I carry my stand in each day and hunt from a new place each day. When I have to trim the branches I make sure I am using de-scented gloves if I handle them, which I usually don't, unless the fall onto a lower branch and obstruct a shooting lane where they fall. I try not to get too many branches onto the ground around my stand. I think a bunch of broken/cut branches sets up a yellow (not red) flag to experienced deer. When I handle them, if I think there are too many on the ground, I usually toss them up in a higher branch, just for scent control and to get themout of eye level for the deer. Sometimes I put them around my stand as additional camo.