wind
If you bow hunt deer, you better be scent conscious. Otherwise your shot opportunities are going to be pretty sparse.
I no longer fool with cover scents, nor do I use any attractants. I do hang my hunting clothes outside all season long. And if I sweat them up, they get a wash with baking soda, and I'll wash them now and again as our 3-1/2 month season rolls along. Rubber boots to the stand, and I do not wear the boots around publicly, restaurants, gas stations etc. They stay in the back of the Bronco, and get pulled on when I arrive.
I never hunt a tree ( climbing stand) or put up stand w/o considering the wind.
Ever. I like an approach into the wind, with all deer expected from upwind if possible. I like a cross wind ideally, ie, I approach into the wind, but the deer move perpendicular to me, into the wind, or quartering the wind, on a bench, ridge, saddle, etc. I see deer move with the wind at their back, occasionally, usually does and yearlings, but I do not believe a mature buck will move far with a tail wind, opting for another route that day.
Oh yeah....archery deer....15Oct.