Jeff, a couple years ago I cleared a new stand with a chainsaw, hunted it that same evening, and saw numerous deer (no mature bucks but a couple mature does)that had to be bedded within 100 yards of the stand the entire time. Would I recommend doing that? Probably not, but it did teach me a big lesson.

This year, after the season was over, I was shooting a few pistols in the late morning, and that evening 6 bucks strolled right through my shooting range.

However, I for some reason still get all finicky about entering the woods like it is going to screw my entire season or something. I'm sure there is a limit, but it doesn't seem to be as easy to run deer off as I would have thought.

Of course, then they cross your trail while in the stand and they run like their butt is on fire. Go figure.