Thanks for all the responses and advice. I do keep my boots separate. The only ground they touch is the ground I hunt. I actually keep all my outergear(last 2 layers) in a sealed bag and get dressed just before I walk out. Freeze my butt off some mornings changing but I don't wear any of my gear during the drive there because I don't want to smell like my truck.

The area's I cut trailsthrough are briar patches, thick patches of saplings, brush, etc. At first their laziness worked to my advantage because I could cut trails and direct the deer exactly where I wanted them to go. Since their laziness has carried over to my entry/exittrails they screwed me up though. Just who do they think they are using the trails I cut in the middle of their living room anyway?

The only way to explain the area Ifocus onwould be a field that was left alone for the last75 years (which is what it is). Instead of crops it's brush/briars/saplings ranging from waist to shoulder high, and the only real treeline ison the outskirts. So basically anything I cut is the path of least resistance and exactly where they are going to go. The setup is between bedding and feeding so it's just a thru-way for them. They bed and feed too close to houses to setup any closer.

Maybe after this season I willdo some adjusting on the stands and leave 15 - 20yards of semi thick brush to walk through tokeep the trails from running right up to my stand.

I've always questioned the scent drag seystem because I didn't want the deer to walk directlyto meand run the risk of getting busted in the process.Am I off base thinking that? At this point I guess it couldn't hurt since that's the way they're travelling anyway.

Trying to outwit them, and just sharing the woods with themhas always been the best part of hunting for me so this is just another challenge I'll have to figure out.

I really do appreciate the input folks.