you want it there when the deer are there. I would put it out and keep checking, check in 3 days, if it's gone then put it out and check in 2 days, etc etc. you want it out prior to hunting, if you put it out and then hunt it the deer may not come into it, let them get comfortable coming in there and not being skiddish. I used to bait and I would bait for a month before even hunting the stand. Have multiple stands and baits out if you are going to sit bait, every time you go into the stand the more conscious the deer become of your presence. If you have a few spots that you can sit then you can rotate stands and not put so much pressure on just one spot. Good luck to you. Hope to see some successful pics from ya...