#1. I like to clear numerous shooting lanes that are fairly generous in size. The one thing I feel you really need to be careful with is keeping an eye on your background and ensuring that you are not skylighted. I have cleared shooing lanes in the afternoon, and had deer eating the leaves off of the branches I cut down that evening. I don't think a deer knows if you cut it or if it just fell down. I am just careful to not block their trails. I do cover the cut ends with dirt though. Just habit I guess.