Sounds like this was very recent and the rut was approaching with the bucks searching for hot does. It may be HARD for some. I don't find it hard at all but more so challenging. The trick is to spend as much time in the woods as you can and to see them before they are on top of you. Oh yes I've been caught with my pants down many times. (sometimes literally..LOL).
Days like you described are fantastic. I have a personal little honey hold that has an old railroad bed running perpendicular to the prevailing wind. I set my tree stand within bow range of it. As the rut draws closer the buck use that old railroad bed moving along quickly testing the wind for hot does. In that stand I've counted as many as 7 buck in one morning using that trail. And a couple times I've had numerous buck chasing several doe. I was like a ballerina in the stand trying to get set up for a shot.