Kath, I'm happy to read that you are stalking in bare feet. They will toughen up as you go and eventually, you will want to get a pair of soft soled boots or shoes so that you can stalk in the winter/fall months. Prime time stalking at that time. Also, if I might suggest, take just a little longer for each step and use your eyes to scout where your next step will be. You are not only looking for tracks and other signs of animal movement, but also any noise making debri (saves the feet) and where you will be stopping next (I stop every 10 paces or so for anywhere from 5-15 minutes) so that you can use your surroundings to help break up your human form. Also, it will give you the opportunity to listen for surrounding noises. When animals think they are alone, they are very noisy as they go about their daily lives and when we slow down and listen, we start to learn who or what are making the sounds we are hearing and where the sound is coming from.
For determining wind direction, many bow hunters here tie a piece of dental floss to the tip of their bow so they know which direction the wind is coming from. Myself, I've tied a piece of down fluff to each tip of my bow and to the hiking staff I carry while hiking. Other factors also enter into stalking the wind. Things like weather conditions and patterns as well as thermals.
BTW, there is also a deer walking technique for when the ground is just too danged noisy to stalk on. It turns the noisy 2 legged into a somewhat quieter 4 legged. It was developed by a bowhunter named G. Fred Asbell and it works remarkably well. I'll try a search for it online, but may have to copy it here from his book on stalking and stillhunting.
Also getting very good at getting thorns and splinters out! 
) They have the advantage of being very light so that twigs etc are less likely to snap, but they also lack coordination so it's a fair trade in my opinion! 
