RE: time for stands?
yote slayer: IMHO, one thing to keep in mind, particularly when hunting a mature buck: First time in the stand/first day stand is in place, is quite often the most productive. That's why I like, when ever possible, to use natural stand.
I have found that once deer realize a stand is there, particularly a mature buck, you'll start to observe more travel along the prevailing wind side-downwind- of the stand. A number of years ago in Wyoming Co. NY, I observed this behavior. I placed a mannequin bust in my stand and set up in a tree,natural stand, downwind of the mann. stand, just beyond where I observed this monster-150" class-traveling. I got a twenty yard open shot at it with my bow, and missed, but literally can't describe the satisfaction of getting it right!!