motoring into a cove...or walking up to the water's edge...and making that first cast.
That pause might be a few seconds on a busy marina-lined channel....or a minute or more in a shallow bay of an old, quiet mill pond. Maybe let them get a little comfortable before ripping a 190 Whopper Plopper across their ceiling.
Burke reply :
On 1/27/2019 at 7:20 AM, Harold Scoggins said:For the most part, glitter boats stay away from me. Although, I'm not sure why.
Looks like you are set for war !
Could you tell us your wear gear set up ?
schplurg reply :
On 1/27/2019 at 10:09 PM, Catt said:
Ever see a Pro tournament?
They aint exactly blending in! ????
You win the thread!
Sam reply :
Bank fishing - blend in
Ponds - blend in
Bodies of water with bass boats - stand out so they can see you
Crow Horse reply :
When I fish, not only am I looking to "blend in" visually, but on another level, which might be difficult for many to understand, I'm looking to be a "part of" not "apart from".......
LonnieP reply :
If I'm bank fishing a small pond I try to blend in and go into stealth mode. In my boat I'd rather be seen that way I dont get run over.
IgotWood reply :
I’ve got mixed feelings. I am a super secretive fisherman. It’s just the way I was taught. I don’t like to draw attention on the water. Most of the lakes I fish don’t have boat traffic, so stealth is good. However, on an area with traffic, o want to stick out as best I can. I have come so close to being run over in my kayak quite a few times. It’s very scary.
Additionally, I do t feel like the color of my kayak has any effect on the fishing. I have hooked fish plenty of times right under my bright yellow kayak. No worries there.
LadiMopar reply :
My first yak was desert camo. I picked it to be less noticeable, I love the idea of blending in to the scenery... THEN I discovered that I was so well concealed that almost no one could see me, even with the Orange flag and bright yellow blades on my paddle.
New yak this year is screaming orange fire camo....safe is better than sorry.
J.Vincent reply :
On 2/7/2019 at 6:52 AM, IgotWood said:Additionally, I do t feel like the color of my kayak has any effect on the fishing. I have hooked fish plenty of times right under my bright yellow kayak. No worries there.
I agree completely.....I've never noticed the color of my hull affecting the bite, even in water clarity from 1 ft to 8ft visibility.
Crow Horse reply :
We fish mostly quiet waters so visibility to others isn't an issue. For others who do frequent busy waters, maybe a flare gun aimed directly at oncoming vessels will get their attention. Or maybe a Phalanx weapons system........
Sam reply :
On 2/6/2019 at 11:47 PM, Crow Horse said:When I fish, not only am I looking to "blend in" visually, but on another level, which might be difficult for many to understand, I'm looking to be a "part of" not "apart from".......
So to expand on your statement, you don't want to be like a fish in the water looking up and seeing you or your boat/kayak and thinking "what the heck is that?" which will increase their defense mechanisms.
If you "blend into your surroundings" when the bass looks up it will not see you and therefore not be alerted to your presence and the bass will act normally, enjoying sunning itself, swimming around, and looking for a meal. The bass will not "hear or feel" you via noise or vibrations and therefore you will not alter their behavior.
Good thinking.
That is why I preach being quiet in the boat; walking 50-feet from the bank when changing locations; casting back from the bank when possible; wearing darker clothes; and doing what the pros do, turn off your trolling motor as you approach your next place to fish by floating into the area without power.
This is better than the alternative.
Crow Horse reply :
For me, it goes far beyond "not being seen". I recognize that many will think that I've lost the plot and I'm a charter member of the lunatic fringe. I accept and understand that. Moving with stealth is only the first step in establishing a deeper connection with Creation (read-nature). It becomes a form of a dynamic meditation where I can function efficiently and be hyper aware of everything. Animals (and hopefully bass) seem far less concerned of my presence and don't regard me as a threat in this "mindset". I tend to see much more than the average Joe. Call it "being mindful" or "living in the moment"......
Birds seem to be far more friendly when I'm in the "mode" as seen below with 2 friends.....
Paul Roberts reply :
On 2/10/2019 at 12:34 AM, Crow Horse said:For me, it goes far beyond "not being seen". I recognize that many will think that I've lost the plot and I'm a charter member of the lunatic fringe. I accept and understand that. Moving with stealth is only the first step in establishing a deeper connection with Creation (read-nature). It becomes a form of a dynamic meditation where I can function efficiently and be hyper aware of everything. Animals (and hopefully bass) seem far less concerned of my presence and don't regard me as a threat in this "mindset". I tend to see much more than the average Joe. Call it "being mindful" or "living in the moment"......
Birds seem to be far more friendly when I'm in the "mode" as seen below with 2 friends.....
I agree with your mind-set. If we are aware of what our bodies are doing, we are less apt to alarm other creatures. But, the reasons animals behave the way they do when we're "in that mind-set" has less to do with any ability of theirs to read our minds, (your comment could be taken this way), than it has in their abilities at reading -or at least being hyper-aware of- what our bodies are doing. It's worthwhile, our being hyper-aware too.
Just for the exercise, it can be interesting to video ourself, when we think we're "hidden". Resulting video's can be pretty surprising, and can explain a ton. "How did that deer see me? He couldn't possibly! I'm going to have to get some UV blocker spray!!" Crow Horse is right that mind-set is pretty important -as long as it's still in connection with your body.
We have certain potential advantages in the other direction though. I've spent a bunch of time with deer, both whitetails (back in your neck of the woods, Crow Horse), and mule deer too. It's possible to "walk among them" (It's easier with muley's). What's interesting is, if you know their body lingo, they can actually accept you almost as "one of them". I say almost, bc, the "ruse" isn't really complete. Instead, it's that they cannot help but... act like deer, and if I can succeed in ceasing to be seen as a threat, they will exercise their own social rules with me. They can't help themselves in being what I call, cervo-centric; Just like we can't help but be anthropocentric. I mean what else can they do, beyond getting nervous and move, or run, away? Allowing them the alternative to alarm takes a ton of patience, some luck (those conditions & circumstances), and then, when you're close, knowing their "lingo". Rule number one in proper deer etiquette: Never make eye contact for more than a second. Except during the heat of the rut, but just make sure you have some control of the wind. That is, you can give them a good whiff if they don't call your bluff. 
I've only had one deer ever actually give me a chill. He just wouldn't back down, until I managed to give him a good whiff.
As to fish, I've now shot a couple thousand hours of underwater video, not counting above water observations and fishing. I can say that they too are hyper-aware of their surroundings. They have the same challenges all creatures face: Can I get my needs met? That is, can I eat, and socialize, and not be maimed, or eaten? Start by staying within those bounds, and it can be surprising what you can get away with.
Crow Horse reply :
I agree with everything you've shared, with the exception of mankind being anthropocentric. Indigenous cultures universally believe that humankind is just a part of everything that is, not the core or nucleus of it. Everything that is finned, furred, or feathered are our brothers and sisters. There is no hierarchy. This belief structure is in direct conflict with modern society.
My belief is that mindset is critical, especially in the context of camouflaging oneself. Perhaps it's more important than physical appearance. Once while I was conducting a "hide and seek" training exercise where "searchers" were looking to find me, this point was made very clear to me. I was wearing camo BDU's (although the pattern was not appropriate for the environment, Thai Tigers in a woodland environment) and had 2 searchers actually urinate mere feet from my position. It was at this point that I started to think that this wasn't such a great idea. They left the area and then I moved to a more open area and positioned myself next to a trail which provided very little cover. I layed down, contorted my body as not to look too human, tossed a handful leaves to break up my outline a bit and had the instructors walk the searchers down the trail. One searcher called out that he had found me and ran over to me. I figured they had bagged me and the only choice I had was to "melt into the earth" and become a root system. I shifted my vision to a "wide angle vision". The searcher was less than a foot away and he declared that it wasn't me, turned and walked away. I honestly thought he HAD bagged me. When I got up he almost s*** in his pants and swore up and down that he didn't "see" me.
This intrigued me. My camo was substandard. He should have seen me. The difference was my mindset and I began experimenting with it. The trigger for the shift in mindset was changing my vision to a "wide angle" vision where my visual screen was expanded to it's ultimate periphery. When I did this the mind followed and a shift occurred. People as well as animals became less aware of my presence in a variety of environments. I thought it was quite remarkable.......
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