I can explain it better using this aerial.


The yellow lines are well used deer trails, heading to bedding areas and food sources. The red dots are locations of current and prior stand locations.

The purple line depicts my entry to the stand in question. The white lines are machetted survey lines that are also used by deer, and is my route around the property while traveling from stand to stand. As you can see there are several entry/exit routes to the stand Im speaking of, and I rarely use the same trail twice. My choice to go in yesterday was due to drizzle and expected rain to help wash away any scent.

To address your points:
1- I truley believe he has every intention of doing something in revenge for costing him money to retrieve his hounds. He and I have had discussions on numerous occasions and I have warned him to do everything in his power to run his dogs on his 900 acres across the creek! I explained to him several times I was bowhunting in here and didnt want the deer pressured anymore than I am already doing by scouting and hanging stands. His attitude is that of a 17 yr old that will get his buddies to slash my tires or worse jeopardize my life by messing with my stand. As you can see in the aerial shot it is the deepest one I have in the woods. If they were able to locate it, I have no doubt that they will either take it or my climbing sticks. This came out of his mouth to a neighbor who watches out for trespassers on my land. As you see in the photo, the only entrance is at the end of the cul-de-sac and it is gated and padlocked.

2- As I have stated before, I have several entry and exit points, none of which are walking on deer trails. Im very careful to not touch leaves, branches, etc. and always wear gloves when in the woods near my stands.

3 - Yes I hunted this area several years in a row, but not as serious as I have for the last two seasons. We have over two acres of clover/chickory plots and Alpha rack plots. If you notice on the aerial shot, across the creek is a hunt club that only hunts during gun season with hounds. As I have been told by the members of the club, they have been running hounds all year long for many years before I was able to secure the lease last year. So in my opinion, the deer are very pressured across the creek and use my property for bedding and outsmarting the hounds by crossing the creek. They loose the scent once the deer cross the creek.

My season opens October 4th, so I have plenty of time to let things settle, as well as two other leases that I will be hunting, mostly with climber. The otherleases I hunt are on islands formed by the North Anna River and I plan to rotate my hunts so that I wont be pressuring the deer anymore than neccessary.

Jeff, I appreciate your response and replies, but at 40 years old I have many years of hunting successfully. I appreciate the input, but try and not belittle me by insinuating that Im out there walking with steel tip boots with a chainsaw clearing a road to my stands. I use every precaution I have learned in the 25 years I have been hunting and tracking. I know what times of the day I can and cant go into areas, as well as concealing myself when I do, even spraying down with scent killer and never step foot in the woods without rubber boots.

At least I have until the 4th of October, but if I recall wasnt it you that just bought a new Lone Wolf and used it to glass your area one or more mornings? Your season is the 13th correct? I could have sworn you posted about going in and pulling your camera cards at the first drop of rain, just a few days ago. Maybe I am mistaken, and frankly it is no concern to me about your skills, just dont come across as being arrogant and pompous.

I do appreciate every tip I can get, and appreciate the fact that you are trying to help, but my point of the thread was concerning a deer's memory to things like seeing me climbing a tree. Thank you for your input, but to throw questions of my common sense and hunting skills I will overlook.

Best of luck in your season coming up. I hope I have not offended you, as that was not my intent of my post. Im friend...not foe