Is permanent stand legal?

[yajsab]

Saw a freshly built permanent tree stand this year during the archery season.  The thing is, this stand was built probably weeks before the season start on one of my climber spot.  I saw the permanent stand when I was setting up for first opener and decided to move elsewhere.  I checked it on the second week and it had a bottle full of recycle fluid hanging up in the tree.

Is this legal in WA?  I got the coordinates and pix too.

[quadrafire]

Post up the pics.
What is recycle fluid?

[bobcat]

Probably not legal unless they have permission from the landowner.

[sirfunkeybut]

Pee bottle

Post up the pics.
What is recycle fluid?

[yajsab]

This was on public land.  I'll post up the pix later. Oh, as I was scouting to see where all the elks went, I also saw another permanent stand about couple miles away from this one too.  Didn't get pix of it though, but I know where it is.

Hint: Little

[Knocker of rocks]

If it was on public lands, dollars to doughnuts it is not legal.  Rat them out to the USFS, BLM, DNR or who ever else is in charge.

[Biggerhammer]

If it was on public lands, dollars to doughnuts it is not legal.  Rat them out to the USFS, BLM, DNR or who ever else is in charge.

Laughing!!!!! " Rat them out".  Who cares, if I ratted out every permanent  stand I have found over the years in Eastern Washington. I would have to buy stock with my cell phone service provider. Some things are worth " Ratting" A permanent tree stand hardly gets a passing sideways glance.

[bigtex]

If it was on public lands, dollars to doughnuts it is not legal.  Rat them out to the USFS, BLM, DNR or who ever else is in charge.

Laughing!!!!! " Rat them out".  Who cares, if I ratted out every permanent  stand I have found over the years in Eastern Washington. I would have to buy stock with my cell phone service provider. Some things are worth " Ratting" A permanent tree stand hardly gets a passing sideways glance.

Unfortunately this is true. With WDFW lands for example the building of the the permanent tree stand is not a criminal offense, but rather a infaction with a fine of $87. Other examples of WDFW infractions are barbed hooks, no hunter orange, and failing to record your catch.

It comes down to do you want an officer trying to figure out who built the stand or rather have them enforcing the more serious offenses? It should be noted that only the erecting of the stand is illegal, not the use. I'd be willing to bet that 98% of the permanent stand usage is actually not by those who actually built it. It would be different if an officer actually saw the person building it.

[10Key]

Well, if it is on public land, first come, first serve...No need to bring your climber now

[Knocker of rocks]

Well, if it is on public land, first come, first serve...No need to bring your climber now

Or tear it down

[gaddy]

tear it down? ive found a few over the years that i would love to get into, if i thought the little wooden ladders (if even present any more) were safe. most of the time they were in prime areas. i usually just look at them & wonder what stories they could tell.
I have never come across a new construction though.

[Biggerhammer]

tear it down? ive found a few over the years that i would love to get into, if i thought the little wooden ladders (if even present any more) were safe. most of the time they were in prime areas. i usually just look at them & wonder what stories they could tell.
I have never come across a new construction though.

Same here, I think the majority of the one's I have come across were bear stands. From way back, some are 4'x8' with 2"x4"s as hand rails all the way around.

[yajsab]

Here is the pic.

[bobcat]

       What kind of camera did you use?

[carpsniperg2]

Use it if you want first come first serve. No they are not 100% legal but not much penalty for putting one in. If someone comes to use it and you are there, you better be ready for a problem. They won't like the idea of public land and first come first serve. If you tare it down pack the crap out or you are littering. I would rather see it up in the tree then tore down and boards scattered all over the place with nails in them. The only ones i will tare down is when i find one that is baiting bears. When I come to place and find a drum full of dog food, i know you ain't baiting deer. I am going to destroy that sob

[bobcat]

I'd leave it alone too. If it's in a really good spot I'd use it. Try going in the middle of the week when the guy that built it is at work.   

[CedarPants]

If we've come to the point where we are so cutthroat towards our fellow hunters that we are turning each other in over tree stands on public land or are in fact tearing said tree stands down because we can't all play nice in the sandbox together like good children ....... well, the anti's won't really have to do much other than sit back and watch us bicker our way into our own demise.

We need to choose our battles carefully, and this ain't one of them 

[bigtex]

If we've come to the point where we are so cutthroat towards our fellow hunters that we are turning each other in over tree stands on public land or are in fact tearing said tree stands down because we can't all play nice in the sandbox together like good children ....... well, the anti's won't really have to do much other than sit back and watch us bicker our way into our own demise.

We need to choose our battles carefully, and this ain't one of them 

 

[NumaJohn]

CedarPants, I take your point about not sweating the small stuff in life, but people who decide to build permanent stands on public land are exhibiting a sense of entitlement that rankles me.  I am not saying I would turn them in--or that I would tear down their stands--but I would be annoyed.  My annoyance would be coming not from a sense that it was my area (which it wouldn't be, technically, since it was public land); rather, I would be irritated that someone elected to play outside the established laws that we are all supposed to be following, even if we don't always like all of those laws.  If anything is going to fuel the anti-hunters' causes, my sense is that it would be that hunters don't seem to self-legislate when some hunters (a minority of hunters, I would hope) step outside the line and do whatever suits them.  That we hunters would just shrug off infractions such as building permanent tree stands or riding ATVs in areas where they are restricted (see the other big thread on that topic!) is something that I think demonstrates a lack of moral fortitude.  We have to stand up to defend our rights, and sometimes that means standing up to our own just as much as it means standing up to anti-hunters.

John

[DBHAWTHORNE]

CedarPants, I take your point about not sweating the small stuff in life, but people who decide to build permanent stands on public land are exhibiting a sense of entitlement that rankles me.  I am not saying I would turn them in--or that I would tear down their stands--but I would be annoyed.  My annoyance would be coming not from a sense that it was my area (which it wouldn't be, technically, since it was public land); rather, I would be irritated that someone elected to play outside the established laws that we are all supposed to be following, even if we don't always like all of those laws.  If anything is going to fuel the anti-hunters' causes, my sense is that it would be that hunters don't seem to self-legislate when some hunters (a minority of hunters, I would hope) step outside the line and do whatever suits them.  That we hunters would just shrug off infractions such as building permanent tree stands or riding ATVs in areas where they are restricted (see the other big thread on that topic!) is something that I think demonstrates a lack of moral fortitude.  We have to stand up to defend our rights, and sometimes that means standing up to our own just as much as it means standing up to anti-hunters.

John

If nailing a few boards to a tree causes some kind of serious damage to our resource then I say we should speak up. If we are just wanting to turn him in because we believe the rules of the state (or a collective group) are more important than the rights of an individual then we are on the wrong track. ( the point I am trying to make in the other topic you mentioned)  i do believe the guy shouldn't be pissed to see someone in it though...  He can't claim domain over that spot annually just because he built a permanent stand.

If one considers rule breaking a direct reflection of moral fortitude then they wouldn't think very highly of our founding fathers who broke all kinds of rules in their pursuit of liberty. Also check out the other topic on here about the pharmacist packing a pistol while working at  walgreens (despite company policy not allowing firearms). Almost none of us see that as a lack of moral fortitude in that individual.

I am not saying you aren't doing right if you decide to turn him in but I am suggesting that law abiders (which I am one myself) can't necessarily claim the moral high ground in all cases. Instead of breaking the laws I myself prefer to try and change them through our processes and by suggesting to others why I believe the laws are wrong... That being said I am not going to help enforce stupid laws... I think this is probably one of those. (not sure though because I don't know what kind of issues it can cause for the trees... Just assuming very little damage would be caused in 99% of these kind of situations.

[PolarBear]

Just pee all over the area and leave it alone.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Just pee all over the area and leave it alone.

lol

[CedarPants]

I see your point NumaJohn, and it does have merit.  I just feel that a treestand does not constitute a lack of moral fortitude.  I'm sure the majority of people that build these do not feel they have now claimed that tree and surrounding area as theirs (there are exceptions though, I've witnessed it first hand).  I'm going to elk camp next week and I'm sure there will be guys that have their camps set up where I want to camp and they will have probably set up their camp a week prior to save the spot.  Should I turn them in for not having the proper permits, or should I just tear their camp down and talk to them about their sense of entitlement?  Or .... should I just keep driving and set up camp down the road then come back and have a beer with them later while laughing and telling hunting stories?  I'd choose the latter.

Like I said I do see your point though and I'm certainly not condoning turning a blind eye to infractions.  That said, I see people texting while driving, failing to use turn signals, driving in the left lane instead of the right on the freeway, and not wearing seatbelts everyday.  I've yet to turn any of them in

[jackmaster]

If we've come to the point where we are so cutthroat towards our fellow hunters that we are turning each other in over tree stands on public land or are in fact tearing said tree stands down because we can't all play nice in the sandbox together like good children ....... well, the anti's won't really have to do much other than sit back and watch us bicker our way into our own demise.

We need to choose our battles carefully, and this ain't one of them 

perfectly stated

[ghosthunter]

I am too old, stupid and fat to be up a tree.
I do think more people than you think will claim the spot for their own because they built a stand there. If a guy told me I had to leave a spot I got too first because he had a stand there, I would push the buttons.

On the other hand as we talked about on another thread. I use a hub blind I may set it up in the National Forest a day or so early. I consider it my private property ( the blind) if I get there in the am and some guy is in my Hub blind well you may read about it in the paper. If he is setting next to it hunting, good for him I should have got my fat ass out of bed sooner.

[yajsab]

      What kind of camera did you use?

GoPro with the fisheye POV.   

I used this to capture my hunt.  Unfortunately, I didn't get anything.

Well, thanks to everyone who contributed to this topic.  In my mind I know permanent stand is not legal but just wanted to check in with all of you.  I'm not going to make a big fuzz about this, although I have lost my opener spot.

I won't be using this stand as a first come first serve either.  I don't want to confront anyone.  I rather set my stand up about 60 yards next to it.  I didn't do it this year, but next year, I'll be sitting 60 yards away.

[Biggerhammer]

      What kind of camera did you use?

GoPro with the fisheye POV.   

I used this to capture my hunt.  Unfortunately, I didn't get anything.

Well, thanks to everyone who contributed to this topic.  In my mind I know permanent stand is not legal but just wanted to check in with all of you.  I'm not going to make a big fuzz about this, although I have lost my opener spot.

I won't be using this stand as a first come first serve either.  I don't want to confront anyone.  I rather set my stand up about 60 yards next to it.  I didn't do it this year, but next year, I'll be sitting 60 yards away.

Why not, It's public land isn't it? If you feel thats your spot? Then take the extra minutes to be there first, set your climber or what have you in the same stinking tree, first come first serve, so goes the game.

[rosscrazyelk]

When I was just starting to hunt. My Uncle built a  stand.. It was on the ground actually and overlooked part of the river. He would put my aunt in it. She had a stove in there, and heater. all the guys would come around and get a warm cup of Jo and some cookies.... It was fun..  My aunt killed 3 elk from that stand over the years. One year we came back and it was tore down and a note saying we could not have a permanant structure built. thank you,. forest service.. This was in the 80's

[Rick]

JFC people. I can't believe some of these responses. Its a friggin' half-assed tree stand. Do you really need to piss all over it,or tear it down,or cause a confrontation?

I swear some of you act like you're 10 years old.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

JFC people. I can't believe some of these responses. Its a friggin' half-assed tree stand. Do you really need to piss all over it,or tear it down,or cause a confrontation?

I swear some of you act like you're 10 years old.

PEE ON IT!!!!!

[ICEMAN]

Why wreck another hunters place?  I think we have enough problems just getting into the woods, we all need to relax a bit and admire some guys hard work and just let it be, wish him luck. 
 
When I have found an elevated stand I have just looked it over, then kept moving. I have had guys sit in my natural foilage blinds in elk country. Maybe they have taken a nap in them too as I have..., who knows. They didnt leave trash or anything else, just their boot prints.
 
We should all relish the fact that there are other guys like us, getting out in the woods doing the same thing we like to do.

[Armadillo]

i got one im building  anyone who finds it and sits in it when im not around is welcomed to!

[Armadillo]

Unless the person was caught in the act there wouldnt really be any way for them to get prosecuted would there?

[buck man]

Just pee all over the area and leave it alone.

That  may not work out the way you think. I have quit peeing in a bottle and now piss right off my stand to the ground!! I have found over the years that human urine does not spook deer if anything it attracts them. More than once I have had bucks stop right at the piss pot and lick at the dirt. I also now have 5 pope and young bucks on the wall that wish the piss did spook them.
 If you really want to annoy them though take a dump on the wooden platorm

[PolarBear]

It depends (no pun intended) on where you are hunting.  If you are hunting the back 40 over a pile of bait the deer are more than likely use to the smell of human urine (and other human scents) and are not as allarmed by it.  If you are hunting high pressured public land where they are chased around a lot any human scent can make them leery.  I piss all over my place and the deer don't seem to mind but I can garr-un-tee you that if you took a leak on the ground where I hunt, you would not see a mature buck no matter how long you sat there.