My first compound bow, a Browning Nomad Deluxe II, was a shiney black bow with a natural wood riser. My first few attempts at bow hunting were from the ground, eye level with the deer. I wasn't successful with that bow, but NOT because of the color. I actually used to use Jim Crumley's Tree Bark, and no face mask. When deer were close, I'd have my bow held straight out in front of my face, sort of to hide behind the bow. When the wind was right, the deer didn't even notice I was there. I got 2 shots off with that bow and missed clean twice, the first time the deer didn't even spook but kind of trotted around in a semi circle at the sound of the arrow hitting brush. I even nocked a second arrow, but he was directly down wind and he winded me.