We don't know how they do it, but deer have an uncanny ability to catch us by surprise. No matter how ready you are, and no matter how loud the woods, a deer can be right on you and catch you flat-footed before you know it. Once the deer is that close, there's almost no chance you'll be able to pull up your gun or bow and make a shot before it spots you, and this is especially true if you're sitting down in a treestand and need to stand up.
One thing you can do to help avoid this situation is to already be standing at key times of the day. The last hour of daylight is a key movement time for deer, so stand up and be ready that last hour. Expect to see a deer any second and you'll be ready when you do.
While morning movement is harder to predict, take turns sitting and standing. Make sure you take a good look around before doing so, and move as slowly as possible. You just never know if a deer is in the area.
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