Well if you've found the only "thick" area around it is likely a bedding area. Don't go messing around in there or you will spook the deer out. Entering a bedding area is risky at best.
My advice is to determine the wind direction and set up downwind of some well used trails.As more morning or evening. I have had good success with both. And as I've grown older I prefer afternoon/evening hunts. I still hunt the mornings but I also like sleeping in...lol. Trail cams are a good way to tell when deer are moving past your stand. Also, when can you go in without bumping deer. Example: if you have to go through or by the feeding area then hunt the evening..