Scouting plays perhaps the most critical role in your deer hunt.  A few hours spent out in the field before the season can make all the difference when the season starts.  

Look for sources of natural food and mast that the deer may be feeding on.  Often their trails will naturally lead to and from these food sources.  Old apple orchards or orphan fruit trees can be a hotspot.  Oak trees are another great area to look for.  The acorns provide a source of high protein for the deer during the fall, so they can build up strength for the winter.  They particularly favor white oaks if you can find them.  They are identifiable by leaves with rounded tips rather than the more typical pointed ones.

With the baiting restrictions in Michigan probably becoming more restrictive next year, it is even more crucial that hunters become more in tune with their surroundings and find natural ways to see deer during the season.  It's an investment in time that is well spent.