My family just returned home from a vacation this past weekend.The first morning back we have doe's with fawns in the yard,hens with poults and as each day passes that we have been back the game that I see seems to be progressively further away from the house.I am not surprised because I have experienced this before.
I don't think we really fully appreciate how sensitive deer are to intrusion within their area's.I know that for me personally any area that I routinely hunt,where I have placed stands year in and year out,I will have those stands hung no later than early august for our 10/15 opener,and then I will stay completely out of the area,no more scouting in those area's or placement of trail cams.The next time in will be to hunt them.I will go in to new area's and scout and place trail cams hoping to find more quality spots.
In your opinion how much time in a pressured area will it take a buck to settle down after you have scouted,hung a stand and trimed shooting lanes?

I really don't know. I'd like very much to know how long it takes or even if they do calm down entirely. I will use pretty much the same approach as you. I haven't yet hung stands on the new place I have to hunt. I will go out in August to scout and hang stands and will not return until late Sept. or early Oct. for the opener. If I need to make an adjustment then I will. I wish Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. would post our opening dates!

I think it all depends. I'm in a similar situation behind the house. I think it is more the consistent pressure that will deter them as opposed to the once in and out.

I think they learn to adapt and no what's danger and what's not.

Scot, hope your vacation time with the family went well, give my best to your wife and daughter..

as for your question, I give critters a lot of respect in regards to their ability to sense possible danger, especially any critter that has had someyears under thier belts..

I try to scout from long distances soley now in the summers, glassing etc.. and NOT too often in the same spot, I like to rotate around, I really like having a month long battery life on my trail cameras as well. I go in once a month, change the memory chip out ... etc.. low impact ..if I get a camera with nothing on it.. I may move it ... bout it...

I agree that repetative visits are more disturbing than onceor twice every 7 or 8 days..... a lot of those scouting trips success have to do with making sure you enter the area and exit it without leaving too much disturbing stimuili behind..

I have a couple places I can scout everyday though.. from about 1000 plus yards away.. no impact at all. just good binocs..