I didn't read all the posts so maybe this was said.
Please don't take this the wrong way, but I am just being honest. From what you originally posted, all I can think is your not Putting the Work In. I understand how life gets in the way, how hard it can be to balance life and hunting. I myself have a wife and 4 young kids, its hard to do both.
We all can give you all the tips and advice, but really you need to ask yourself. A) What are your priorities? B) What kind of hunter do you want to be?
I think once you know those 2 things you develop a plan. You may need to step back a little, put the bow / gun away. How much have you educated yourself in Terrain, Tactics, Deer movement / habitat, food sources, etc? Make some choice on how you want to approach hunting, then when you have some info dive into the woods and start scouting, pick say 3 properties and know them very well. Take some notes, look at aerials, looks at topo's, then analyze what you found. Did you find deer where you thought you would, where was the bedding, what food sources did you find, where is the water, did you find rutting activity, etc. I say this only as I am not sure how much you have studied how you want to hunt, if you have ignore this.
If your bumping deer where you don't expect them and not seeing them where you did expect them, then you need to scout the property more and do more work on understanding bedding and movement and how that can change seasonally.
Nothing in life comes easy, nothing in hunting comes easy, you have to put the work in.
I hunted as a teen with my uncle, I gave up hunting until 4 years ago, my first year back at it was tough, I like you bumped deer walking in and didn't see them in my stand. I quickly realized I didn't know really what I was doing. My drive to be better is what really pushed me to educate myself, luckily when talking with a friend he mentioned hunting bucks beds, I began researching online deer bedding and then I found this forum. I read and searched for months all kinds of topics, I watched all the online videos, asked questions, bought the dvd's and began scouting much more than hunting. I was obsessed, slowly everything over the course of 2 years started to fall together, my failure turned into knowledge. Last year I shot my first buck, then my confidence took off and I this year I took two good bucks. Really is I am being honest just because I have some success doesn't mean I am good, I am still learning and growing as a hunter, but the success if a product of putting in the work, that I am sure of.
Listen to this podcast with Dan, Mark, Joe and Andy, listen to advice they give to young / beginner hunters, it is the best advice anyone can give. What good is a style, tip, tactic, etc. if you don't have the fundamental understanding of the creature you are after?
http://wiredtohunt.com/2018/07/19/wired ... an-infalt/
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-SidewayZ-
I'm not scared to fail, I just fear regret!