I'm starting to believe that I might just be better off wearing my fleece clothes rather than camo. I've started my pre-season scouting and I try to move around the woods as if I'm still hunting. Well I can't believe how many times I'm in a solid shooting position wearing nothing but levis and a tshirt. So my question is does camo really help that much. The deer don't seem to mind as long as they don't smell me. Had a buck trying to look through me at twenty yards.

I see more deer than most.

Is it ESSENTIAL?  No.

Does it make a difference?  Yes.

Being still makes more of a difference, though.

I think it helps your odds if you are wearing something that breaks your outline up. Like ASAT or Predator. I really like ASAT I've put the sneek on a few that looked right through me at mere feet away. I've killed several deer with out camo but I've taken more in it but I still wear my wool sometimes.

I am an ASAT wearer as well...I've had enough close encounters to convince me that it helps considerably.

I think Jeff has got it right.  Not essential, but the better patterns do break up your outline.  
Most importmant to me is the clothing itself.  If it is quiet, warm or cool, depending on the season, comfortable, sheds burrs, fits well to allow layering underneath, and has pockets of the right size in the right places it works for me.  Hunting clothes are designed for what we do, and the good stuff does it very well.  It generally does come in camo, and that is good too, but the other things come first on my list when selecting clothing.

I always wear camo so I can hide from any other hunters-it won't fool animals though.

Over the years, I've noticed that deer don't shy away from flo orange during the gun season. That leads me to believe that the more confidence you have in your camo hunting garb, the longer you will stay in the woods and this is what increases your liklihood of seeing game. I've always thought all of this camo thing was a marketing "thing" that's been thrust on us by those who stand to make a buck or two from our behavior. I don't recall seeing Fred Bear in camo but in muted colors instead. Having said all of that, I do wear camo since I don't want to be seen by other hunters, but I think it's movement that alerts animals to our being there.

ASAT leafy 3-D suit is all i wear. either more or less goes under it, depending on the temp.

there's nothing better, in my opinion.

Actually Fred Bear wore camo a lot.  Read his book "Fred Bear's Field Notes" and you'll see him in camo in almost every picture.  He wore the WW2 ranger camo and liked his Fred Bear wear camo coat.  I have one also I wear to this day.  My camo is a mishmash of Fred Bear jacket, Army surplus woodland pants, brown fedora or surplus army hat.

ASAT!!!!!!!!

ASAT + Shrew      

Yes.

I wear camo a lot of the time. I'll also wear just a green and black wool plaid shirt from time to time.


After years of hunting and careful notetaking, I have decided that I can scare a deer off no matter what I'm wearing  :-)

Wear an ASAT 3D Vanish Pro Suit to use the full name of that "leafy suit" for a year exclusively and you'll be able to tell your friends hunting stories they won't believe.If you don't see more game than you have before they will buy it back. The only camo with a money back garauntee.

It's generally over-rated except in specific circumstances, like hunting turkey without a blind. I pay less attention to camo every season. Don

A great friend and mentor of mine tells me that movement is what gives you away most of the time (assuming your not winded).  He is 83 years old and is still a phenomenal hunter, the best I know.  My experience over several decades bears him out.  With that said, I do hunt in camo for the reasons Whip stated. It is simply better designed for the hunting I do.  Being comfortable is essential to being still so that combined with other attributes built into camo with the hunter in mind just make it preferable.  Not to mention that it may help break up your silhouette (can't hurt) and I'll take any advantage I can get.  I'll take functional over stylish anytime.

I wear camo; and I know camo face paint; or a camo net on your face does help hide your presence.

Its movement that is the attractant for a deers eyes; and camo can help at that point.

Deer can see blue. Orange is very much in question.

I watched another hunter who could not see a bear watching him take his hand out of his pocket; and scratch his face. The sight of that hand not only startled the bear; it startled me!

I think our bodies are less a problem to conceal; than our faces and movement of a non camoed hand or arm or neck.

Last year I stalked through familiar country numerous times over many days. I got used to the does and how to conceal my movement.
So one day; when all the deer saw me coming; I had to really stop and think about it. It turned out that although I had on camo; I had a white t shirt under it that was showing through at the neck.
Brilliant move on my part; but it did show that the deer readily see some things over others.

Camo or drab colors, movement will get ya spotted even in camo. I have bright pink hands and face so I cover them up also.

I've been camoed from head to toe and still been busted and I've had deer walk within feet of me with the same camo! I think wind and movement are the two main things a fella has to watch! I had an old friend of mine tell me that he killed more deer before he new all this stuff! HA! alot of truth to that!! Jason

I can't fool their nose, sometmes I can fool their ears and eyes. Camo for those times.  Agree that movement negates camo.