Do you worry about crossing deer trails when you go into your stands? There are some places I hunt, I just can't help but to cross over trails. I can't remember seeing a deer get alarmed when it crossed where I have walked. But it may happen where I would not be able to see it.

It's all about scent control jmbuck, no doubt. Both my prime stands there is every bit of chance that deer will cross it. There is nothing I can do about it. Last year in the stand I hunted to take my buck, I walk the field access road to within 10 yards of my stand. The stand over looks the access road. Deer walk it and cross it. The buck crossed my path and I shot him just after it. He never hesitate or smelled me. Rubber boots and Scent Killer etc...

MY other stand, I cut and nip branches back to my stand through the woods. I've done this for so many years that the deer actually took over my path. They made my path, their path. Each day I hunt that stand I'm amazed at the deer tracks within my own tracks. Again, scent control. My 04 buck crossed that path 3 times during my hunt for him.

ditto. Scent control says it all. I cross some deer trails quite often on the way to my spots. Never had a deer spook walking the trail I came in on

I walk a lot of old logging roads to my stand setups and the deer use these trails as well...

I only recall being busted once from a deer cutting my track..... It wasn't even on a deer trail.... She started the old stomping first.... Then the snorting.... Then a couple Hickory nuts fell next to her and she turned inside out high tailing it 40 or so yardsaway and stopped....looked back my wayand kept on snorting at me [&:]

I try to avoid them if possible just to be on the safe side, but have also had them walk right in my tracks to my stand in the snow, just like they were dogging me.

I've had mature bucks refuse to cross my trail (rubber boots on). One of them circled around it and ended up right in front of me (see avatar). I've also had young bucks and mostly does follow my trail back to my tree trying to see where I went. When I approach a field stand (alfalfa), I walk straight down the center of the field to my stand. That way, if they do pick up my trail it is usually too late. If it's a deer you're not going to shoot you may have to hide from it until it loses interest. In other situations I sometimes make a "button hook" and come into my stand from the back. You can never be too careful.

If I knew which way the deer were going to approach my stand....it woud make my approach much easier. I never do. I can only do what seems like the prudent thing......and stay off their known trails. I approach my stand from the points I LEAST likely think a deer will cross it before I can get a shot off.....and rely on scent management for the rest.

It's gambling, where I hunt, no matter what you do.

[Deleted by Admins]

That is my problem too. A lot of the places I hunt I just don't know which direction or trail they will be approaching from. They have many spots where they bed and a lot of the times they don't use the trails, they just seem to wonder thru the woods.

Sometimes I think the heaviest used trails are used only at night. It make easier traveling for them in the darkness. Keeps the sticks out of their eyes.

I try to be as cautious as I can going to and from stand as to not cross deer trails. It's next to impossible to not encounter some along the way though. There is a stream close to where I park to walk to my land. I always walk down that (rubber boots) to clean any stench I might have on my boots. Or you could smash some apples and grind the soles of your boots in them before heading to the woods. Some cover scent also works. Use some scent control, try to be as cautious as possible, and it should be all right.