RE: What's the closest you've been?
I was leaning up against a tree, and had a buck come in from behind me. I looked around the tree as much as I could, and could see him standing not 2-3 feet away. He stopped there, and then turned and walked away. Being that close I'm sure he smelled me.
This past season I had a yearling come right under my 8 foot stand. I spit on her back twice, and she still didn't even know I was there.