I find when you only clear out a little......you get in yoru stand in the fall and foliage all over the place has covered up your "lane" I try not to go crazy, but limbs/trees etc....need to be cut, and I cut them! also a 2ft lane....leaves you little room for that deer if he decides to stop less tahn a foot on either side.....then all you have is a neck or gut shot.....deer don't always listen to me, so I like more width than 2ft.