We all seem to accept that deer species see in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum, and so we wash our hunting clothes in the appropriate cleaning products to kill off the scents and UV enhancers.

But what about African game animals? Do they also see in the UV spectrum? I know in the past that my hunting clothes were washed, prior to the hunt, in commercial laundry products. During the hunt, there is no telling what the camp staff use to wash our clothes.

I keep thinking about some of the African animals that we just couldn't get up on because they always seemed to know we were there. Were we, in effect, wearing a big glowing UV sign that alerted them everytime?

Has there been any scientific studies of African game animal sight? What do you guys think - can they see in the UV spectrum?

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Lets just all be very grateful that the animals we hunt most frequently do not have the same capacity of vision as the Baboon. We would all be going home with far fewer trophies!

I've hunted my whole life and been around game around the world. I have to say that nothing and I really mean nothing compares to the insane level of vision that a baboon has and the way they can work out what they see in their little primate brain.

It takes very little in the way of a movement or something unnatural, or different in their home range. To allow a baboon to identify you instantly. It must be like they have built in 10X leica's inside their noggins, combined with a mapping system in their memory of every natual landscape contour, plant, tree, and bush.

I've never witnessed anything that can compare with them. It's almost a supernatural power!

quote:

Lets just all be very grateful that the animals we hunt most frequently do not have the same capacity of vision as the Baboon. We would all be going home with far fewer trophies!

I've hunted my whole life and been around game around the world. I have to say that nothing and I really mean nothing compares to the insane level of vision that a baboon has and the way they can work out what they see in their little primate brain.

It takes very little in the way of a movement or something unnatural, or different in their home range. To allow a baboon to identify you instantly. It must be like they have built in 10X leica's inside their noggins, combined with a mapping system in their memory of every natual landscape contour, plant, tree, and bush.

I've never witnessed anything that can compare with them. It's almost a supernatural power!

JJ

Can't agree with you more! I enjoy hunting the little critters more than alot of others.

I tell people "If someone calls you a Baboon, take it as a compliment!"

quote:

Originally posted by BwanaBob:
During the hunt, there is no telling what the camp staff use to wash our clothes.

I suggest it was just the commercial 'cakes' of laundry soap that is available in general stores as most are hand washed in a stream or tub of water. I think UV 'dampeners' doesn't come into it.

Fellows, which of the big five DG animals do you think would do best on differentiating between light kackie or green clothing? I always thought smell was first, noise-second, motion-third, and color--a distant fourth.

The plains animals with the best eyesight, in my experience were the Blesbuck and the Eland. Could not approach closer than 400 yds to Blesbuck on numerous occasions.

Dak

I had a hard time getting a vaal rhebok last month.. Man, they have great eyes! My PH said they had 15x Swarowski, and he`s probably right.. Never ever seen anything like it..

If we were in the open, they would jump up at a kilometer, whistling their alarm call and heading for the next mountain..