First time hunting a new place this year on opening day of archery season and I got busted early. I scouted a few weeks earlier and picked out a few trees that seemed like promising stand sites. I trecked in with my climber before daylight and proceeded to set-up. Platform attached to tree, putting up seat section. I wrap the chain around the tree but while holding the stand in place before I have a chance to secure it, here comes the leaf crunching 'chh, chh, chh' sound of approaching deer. I think two deer came in, both within 20 yards, but it was too dark to see. They stayed put but eventually I moved, they blew, and that was the end of that. Sat til noon and saw nothing but tree rats. I did move to another property for the afternoon and passed on a couple of lil ones, so at least I had an opportunity to actually see deer in the daylight...

I agree, the usefulness of this is questionable. Yeah, the deer may pass through...in the dark...but unless they bed down, or you're a poacher, what are you going to do about it?

I like to be in place and settled 10-20 minutes before legal shooting time. Even at that, I've had two occasions where bucks walked in, walked around me, or stood around, all well within range, then left before I could even see my sight pin. They never knew I was there, but so what? If you don't have a shot, it doesn't matter much, although the experience is a bit exciting, especially knowing that you must have done something right, since they didn't catch on to you.