Had this on my mind as a topic for debate/input since last deer season. Finally making time on a quiet Friday morning to post it up.....   Had an experience last hunting season that made me re-think what I assumed to be true about hiking-in to a hunting area. My preferred method over the past several season has been to find an area fairly far from any roads (3-5 miles) and hike-in before the first crack of light to hunt it. I had sort of always been aware of any disturbance I make hiking in, and kind of assumed that any deer in the immediate area of my hiking route to be spooked-off, and hence would of course focus my initial glassing on areas outside of or beyond my hiking route.   Last year my buds and I were focusing on a particular drainage. I missed a nice buck on day two (my typical buck fever - rushed shot), and we decided to head back into the general area once again on day 3. One of my buddies was a 1/4 mile or so ahead of a me on the hike in, and was able to get this picture with his iPhone. Basically, he was hiking-up the trail getting close to our glassing spot (on a wide open hillside with just grass & some scrubby mesquite...) and he catches something in his peripheral vision from his headlamp. He looks to his left, and standing there about 10 feet off the trail is the buck that I had missed the day before! He was able to get his iPhone out and snap a quick pic before it wandered-off.....   So basically, I just wanted to share this experience. For now on, I will NOT necessarily assume that all the deer have been spooked away by my hiking-in via headlamp. Conclusion for me is that they apparently feel VERY safe when nocturnal! Any other experience or thoughts on this topic to share??   Hunt on!!!!!   S.   Obviously very poor lighting. Approx 10-15 feet away with iPhone flash....