jrod014: Relative to the "no shooting before sunrise and after sunset" admonition, in Oklahoma where I hunt deer legal shooting light begins 30 minutes before sunrise and extends to 30 minutes after sunset. I have bagged a significant portion of my deer after sunset including my first deer. Different states will have different regulations with regards to legal shooting light. Just for thought, much hunting is conducted safely in Europe in full darkness.

A key to my successful hunting has been avoiding being seen by the deer. I don't get bent out of shape about camoflage -- sometimes I wear advantage timber pants and shirt but as often as not I wear green wool military surplus trousers and a red plaid wool shirt -- but pay a lot of attention to other techniques of concealment. I take care to sit in the shadows (more difficult to see objects in the shadows). I take care to sit where ground cover -- brush and broken branches -- conceal my lower body and legs. I wear a face net to reduce the reflectiveness of my white facial skin. I wear gloves to stop the reflectiveness of my white hand skin. I move very slowly. I'm hunting from ground blinds exclusively. I hunt only rifle, so I am not obliged to get as close as bow hunters, which might increase the difficulty of concealment. On the other hand, two of my six deer have been taken at ranges of about 15-20 yards, which I think is good bow range, isn't it?

As has already been said, pay attention to the wind. Don't let your scent blow towards the point you expect to find your deer.

Most importantly, hunt where there are deer! No deer, and all the technique in the world won't help much.