RE: What % of the time...
I hunt mostly public land in WI, and I see deer on less than 50% of my hunts. There's plenty of deer there, but the cover is heavy, and the hunting pressure is intense. They hide. That's why I've started still-hunting more in the last few years. Standing sucks. If I'm going to get skunked, I'm going to have a more relaxed and comfortable time doing it. With still hunting, if you encroach onhiding deer, and if you're skilled and lucky enough, they will move and you will see them. Usually the deer win the game, but occasionally they make a mistake. Luck is a big factor too, deer can come in on you from any direction at any time. I firmly believe that if most hunters put as much time and energy into still hunting as they do with standing, their success rate would hold or improve.