After being in the field deer hutning for 3 seasons, now.....my views on camo have changed. I used to think that camo pattern was EXTREMELY critical to "success". I still do....but I think there are other factors that play bigger roles.

No. 1 - SCENT CONTROL

If the average hunter knew he could spend 5% of his annual camo budget on improving this area of his pursuit.....and would commit to it.....I think he'd be far more "successful". For every story of not being busted on stand (due to a camo choice).....I wonder how many times that same hunter is busted per season by deer he never sees. I pay more attention to this than ever, now......and I admit to not starting out that way. I think I'll become more and more fanatical about this as I mature as a deer hunter. I am STILL guilty of going in when I have a less than perfect wind. Discipline on behalf of the hunter has probably been the demise of more deer than any other aspect of hunting (discipline in this area of hunting).

No. 2 - Comfort

A comfortable hunter is a hunter who'll likely stay on stand, longer. I have camo, now, that I use for different times of the year. THIS is where I've learned to spend the few extra dollars. The Wolfskin Enigma is great for certain times of the year.....but quite honestly a hinderance in the early season temps of NC. Luckily....with the advent of the Ultimate camo....I have the best of both worlds, now. Kudos to the men taking the chances with these companies. Home runs.

No. 3 - Camo Pattern

If No. 1 and No. 2 are followed religiously.....I think a hunter could be successsful in blue undies. What's "cool" or "hip" is becoming less and less important to me. I honestly have never killed a buck that saw me, first (the day I killed him). I still contend the camo patterns are for US (for the most part). Are there some that are better than others? Sure. I mentioned the two I trust, implicitly.

To me hunting is about stacking the odds in your favor as much as possible. In the woods....we are at a distintict DISadvantageunless we do this, and do so in a disciplined manner.

Anybody's goal (besides me) to hunt LESS (but smarter)in '08? I honestly believe I won't see a downtick in "success". I'm thinking quite the opposite will be true.

For you veterans.....this is old news. For guys starting out (like me)....it's lessons learned. I contend that some of the best time spent CAN be on the couch......in lieu of in a tree.

Jeff, in my 3 years, ( Ithink its kind of cool we both got a late start at the same time), I have noticed that movement, or lack thereof, Has made a big difference. This goes hand in hand with comfort for me. A more comfy stand, and a thermacell have made a difference. If I'm not trying to resettle myself or swat skeeters I'm much more likely to see game.

Well I agree to a point. But when hunting season rolls around and the time and opportunity is there, there is no way I'm passing time afield to be on the couch.

I agree that known areas should be avoided when the wind isn't right. (And thanks to guys likeBuckeye and Greg, I followed this advice to the letter EVERY sit in 2007). However when the wind wasn't right for spot "A", I used the many available online maps to find another area where I could utilize the wind of the day. Thats one of the advantages of having 3000 acres of public land. If the wind wasn't right I could still get afield and perhaps find that new hot spot. It now seems I have plenty of good areas and I can pick and choose based on the conditions. Sometimes I have too many areas and deciding which one to sit in is a coin flip.

I am certainly no world renowned hunter, and I can only speak from my experiences over 21 of my 28 years on this earth. I used to feel like you do abou the rank of importance of those three things, but I have definitely changed.

First off, I think the scent control is way WAY overrated, at least from a "I have to shower with X soap and where Y clothes and use Z spray". The key is to use the wind. Even after a week in camp without a real shower, if the wind is good you are good. If it is bad on day one when you are all "scent free" then you are screwed. Using the wind is of #1 importance to me no matter what you are hunting.

I agree with the comfort assessment.

Camo is VERY important though and the proper employment of it is as well. The complete lack of movement will make up for "bad" camo, but we all have to move in order to take a shot. If I am busted, whether it be on the ground during a stalk, or in a tree after whitetail, I am almost always busted by them seeing me and not by them smelling me. What I mean by proper employment is using the right pattern for your surroundings, using available cover, and moving only when the animal permits.My home made ghillie suit is great out west in the grasses, but it stinks here in themidwest in a tree. I have used camo out westthat the mule deer can just flat out see.Even if I was sitting perfectly stillagainst a tree they would justsee me.Just my thougths thrown kind of at random.

Greg....Believe it or not....THAT (movement) is what has made me change my stance on camo.

Case in pont...

It's my contention that a still deer is one of (if not THE most) the most difficult things to pick out in a forest setting. When they move.....is when we see them. I've honestly lost them after they've stopped.....and not seen them until they moved again (hasn't everyone???). I agree....this is KEY! There's a lot of things in the woods we don't notice. But if they move.....they stick out like a sore thumb.

GREAT point!

This is the reason I choose to sit a LOT more than stand when I deer hunt. I know I move, less. I'd like to know (just to know) how many times I've spooked a deer away that I never saw.

When the wind is wrong for my stands I go to a place where a line rat has put a stand on my boarder ,that way my scent freely floats through "their" sand site. Why waste a chance to hunt.

Huntingson....I agree. What I didn't say so well is....I think they are related.

"Forget the wind....just hunt"??? Please.

You are 100% correct....and my mind has slowly changed as to the importance of this. If I had to hunt where some of you guys do.....THIS would be my No. 1 priority (Wind). Where I hunt....I can mask my sccent to the point where I get away with more than most. I STILL think I need to be more disciplined to NOT hunt when the wind is even marginal. I've been guilty of this (hunting in a less than favorable wind) in the past a LOT. It's worked out, some.....but I'll always wonder if I haven't done as much harm as I have been successful (in the long run).

A goal for '08. Hunt less. Hunt smarter.

Again...GREAT point.

Jeff how many standsdid youhave setupthis past season all season?I forgot, how many acres you hunting regularly?

I climb, every time, now. So I have unlimited sets.

I have access to +/- 100 acres......with the possibility of stretching that this coming season to 150acres. I may also spend some time on public land this year.......encompassing 3Kacres.

Ahh ok, just stick with the wind, entry and exits as best possible. These are my top 3.