Just check the straps ,if there are any, to make sure a squirrel hasn't gnawed on them. Just don't leave out year around as the elements will degrade your property and yes eventually a tree will grow. A couple of months is fine though. If you are going hunting in Oct 1, then the 1st of Sept is plenty of time to hang them and they can hang until Jan when all of the season is over. I have done this for years in the past. I now only leave ladder stands out year around and go portable with a climbing stick setup and alight hangon that goes and comes out with me each time or a climber. I have found by doing thisI never overhunt one stand. If you only have one stand, I would use this method and forget about putting it out until the hunt; otherwise the deer are going to be onto you in a hurry. HCH