This has been an informative thread. I hunt muleys in CO but some of this still applies. We usually watch the bowls, meadows and hill sides for deer to come out to feed on the sage brush, but if you walk back into the Spruces it looks like a pen at the stock yard with all the deer droppings. I 've thought about stalking through the forest and these tips might help. Two things I'd add are: 1) have you considered a monocular? It will give you a smaller FOV but for that close, it might not matter and would keep a hand free. 2) I got a tip out of Field and Stream to carry my rifle over my left shoulder (right handed) muzzel down. Then hand rests naturally on the forend of the stock with one swift motion you can bring the rifle up, turn it scope up and bring it to shoulder. It actually works pretty well, but you have to be careful with your muzzel. As it points down you can get it filled with mud if you're not carefull. Works best with shorter barrells.

Good luck,

Spud