A badgers-eye view – full camouflage
I’m not sure whether full camouflage is necessary for badger watching – sitting downwind and keeping still is much more important. The camo does give me the confidence to sit out in full view of the badgers though. I love the English Oak camouflage pattern.
Tales from the Wood - The Diary of a Badger Watching Man 
I did badgerwatching, I found their eyesight to be very poor and like other animals they are not disturbed if you shine a torch at them, the main thing is to stay downwind. They do not seem to have good hearing either. I actually got the best views just walking along the South Downs Way at night.
The English Oak pattern was designed by Thatchreed, it does have good colours but there is not much consistency (colour control) with the colours, the straight tree shapes lets it down a bit.
Hi Allan
You certainly know your camouflage! I tend to wear a variety of camouflage and non-camouflage clothing. I’m still not sure whether the camo is necessary for badger watching – I agree with you that staying downwind is much more important – but it does give me confidence.
Interestingly, I’ve started trail running again, puffing and panting my way around the local footpaths wearing a hi-viz fluorescent t-shirt and a reflective waistcoat. The odd thing is that I often manage to get close to deer in this outfit, closer than I usually do when wearing proper camouflage. Makes me think that perhaps the camouflage isn’t essential.
Effective camouflage BWB. I can still see your eyes, though; it’s a good job that the badgers can’t. The thing is, whilst you are watching badgers, you never know what else might come along. I am a fan of camouflage. If camouflage didn’t work, tigers would not have stripes. I wear glasses and they are a dead giveaway, so I use a balaclava with a veil.
To give you an idea how important it is to keep your eyes covered: if I hold my camera to my eye, I can approach a fox and a muntjac deer. If these animals can see my eyes, they very quickly make a run for it. You are right, though, it is not necessary to cam-up to watch badgers. It helps prevent people seeing what you are up to. If a person sees you lying on the floor, they might feel in the mood for a chat.
Hi Mike
It’s an eternal dilemma with me and the camouflage. On the one hand I don’t like walking around looking too scary (and I’m going through a ‘country gent in tweed’ phase), but on the other hand I do like the confidence it gives me, particularly when sitting out in plain view.
You’re right about the eyes too. I do often wear a full face veil now, just to cover my eyes. There is definitely something in the ‘predator eyes’ idea – that prey animals are conscious of being looked at.
My personal favourite idea is camouflaged sunglasses. Have a look at http://www.camovision.com/. As soon as I have more money than sense I’ll see if I can get a pair sent over. But you’re right, a face veil is probably as good if not better.
All the best
BWM
I bought a roll of lightweight ‘Real Tree” netting on Ebay (the type of netting that is used in the manufacture of face veils). It was probably a 12-foot square when opened out. I have found this material extremely useful camouflage – takes-up very little space and weighs next to nothing. It’s easy to put a square meter of the material in your pocket. It makes a good head veil – just drape it over the head and put your hat over the top. Vision through it is excellent, and it keeps the flying insect at bay.
Uncovered hands act like beacons, and the animals recognize human hands. I have adapted a pair of finger-less gloves and sewn a piece the netting of the back of them ( covering the backs of the fingers). This works really well with a camera, and these camouflage gloves are comfortable even on a hot day.
It is also very easy to make a cape from a larger piece of this material: fold it in half and cut a hole for the head. Combine the head veil with the cape and you are immediately transformed into a bush. However, all this is unnecessary if your intention is to watch badgers only.
I am a firm believer that you don’t need to spend a fortune for camouflage. I think the netting cost about twenty pounds.