Public land, when to put up stand?

[Yankee]

I'm hunting eastern WA elk and have a decent spot picked out with a game camera set up for early season.  I know I need to get a stand in there early enough for the wildlife to get used to any disturbance it might cause in the initial set up.  I'm more curious about the risk of getting it jacked or messed with by other two-legged creatures that might stumble across it. 

[Mudman]

I use a bike cable lock if I leave a stand.  Get a climber and your worries can be stopped.  Most don't carry bolt cutters or grinders and torches in the woods.  Leave a sign saying smile you on camera!

[demontang]

Ive came across a stand that someone left since last year.  I almost took it down just for the simple fact its not suppost to be up for more then a few months. The tree has already grown and the straps are starting to sink in. If it was me id go find the tree knock off what ever limbs you need to and not put the stand up tell a week or two before

[JackOfAllTrades]

Actually, places like Little Pend Orielle have rules that stands are restricted to 24hrs. You'd be best to check the rules for where you're going to hunt.
 
-Steve

[huntnnw]

never in a miilion years would I use a climber here...cut off every limb all the way up the tree! no cover now and sound like a log truck going up the tree..not what I call slipping into your stand hour before light.  I hanf mine months in advance,, I pull 3 or 4 spikes out of the tree and use a cable lock

[Skillet]

Cant wait for the annual "I'll sit in your stand on public land" thread to start! 

[Mudman]

never in a miilion years would I use a climber here...cut off every limb all the way up the tree! no cover now and sound like a log truck going up the tree..not what I call slipping into your stand hour before light.  I hanf mine months in advance,, I pull 3 or 4 spikes out of the tree and use a cable lock

I don't have issues. Granted I cant climb every tree I want to.  Pick the right tree for your application.  A lot of times I have prepped the tree or climbed it before.  On a rainy windy morning sound disappears.  I do hike into new and find trees to climb quiet as well.

[Yankee]

Thanks guys.  Not sure what I'd do if I found someone sitting in my stand! 

[CP]

Thanks guys.  Not sure what I'd do if I found someone sitting in my stand!

You could quietly move on and hunt somewhere else.  Once you put it on public land it is no longer “your stand”.

[Yankee]

I see what your saying, but by extension parking my truck at on a NF  road doesn't make it useable by the general public, does it? 

[Elkrunner]

Are we really going to start this now?

[birdstew]

This is for WDFW lands

 
•Building blinds, tree stands, camps -- no digging pits to create waterfowl blinds; no cutting trees or attaching wire, staples or nails to trees to build blinds, stands, camps; all non-natural materials used must be removed at end of hunting season; unattended blinds are available to public on “first-come-first-serve” basis; camp structures must be removed at end of trip.

[Yankee]

Thanks Birdstew, that's real helpful information.  I hadn't seen that before (still wouldn't catch me in someone else'stand).

[CP]

Are we really going to start this now?

Why not.   

[nocklehead]

You could build a stand out of logs and heavy rope etc and just leave it....
whatever you do, be careful and wear a harness, and beer and treestands dont mix!