Public Land Treestands?

[hughjorgan]

We have had our 6-8 stands up in the Nile for close to 15 years now.  I think we have had 4-5 stolen in those 15 years.  We know the chance that we take, but as the same time, the area is not hunted nearly as hard as a lot of the other areas in the unit and rifle and muzzle loader guys use our stands every year...matter of fact, in rifle season this year, there was a guy in ever single one our stands.

Most people respect and appreciate the fact that they're there..

Are you building stands out of lumber like you see all over the Nile or you leave hang on stands out year round? To me there is a difference in expectations of whether some one is using a stand that you built and is permanent versus one you purchase and hang.

[REHJWA]

I bought my first tree stand this year, I sat in it for all of an hour while I video taped my buddy shooting his buck in early archery. We both left our stands there because he was going back to video his dad there for rifle season. Both of our stands were stolen and his game camera he put up a few days before was stolen as well. Either cable lock your stuff or just take them down after use. I had a game camera of mine stolen this year as well. It sucks you cant trust people anymore. I thought the woods would be the last place you would have to worry about people stealing your stuff. I'm with the rest of the guys, if it's not yours leave it alone! I hate thieves, the worst kind of people! I don't make all the money in the world, so when my stuff gets stolen I cant just run out and buy brand new stands and game cameras. It's a shame, and it ticks me off!! 

Over on the west side of the state it's the anti hunters, and tweekers that I have a problem with steeling my stuff.  

[Curly]

Are expectations regarding tree stands any different than blinds for duck hunting?  I don't really think they should be any different. 

If you get beat to a duck blind on public land that is tough luck..........should have gotten up earlier.  I think it should be that same way with tree stands.   A deer/elk hunter should not get to claim spots based on hanging tree stands at various locations.

That is my take on the subject.  But that said, I don't hunt out of tree stands, so my opinion doesn't really matter on the subject anyway.  But I felt like giving my  anyway.......... 

[PolarBear]

I have my treestand marked with my name and phone # both etched on the frame and in a waterproof bag on the inside of the tubes on both pieces.  If I ever (which I doubt will happen) find someone using my stand I can prove that it is mine and that I will be taking it with me at that time.  The rest, as far as how hostile the situation gets, is up to the other party.

[boneaddict]

Might be the first time I ever have disagreed with you PB. 

I wont mess with peoples private property, but the arrogance that some of you have that its ok for you to reserve your locale on public property is absurd.   

A, there are laws about it, and B it is just as much my land and my tree as it is yours.   If I park my tent in your yard, I am pretty sure you might eventually evict me even if it isn't your tent.   

Probably wouldn't IRK me as much if I didn't find abandoned ones all the time and its just plain litter and damage....  Where are the ethics there, and how do you think others might view our image.   Pack it in, pack it out.   
As for permanent blinds and structures, might want to check regs on that as well.   

on that note, I am going to go stake claim to a particular picnic spot I like.   That was a good analogy.

[Jonathan_S]

I don't think I have a right to claim any area on public land.  The only problem I have is theft - that's it.

If someone climbs into my stand when I'm not there, good for them.  They probably wont get anything anyway.

[PolarBear]

Bone, the difference is that if I leave my treestand overnight I am not "reserving a spot I just didn't want to pack it out then back in in a few hours.  If some other guy is in the next tree over or even in the same tree I am fine with it and will back out, afterall, he got there first.  Now, if that guy is sitting in my climber  I will politely let him know that it is my stand and that I will be packing it out now and leaving him to hunt the spot on his own.  The actual odds of this happening where I hunt is so extremely remote that it really isn't an issue.  I can count on one hand how many times in 20 or so years that I have left my climber in the woods.  One time was because I was puking. a couple because I had a buck to pack out and the rest were left from a late hunt that continued the following morning. 

[boneaddict]

Bone, the difference is that if I leave my treestand overnight I am not "reserving a spot I just didn't want to pack it out then back in in a few hours.  If some other guy is in the next tree over or even in the same tree I am fine with it and will back out, afterall, he got there first.  Now, if that guy is sitting in my climber  I will politely let him know that it is my stand and that I will be packing it out now and leaving him to hunt the spot on his own.  The actual odds of this happening where I hunt is so extremely remote that it really isn't an issue.  I can count on one hand how many times in 20 or so years that I have left my climber in the woods.  One time was because I was puking. a couple because I had a buck to pack out and the rest were left from a late hunt that continued the following morning.

We are on the same page.   

[PolarBear]

Whew...  That was a close one! 

[washelkhunter]

I should think leaving a stand in the woods would'nt be considered abandonment of property or trying to reserve a spot. I found a ladder stand once where the tree had grown around it, probably still there.

[Kazekurt]

ET, sorry, I wasn't aware of the scenario your comment was referencing.  I'm in agreement that people shouldn't  purposely ruin someone's hunt or follow them around.  Common courtesy  and good ethics should always prevail when in the field and intentionally disrupting someone's hunt who beat you to a spot is below the belt IMHO.  That guy should have respected your position  but some hunters are like that.  I have a reputation for finding bucks on public land in my area and once had a guy tell me a friend told him "find the guy in  the white flatbed and you'll find the deer."  I have zero problem with other hunters  hunting where I hunt as long as they do it legally but you shouldn't follow another hunter around or intentionally crowd  him when he is actively hunting.  Every now and them another hunter beats me to a buck I've scouted and I'm always happy for them and have even helped some of them pack one out.  I recognize there are many eyes watching public land so it's always possible several hunters are after the same buck.  Fortunately, Youth and a love of hard to reach places usually helps thin the traffic for me:-)

[KFhunter]

If you all are going to "build" a stand in the trees use lashing that'll decompose.   Doesn't take much more than lashing up a couple meat poles.


I got a spot that'd be perfect for doing something like this, it's on a very steep incline looking over a creek wallow area.  I could lash up a pole and lay a couple logs to the platform like a gang plank.  No climbing and nice quiet entry/exit.  In a year or so the rope will fail and everything will fall to the forest floor and disappear.   If I wanted to use it a second year just add some lashing and test the logs for soundness.  Mostly it's easier to use ground blinds, but in this one case I'd have to clear some nice cover and it'd just be easier to elevate.  Use something like hemp rope that will decay pretty quick, good for one season only.

No harming any trees or pissing off logging operations with large spikes nailed in the trees.



It's a nightmare to pull an 8 inch spike that's grown into a tree for 5-10 years.

[huntnnw]

I very rarely see anyone bowhunting whitetails near me, I may hang stands in June or July and I dont consider it reserving the area, but the tree I pay attention when scouting looking for sign of other hunters and I hang my stands in hopes that there are not other guys there. What irks me is these guys who just show up mid season and tromp into the woods see other peoples stands up and continue to hunt right by them If I walk in and see an area being hunted I leave the area and hunt elsewhere.

[AKBowman]

I set them up in August and take them down in January/February. Knock on wood but I have never had even a trail camera stolen but the vast majority of the time I am pretty far off the beaten path. I don't like leaving them up any longer than I have to due to the fact that if a hunter were to walk by and not see a stand that would most likely just keep passing through but if they saw a stand they would get the idea that the area was worth hunting. That and the litter thing.

I have left them up for as long as 18 months but like many have said I think that was laziness in my part and I won't leave them up that long again.

If someone were hunting my stand when I showed up I would be pretty surprised! I'm sure I would be upset but all I hunt is public land so if they were actually in my stand there is not much that could be done about it. I would have a conversation with them and remove my stand from the area. There's so much ground to hunt in this state I don't see the point of competing with other hunters like that.

[sakoshooter]

Why would someone ever use a tree stand that has been left up by someone? Talk about a loser.

Some of these stands I've seen haven't been used in years judging by old bait piles and branches/brush growing around the stand and such.  You'd have to do some clearing to use it.

The stand is nothing more than litter at this point, legally and ethically.  I got no issue leaving a stand out for a season but pack it up after the season is over if you're on public land 

I agree w/Kfhunter. Permanent stands are illegal, unethical. Removable stands are also if left. Public land is just that, public land. Placing a stand doesn't reserve your spot on public land although I wouldn't hunt in it.