I already complained in this topic
https://www.reddit.com/r/dayz/comments/6j0byw/will_the_new_grapics_update_062_reduce_the/
that the possibility of hiding stuff is the reason for the persistance and some main goal for a lot of players. But at the moment its impossible to hide something if the barrel gets visible because of the LOD switch of the bushes. Here my settings:
http://imgur.com/0FWghY2
and here some exaples how it looks like if you step one stepp back.
No Barrel visible.. http://imgur.com/3F1QIUA
There is the barrel.. http://imgur.com/NMjVt5D
No Barrel visible... http://imgur.com/OJGjnF8
There is the barrel... http://imgur.com/BiAhZH8
This way it makes no sense to spend time looking for a good location for a barrel or even spend time looting to hide something. In my opinion it is again a pure PVP game.