By the time August arrives, many deer hunters are still in “planning mode,” checking cameras, glassing fields, and mapping travel routes. However, one move that can yield big rewards on opening day is to get your stands, blinds, and saddle setups finalized now and then stay out until the season begins.
In the summer of 2001, fresh out of high school and eager to pursue a career in the hunting industry, I had the opportunity to help hang treestands on a well-known hunting company’s family farm in northern Missouri. It was mid-August, hot, and Missouri’s archery season wouldn’t open until October, but the timing was intentional. For two days, our crew set up thirty-two different stand locations, each with two stands, one for a hunter and one for a cameraman or guide, along with safety harness straps, gear straps, pull-up ropes, and all the cleared shooting lanes. Hanging the treestands in August ensured that once everything was in place, we could stay out of the area until the season began. This approach allowed the deer to remain on their natural travel routes and feel less pressure in the weeks leading up to opening day.
While it might seem tempting to tweak locations into September, or closer to opening day in your state, taking care of these last-minute setups in August can help minimize pressure and scent contamination, letting deer settle into their late summer patterns without interruption.
Why August Is the Sweet Spot
By mid to late August, bucks are still in their summer ranges, does are on predictable bed to feed cycles, and the woods haven’t yet been stirred up by early-season scouting pressure. This timing offers three key advantages:
- Leaf Cover for Concealment – August foliage makes hanging stands or setting blinds less noticeable to deer. Plus, it helps you blend in better while working. Recently, two friends and I stood and anchored a new box blind on my hunting property. I was amazed when I looked around and realized I couldn’t see areas I knew from the past that I would be able to see when fall arrives. Yet, this also means deer couldn’t see us from as far away either.
- Deer Are Patterned – You can plan your setup based on reliable trail cam data without worrying about bucks moving to fall ranges just yet. That’s one of my favorite things about early-season hunting. If you find food, water, and bedding, especially when all three are close to each other, you will see deer.
- Time for the Area to Calm Down – If you get in, make your noise, and leave now, the woods have weeks to “cool off” before your first hunt. Again, when anchoring my box blind, we had to drive long rebar-like stakes into the ground with a sledgehammer and make a lot of other loud noises. If I had done that a couple of days before the season opener, all the deer would still be spooky or out of the area. Doing everything well before the season allows everything to calm down and for the deer to become familiar with the blind.
Treestand Placement
When hanging treestands in August, the goal is to think long term. Choose trees with enough cover for early-season hunts, but also the right approach routes for wind direction during peak rut activity. Focus on staging areas between bedding and feeding locations by finding well used trails, tracks, droppings, or by referring to trail cam photos and past hunting experiences.
Once you have your stands in place, it’s important to trim lanes now, but be careful not to clear too much. You want deer to feel like the area is still undisturbed. I once heard a veteran hunter explain this scenario: if you walk into your living room one day and notice the lamp is gone, pictures are moved, or maybe a chair has been shifted to make space, you’d notice. Deer are the same way. They walk through that area every day of their lives. If one day they see a tree missing here, another gone there, or a big pile of brush lying in their usual route, they know something’s up. If you do cut several limbs, carry them entirely out of the area, instead of piling them close by.
Safety Reminder: Summer heat can make stand work miserable. To stay safe, hydrate, wear a harness, and work during cooler morning hours if possible.
Ground Blinds for Early Season
Treestands are not the only method for deer hunting, so they shouldn’t be the only option you prepare for in the summer. Ground blinds also work well in late summer for two reasons: they can be heavily brushed in while the foliage is still thick, and, as I mentioned earlier, deer have plenty of time to accept them as part of their environment. The longer a blind remains undisturbed, the more natural it looks, especially larger box blinds. However, portable ground blinds should also be set up in advance. When setting up a ground blind, it’s important to use fresh-cut limbs now, while the leaves are green, for a seamless blend. When cutting limbs and brushing, also think about shade.A blind in direct sunlight will become an oven in September. Position it for both comfort and concealment; a shaded blind when deer are approaching also acts as natural camouflage.
Saddle Hunting Prep
August is the time for treestands and blinds, and it’s also a prime time to note the rise in saddle hunting. Late summer is perfect for identifying and preparing saddle trees. Unlike permanent stands, saddle setups offer flexibility, but they still benefit from some preseason work.
When scouting in the summer, it can be helpful to select multiple trees. Choose 2 or 3 locations in the same general area to account for different wind conditions. I like to mark these trees on my Hunt Stand app or with a small piece of orange flagging tape, so I can easily find my tree when it’s time to hunt. Early-season saddle hunting requires more than simply finding the right tree. Bring your saddle along when scouting, and once you’ve picked a tree, set up exactly as you would during a hunt. Trim your shooting lanes, and once back on the ground, clear your access paths as well. Quiet entry is just as critical for saddle hunts as it is for fixed stands. Before opening day, make sure limb placement, tether height, and shot angles are all fine-tuned and ready.
Reducing Pressure and Scent Contamination
One of the biggest benefits of finishing all your setups in August is staying out. Every trip into your hunting area risks leaving scent, making noise, and bumping deer. By getting everything done weeks before the season, you allow deer to return to normal behavior.
To keep your footprint small after setups, resist the urge to walk in and see if your stand still looks good. I often let my excitement build, and then I want to check if the deer are still moving through my projected setup. But, don’t do it! This is where modern game camera technology is essential and valuable. Use cellular trail cameras to monitor movement remotely without intrusion.
When the season begins, it is crucial to maintain the same mindset of waiting until the right moment. Wait for ideal conditions instead of hunting just because it’s opening day. Don’t enter the area unless the wind is favorable and you’re ready to hunt. The classic “first time in” setup is not just hype. The first time a hunting setup is used is often the most successful.
The Payoff
When opening day finally arrives, you’ll be stepping into a spot that’s been left entirely alone for weeks. Your stand or blind will be in place, your shooting lanes will be open, and the deer will have no reason to suspect danger. August setup isn’t just about being ready; it’s about being invisible until it counts. If you can resist the urge to keep tweaking and trust the work you did in the summer heat, you just might find yourself within bow range of a calm, unpressured buck come season’s first light.
