My dads' ladder stand has been out for the past 3 years. We just moved it this past year. It is locked on and on private property. That doesn't make it safe but so far it has been undisturbed. The drawback I see (other then theft or vandalism) for ladder stands is that water can get into the main legs and freeze and burst the metal. This happened to a friends the one year he left it out but hasn't to my dads.