I like to hang my stands early in the year. Any new stands that go up are based on late season scouting I have done (Jan & Feb). I am not doing this because I think it give the deer time to get use to my stand, but because I hate hanging stands when it is 90+ degrees outside. Also, I try to stay out of my hunting area after May, doing all my scouting with spotting scopes from a distance. However, this is not always possible. If you get new ground later in the year (summer time) you have not choice but to go in and scout and hang stands then.