you do nopt need all summer to get used to a stand that is bs. it is good to go up some trees though and practice a couple time before you head out. another good thing to do is measure out a small piece of rope for the length that you will be climbing, like 20 feet. tie it to your belt and the other end to your gun or bow. that way you dont bang your weapon up and you also dont have to worry about climbing with it. it will also give you an idea as to how far up you are. when you are starting 10 feet might feel like 20 feet. another thing to think of is if you are on a hill. you might be twenty feet up, but ten feet out you could be eye level with the deer, not good. try to think of this and where you think the deer will be travelling at. the last thing is a safety tip. when you are as high as you want to be, hold that tree, bend your legs and kinda shove down on your platform, that way if it is loose, you are prepared. you will figure that out the first time you go to turn around and it slips down five feet. also you should try practicing how you will shoot from your stand. nothing wrong with sitting for a shot. when you get buck fever 20 feet in the air and then try focusing on your sights, it is very easy to get dizzy.