I wouldn't keep it by your stand for long, but I don't think it really spooks the deer either. I have many sequences of deer pics where the deer stood there for over 12 minutes. 2 minute time frames and I've gotten 6 pics, 10 minutes has happened many times on my 1 minute settings. They almost seem to be attracked to them. Often I have to wipe the nose prints off the lense cover.

They're almost more fun then hunting!

Good Luck!