RE: Smoking in the stand?
I do it. I try not to during the very peak hours ( I' ve seen more deer around 7am and again at 9am than any other time, so I try not to around those times). It keeps me posted on what the thermals are doing also.
I did have a button buck almost run over me one day when I was sitting on the ground smoking. He jumped a fence and came right at me, sliding to a stop not 5 feet away. I' m not sure who was more startled. But I can tell you, deer turn inside out during moments like those!!!! LOL