It all hype, we are foolish for wasting our money, let the non-believers keep pushing deer our way

I don't think it's coincidence either. Unless you've tightened up your overall scent control strategy.

I bought a set this year as well, and while I haven't seen enough significant evidence, (I just haven't been out much as yet) I have had deer down wind that weren't alarmed. One was for about an hour and a half, w/in 20 yards the entire time.

BUT, I noticed alot of that last year when I changed over to Dead Down Wind. The jury is still out for me, but I'm continuing to use it.

I agree with Rob

Fran, if you would be willing to sit with your old camo and see if your sightings go down, that would help with most answers ....

I am going to chime in.

There are to many differnet varibles here Quick

Mast Crop is it the same as last year?
Field Crops- My guess is they are not the same.
Weather - it's been hot, does that = less guys hunting
Pressure - is it more or less.

While I am 100% believer in scent control, there are way to many varibles to say it is one thing.

Example

I saw 3 bucks in the morning and 17 deer in the evening. That beats last years opening day by 19 deer. I know exactly what it is, it has nothing to do with me or what I wear.

My dad rides his Harley and is not out walking around.
My uncles have not been screwing around in there woods.

Pressure is way down, so the deer were movning. Pressure is the #1 facter in seeing a pile of deer. You can have the best location in the world, but if it has a pile of pressure, it's about as good as hunting in North pole IMO.

Yeah, the crops have rotated, that's one variable that should be noted.

Another thing to consider is that the pressure onthe primary farmthat I've been hunting has increased. A few guys got busted for poaching across the road, so that farm is now off-limits to all hunting. The displaced guys all came across to the farm where I hunt, b/c it's the last place around that's open to everyone.

Last year, I was seeing one guy out there every day. There were a minimum of four other bowhunters in there last night. 4 hunters on a 140 acre parcel that is only 10-15% woodlot (85-90% fields). I say a "minimum of four" because there are ways for guys to sneak in from the neighboring grounds.

I don't think that your "study" has any significant value. I do think carbon suits will help but there are just too many variables that you do not have control of. Chances are with out any changes you just may have more deer this year to see, you maybe sitting still better, or any number of reasons.
Since I've bought my scent blocker suit, I've seen fewer deer. I'm not blaming to cloths, we just have fewer deer to see. On the other hand, I've seen more critters as a whole, seeing several foxes with in bow range this year already and a few coyote's just out of range down wind.
I'm not writing to discourage or to down play the advantages of carbon, I just don't think seeing a few more deer this year than last is proof of anything. You will know when you're in a stare down with a buck and the wind is going in his dirrection, wether or not he can smell you.
I know this season has been tough up here. Yesterday, I went out and it was so warm, my scent Blocker jacket and pants went in my back pack, I walked to my stand with no shirt and shorts and still worked up a sweat. Today and tomorrow are supposed to be even warmer, above 80. Gets any warmer I'm going to put AC in my tree stand. lol
What I've learned in this heat wave is that my Scent blocker pants and jacket breath a lot better than I imagined. I expected to feel like being wrapped in plastic, keeping sweat in like it keeps odor in. That's simply not the case. I've worn Xscent base layers under, I've worn nothing under, and I've worn cotton under while it's been warm. The only time I felt wet and sweaty was when I wore cotton under. The cotton loads up with sweat and holds it, I felt a lot dryer with out and with a good wicking base layer. Can't hurt if the base layer also helps kill human odors. All my cheap Walmart cotton camo shirts and sweatpants have been demoted to wearing to and from hunting, from shower to the woods and from woods back home. For me scent control is second, moisture control is first. Moiture control keeps you cooler in the heat, warmer in the cold. I'm extremely impressed with todays scent control products like my Scent Blocker/ Rain Blocker suit, Xscent socks and base layers, and Cabela's camo skinz and ingenous socks. I don't know for sure how much scent contol I'm really getting, but I sure am comfortable when I'm hunting. I can work up a sweat and not have to worry about freezing to death because of it. No need to change my socks after walking to my tree stand, my feet are dry and comfortable. Well worth the few extra dollars.

I personally cant bring myself to spend that kind of money on some camo. As far as the data I think that it doesnt tell anything really. I have had dear with in 8 yards of me last year hunting from the ground sitting next to a tree and never got busted.AllI used was scent killer on my clothes. But if you think that it helps and since you have already purchased it I would defenitely continue using it.

I'm not really on either side of the scent lok debate, as I don't own any and probably never will.

My understanding of the great debate, isn't if it works to start out with. It's if it works after the carbon has been saturated with odor.

Comparing next year with last year and this year may tell a better story.

I agree 100% wack. Matter of fact, I've already been winded by a mature doe (I had a 1.5 y.o. buck wind me also, but he didn't freak out like the doe did).He just changed his body language and left. She totally freaked out. Again, I gotta emphasize that I'm hunting deer that will tolerate NO human intrusion.

...AND I've been picked outat 19' inthe tree by another mature doe (upwind)in my Predator camo. Anyone who says "deer look right through you" in the open patterns is full of it. I'd say they look right "at" you. LOL

I get busted no matter what camo pattern I wear, MOBU, Predator, etc... No movement, and I hunt high. I'mjust hunting deer that are trained to keep their heads up. They see something out of place, and they leave. No tolerance at all from anything other than the fawns. I expect the Predator to work a little better once the canopy opens up. It's still pretty heavy.

That's with an antimicrobial base layer, scent lok, about a gallon of scent killer spray, a short walk, and always keeping the wind in my favor (unless it changes once I'm already set up)...

I've got several scent control suits and am not convinced they are 100% effective' but I am convinced they help and if they help even 10% or 20% thats going to increase deer sitings. Also if it gives your confidence a little boost like it does mine then I think it helps you be a better hunter, because if I'm confident in the spot and my equipment, I know I hunt better.