These are the classic camo patterns that will make most hunters nostalgic.
The words "classic camo patterns" bring back fond memories of time spent afield with my father in the early '90s.
We spent a lot of time hunting whitetail deer as well as waterfowl in my home state of Alabama where there was an abundance of both. Fast forward, and there are so many camo patterns out today that it's hard to keep track of them all. But there are a few that stand out as classic.
Can you remember when you first saw these?
Mossy Oak Patterns
Nearly everyone who hunts is familiar with Mossy Oak. This iconic company is known for patterns that blend in in most places a hunter will find themselves chasing game. Mossy Oak patterns have always been a staple in our family, and this started with the Original Bottomland, Break-Up, and Treestand patterns.
Mossy Oak's Bottomland is the first pattern the company created in the 1980s and it has since proven to be among the top choices for hunters of all kinds. This pattern consists of tan, dark green, and black colors to form a pattern that looks a lot like tree bark. Its application ranges from waterfowl to whitetail and especially turkey hunting, and blends very will in ample terrain. Bottomland has been the base of several patterns which came after its introduction due to its lifelike bark simulation. Hunters wearing this pattern like to think they virtually vanish into the trees.
Moving forward, Break-Up was launched in 1996 and is a pattern geared more toward whitetail hunting in the late fall and through the winter. This pattern had tree limbs as well as leaves strategically placed throughout. The original Break-Up has inspired a bunch of spinoffs, including Break-Up Country and Break-Up Infinity.
Treestand is similar to the Break-Up pattern but the designers removed foliage and added detailed images of tree trunks for the ultimate elevated whitetail hunting pattern.
In my opinion, Mossy Oak has created some of the best patterns on the market and are always being innovative when new patterns are created.
Realtree Patterns
Although there are several patterns considered "iconic" in Mossy Oak's line of camo, Realtree has also been a huge player in the concealment game for many years. They have created some of the best camo patterns on the market that, much like Mossy Oak, have been a staple in most households in the hunting community.
Realtree introduced their Original pattern in the 1980s which became a fast favorite for whitetail and turkey hunters alike. This pattern has shades of green, brown, gray, and black. It closely resembles the bark of a tree which gives it that "all around" feel for ample hunting applications.
For the waterfowl hunters they released Max-4 pattern that consisted of brush found in swamps as well as other wetland areas. Among these were cattails, leafs, saw grass, and more. The Max-4 pattern quickly became a favorite in the waterfowl community due to its ability to conceal in practically all waterfowl hunting situations.
One thing to note is that Realtree camo can been found on many NASCAR vehicles from years past. In fact, Dale Earnhardt was a close friend of Realtree founder Bill Jordan. Dale and Bill spent a lot of time hunting together, creating a special bond between the two.
Mossy Oak and Realtree are two of the most iconic camouflage companies in the industry. Both have created some outstanding patterns and have spent countless hours researching what works in areas all across the country.
And of course, they both have aided us in successful hunts, and have been a common topic around hunting campfires for many years.
NEXT: MOSSY OAK CAMO PATTERNS: ALL THE STYLES, PAST AND PRESENT
