I have always tried to be really quiet getting in and out of my stand but it doesn't seem to matter. The other night I had a carbineer swing into a metal foot peg and made a loud metal clank. I saw three bucks that night and one of them was huge. A week ago I took my release off which is about 8" of velcro and 30 sec later a buck walked right under my stand. I read in a magazine how this one outfitter won't let you hunt unless you can pass a test on how quiet you can get in and out of the tree. He says even a small sound will spook big bucks. Well last year I used a summit for the first time and made a ton of noise, that night I saw the biggest buck I've ever seen.

Whats your opinion on this?