August is an odd month. It’s too hot to start most hunting chores, the actual hunting seasons are weeks away and even the fishing is stuck in the summer doldrums. Yet we’re so close, calendar-wise, to so many things that everyone is itching to start doing something. With the archery deer seasons being some of the first hunting in September one smart thing to do now is take care of those minor but important details on your tree stands.

Whether you use a climbing, hang-on, ladder or tripod stand while deer hunting, take this time to go over your stands and check for things like rusted metal, worn bolts and loose pins. Replace anything that looks questionable because it’s certain to break at the most critical time. With tree stands that will likely be when you’re 20 feet in the air, which is not the place you want an equipment malfunction.

Pay close attention to the strap that secures the stand to the tree. On many stands this is simply a heavy nylon belt and those have a tendency to wear and rot over the years. Look closely if your stand has a metal band or cable for the tree attachment, too, as even those can deteriorate over time. I use a climber for much of bow season and a few years ago I noticed the metal cable was beginning to show rust and corrosion. In the trash it went, replaced by a brand new cable from the factory. Don’t take any chances.