I hunt small wood lots quite a bit. It isn't generally that hard to predict where deer will be. Getting to the woods undetected can be hard though.

Hunt into the wind or across the wind, but don't discount the possibility that a deer will jump up downwind or behind you.

Heavily used trails are good to have, but you may not want to follow them too much. If you can move downwind of a trail but stay within sight of it that may be a better bet.

And always scan things like thickets, downed tree-tops, logs and stumps for the shape of a deer's ear, antlers, a horizontal line of it's back, a leg, or anything else that doesn't seem to quite blend in. Once you see one deer, remember there are probably more around. Look carefully before you make your next move.

In still-hunting, once you see a deer you want to shoot, the first shot you think you can make is usually the best one.