Back in my younger days, I used to do the stalk and hunt thing. Walking several miles a day sometimes. Back then, a guy could walk forever, and not see more than 1 or 2 other hunters, and those 1 or 2 people, were actually hunting, and watching out for the other hunters that might be in the area.
Now days, most guys are on a lease of some sort, and the land area is much smaller, and it is tougher to do much stalking, without messing up someone elses area.
Several years ago, I had a bullet hit so close to me, while stalking, that I felt the bark hit me from the tree. I didn't have a clue where it came from, but it was enough to put me in the trees from then on.
These days, the sport has become so popular, and the number of "Sound hunters" has risen to the point, that I just don't feel safe about stalking anymore. Plus my knees won't take a lot of walking anymore.
I won't tell you that hunting out of a tree stand is any safer, but I will say that a stand is only as safe as you are, and if the stand is put up correctly, and you are in good shape when you get in it, that it is probably as safe as being on the ground, with so many novice hunters out there.
A hunter these days, has to be extra careful no matter where he hunts, and I spend more time watching out for other hunters these days, than I do looking for the game. Luckily I hunt on a private lease, and the guys I hunt with, have all grown up hunting together, and are not prone to take bad shots, but I have been in places where I was actually scared to move, for fear of being shot at.