I never hang a stand before Labor day, others do. Usually my stands are down by gun season Nov 15th. I leave 4 stands in the woods, 2 stands I do not hunt till the rut.Most of the hunters that hunt on that piece of public land are from the city. They only hunt on weekends, I live close by and hunt during the week, on the weekends I am more or less a "guide" for my boys.I pattern the other hunters like I pattern deer, I know when they are most likley to be in the woods. I have a tree marked for my climber by there stands and will hunt there during the week. If I know that hunter will be in his stand I will sit somwhere else. Just because a stand is there does not mean it is there spot, but I stay away if I know that hunter will be hunting that spot out of respect.