Walking down deer trails
 

How harmful to your hunt is it to walk down a major "deer highway", if the wood are so thick around it that its almost impossible to get through and not making much noise is definitely out the window. I'll be wearing lacrosse rubber boots, with scent-proof spray on them. The deer will be moving from the opposite direction I'm walking in so by time they get to my scent it will hopefully be game over.

I walk down a major deer trail to two of my stands(one actually looks like a cow trail so many deer walk it) for the same reason you mentioned. I don't think it hurts where I'm hunting because of the constant occurences of people in the woods and higher deer densities. It could be different in your area though, just my 2 cents.

Just stay scent free and you should be fine. But if you can avoid being on a trail, then thats better. But in your case, what can you do?!

Just go ahead and walk on it if you have no other choice. But as said before try to avoid it.

I would add that you would want to be completely scent free, not just boots, all the way in. Wear gloves, try not to touch any branches, make sure all of your equipment, including your bow, etc., is scent-free, etc.

Mountian hunter hit it on the nose..Scentfree and try not to touch anything..!

-NICK