Optifade Marsh

The Marsh Pattern

To develop the Waterfowl Pattern, Gore worked with the same panel of experts who helped create the original OPTIFADE pattern: animal vision scientist Dr. Jay Neitz; Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Tim O’Neill, PhD; and founder and CEO of HyperStealth® Bio Technology Corp. Guy Cramer.

Like the other patterns, the  OPTIFADE™ Marsh pattern is digital concealment, not mimicry. Rather than trying to make the hunter look like something, the pattern’s intent is to make the hunter appear to be “nothing” to the animal.

Specifically, the pattern takes into account how ducks, geese and other waterfowl see:

• Waterfowl have a large, almost panoramic, field of vision.
• Their visual acuity is very good for an animal, though not superior to human acuity. However, they have low contrast sensitivity – an inability to see “edges” very clearly – and relatively poor depth perception.
• Waterfowl have a fourth photo-receptor that allows them to see some colours that humans cannot see.

Because birds are particularly sensitive to colour and continuity with the surroundings the Marsh micro pattern is critically important and is as detailed as possible to confuse bird vision. The colours, in particular, have been manipulated to create a great deal of depth.

In addition to considering the animals’ vision, the pattern also takes into account engagement distance and positioning of the animal in relation to the hunter:

• While most patterns are designed as though the bird is on the ground looking at the hunter –OPTIFADE™ Concealment takes into account that the birds are usually above the hunter in flight, and are in constant motion.
• Waterfowl hunting is done in a high contrast environment. Skylight from the horizon, or light reflected from the water surface will shine through gaps in rushes creating concentrated light spots.  OPTIFADE™ Marsh pattern is high contrast to be consistent with the environment, and includes elements that are light in colour and elements that are darker in colour.

Because birds are overhead and in motion, and not viewing the hunter horizontally, the macro pattern in OPTIFADE™ Marsh is more vertical than it is in patterns designed for ground prey.

Click here to see the range.