i take my down each year, in the last 5 years ive had 7 stands stolen people cut the locks and end up taking everything. i use to leave my screw steps in and my stand up inbetween hunts now during the season after each hunt i take my tree steps out to make it harder for some one to steel my stand then when i know im done hunting that stand for the year i take it down so that i dont have to make a seperate trip back out just for the stands. i also take my seat cusion out with me after each hunt so that its dry for every hunt.