Germ , 3.5 deer aren't common where I live due to B&Ds , and the stand is also brand new , so I haven't shot any that size from this particular stand . I have had deer of various ages walk by the stand , all of them checked it out , none of them spooked unless I moved or otherwise blew it . I sincerely doubt that you can ever truly hide any new object from a whitetail , they notice new objects very easily . All I'm saying is that I doubt that a couple of black stripes are gonna blow your hunt . Your smell or movement will do that far more often .