I feel your pain and have the same problem. With the dry conditions and 4 inches of leaves on the ground I'm as noisy as New Years Eve going in these days. I went in on a Sunday and raked out a trail to my stand and that has helped but my stand was only about 150 yards into the woods, I'm not sure if that would be practical for 1/4 mile hike.

I swear I am going to invent deer hoove shaped boots for stealthful walking.