Streams of Thought: Jobs (mostly) well done preparing for the deer season

It was to be a big weekend in mid-August, planned for the annual checking/maintenance of ladder stands and the pruning of excessive vegetative growth around said stands. It’s become a tradition of its own, and if it doesn’t inspire excitement about the upcoming bow season for whitetails, I’m not sure what will.
A year ago, I might’ve argued the tradition be disbanded, following an adventure into the woods during which heavy, 90-degree air encouraged insects of the biting variety (deer flies as well as mosquitoes) to descend en masse. This year’s excursion brought with it no such evils, as visiting high school friend and bowhunting buddy Gregg and I armed ourselves with tools and gear that might be required to make our stands hunt-ready.