The list of things hunters worry about seems to be infinite. We always think if we change just this one little thing, the deer will come running right up to us. The best color to wear in a deer blind is yet another concern on this ever-growing list.
In a deer blind, black clothing is preferred for blending with shadows and concealing movement, especially when backlit or hunting with kids. Camo is suitable for time spent outside the blind. However, factors like scent control, blind placement, and noise are more crucial than clothing color.
The usual debate revolves around black versus camo, especially the decision of whether to buy specific black clothing for the blind or stick with the standard hunting camos. I’ve compared the two and detailed explanations of when to wear which.
Black vs Camo for Ground Blinds
Black is the usual recommendation for hunting from a ground blind, but it’s not without its downsides. Camo still has its use in ground blinds, so understanding when to wear which requires knowing how each is useful.
Black Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Blends in with shadowsHides movement Works for nearly any blind Outside environment doesn’t matter Inexpensive and easy to find | Conspicuous when outside the blind May get hotter Harder to find with hunting features like scent control |
Camo Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Blends in with woods outside the blind Hunting-specific features and designs | May actually be more conspicuous in shadows Requires calibration to the environment |
Black is the best color to wear in a deer blind. But I want to stress that it’s not that important. In a couple of situations, which I’ve described below, black can be really helpful. In others, it simply doesn’t matter. Either way, you should address other factors before worrying about the color of your clothes.
When to Wear Black in a Deer Blind
Black is the typical wisdom for blind hunting, and if you have it, it’s what you should wear as a default. This is especially true for morning hunts when you’re hiking into your blind location in the dark anyway, and there’s no point when you need to blend in with the outside environment.
The biggest benefit of black clothing is that it blends in with shadows and, therefore, conceals movement. Most deer blinds are, to some extent, transparent. If there’s enough light, you may create shadows that are visible from the outside. Black clothing cuts down on this.
As a result, there are two main situations where black clothing in a ground blind is not just recommended but vital.
Backlit Blinds
If you’ve read my other ground-blind articles, you know I highly recommend doing this anyway. But if you find that you have to put your blind between the sun and the deer for whatever reason, or you think it may happen by chance, the backlight will make your figure much more visible within the blind.
Hunting With Kids
One of the great things about ground blinds is that you can hunt in a group. Many people use them to teach their kids how to hunt. However, any parent knows that children get fidgety, especially if they’re excited and enthusiastic about learning a new sport.
Because a young learning hunter moves so much, they should really wear black. It’s likely some of their movements will be visible from outside the blind, and if you want them to have the success that breeds a love of the hunt, then you want to minimize that as much as possible with black clothing.
When to Wear Camo in a Deer Blind
The only time you should specifically wear camo is when you plan to spend a lot of time outside the blind. This could be an evening hunt where you have to hike out to your blind location during daylight hours. It could also be any hunt if you expect you may step out of the blind at some point or if you’re hunting for multiple days at a time.
However, another reason to wear camo is if you simply don’t have anything else and aren’t in a situation where black is necessary, as described above. A camo outfit is unlikely to make you more conspicuous in the blind. Plus, a lot of camo hunting clothing has extra features like scent control as well as warmth and insulation necessary for cold days.
Since I usually hunt from a tree stand, I have extensive camo gear, from top layers and pants to masks and gloves. I don’t hunt as much from a blind, and I don’t want to invest in getting all the same gear, just in a different color. Therefore, my camo works well enough for me.
Factors More Important Than Color
At the end of the day, the color you wear in your ground blind is something to take into account, but it’s not a major consideration when compared to other aspects of hunting, such as:
- Scent and odor control
- Blind placement
- Noise control
- Safety and protection from the elements
- Shooting and accuracy
Wear black if you find yourself in a situation where it’s necessary, but you should never sacrifice these other factors simply because you’re worrying about what color you’re wearing in the deer blind.
For more, check out Ground Blind Essentials | Strategies for Stealth and Success.
Christian grew up in the Ozarks where he spent much of his childhood on his grandparents’ homestead learning about firearms, hunting, and the great outdoors. He graduated with his BA in English and German from the University of Arkansas in 2012, after which he was a Fulbright Fellow in Germany.
An avid traditional bowhunter, much of his writing covers this and other similar topics, but he also covers just about everything from history and economics to motorcycles.
Christian has been featured on pewpewtactical.com, fee.org, mises.org, boredpanda.com, and numerous other major publications. He also is a journalist concerned with political and economic analysis and has written for the Mallorca Daily Bulletin. See more of his work at ChristianMonson.com.
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