What I like to do is brush in an area well in advance leaving enough room to set the blind up. Then I just carry it in and hunt.

I put mine out a month before season. I've had them out like this for several months at a time to let the deer get used to them for the past five seasons and never had one - from the cheapest to the top of the line - fade or get wrecked.

I leave mine out early as well. However, last rifle season I put out a blind to bowhunt in, and then rifle hunted the area for a couple days. While I was scouting around, I saw 10+ deer walk within 15 yards of that ground blind not more than 5 hours after I put it out. After seeing that, I wouldn't be afraid of putting one up and hunting it right then. This was also out in the middle of a stubble field, not hidden well in the brush.

I leave mine out, but I lost one that way (sticky fingers). Still, if you are going to use one, I would leave it out.

I would leave it out if i could, but there are some theivin hunters out there so be careful!