Ethics of using someone else's treestand?

[jackelope]

Just playing the devils advocate, Would it be ok to check a camera found in the woods that wasn't yours? Some would say yes. Me not even maybe. 

I say no with a capital HELL NO!

[boneaddict]

No, No and Um no

[KFhunter]

Just because something is "legal" doesn't mean it's right.

Typically the stands require bait to be active, if the stands are 'freshened up' with bait then they're being used and I don't want to hunt there anyways.
If the stands have been sitting dormant and there's no bait then they aren't worth sitting in. 

What I wouldn't ever do is freshen up someone else's stand with bait, I'd make my own if I wanted to do that...I don't.

Minor thread jack, but we've killed lots of whitetails back east out of tree stands without any bait whatsoever. Put the work in patterning them and scouting and you can kill whitetails all day long without bait.

Usually when I find a stand there's a bare spot in the dirt out front of the stand with holes licked down in about 6-8 inches from dumping salt and hay. 

I don't disagree on patterning and being successful w/o bait, but usually when I find a stand I'm hiking back deeper in the woods to those areas and am just passing by a stand near an old overgrown road or trail.


I did find one nice stand a guy could sit on and be successful without bait, it was in a sweet funnel, but he still had bait (not that I fault that, just adds to the setup).   
I admired his setup, marked it on the GPS, and haven't been back since.

[bigtex]

This is a reason why some states and agencies require stands/blinds to be removed daily.

Even in WA its amazing how many people call wardens during deer/elk season because someone is in "their stand" or set up camp in "their camp."

[KFhunter]

Yup - the very definition of ethics, a guiding set of principles or morals not necessarily tethered to law.


the key is "not tethered to law" which means it'll always be debatable, or it would be law.

 

[NOCK NOCK]

I don’t get the “It’s public land” so anyone can use/touch/cam check something that was left(temporarily) there by another person. The land is indeed public, the stand/camera/blind is not.

Like mentioned, most wouldn’t use another persons camp set up, or their vehicle parked while out recreating, why is it OK to use other items?

Wave to the cam, sit under or near the stand(I wouldn’t) just don’t touch them....they’re not yours. SIMPLE

[RockChuck]

Nope I wouldn’t get in someone’s tree stand (can’t sit that long anyway) (nor would I trust it won’t fall down) wouldn’t check a cam (don’t use them anyway) I also would not pick up someone’s bicycle and take it for a ride and bring it back if it was left unlocked on public land. I Wouldn’t drive someone’s car if the keys were left in it.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I've sat in other peoples' stands several times over the years.  Always at their invitation.  Otherwise, I do not touch other peoples' stuff, unless it is an obviously lost small item.

[pianoman9701]

In eastern Oregon during general archery elk season you can't hardly find a water hole that doesn't have a tree stand on it. Guys will leave them up for the whole entire season and only sit them a couple of times/weekends.  Does having a tree stand on one of these spots reserve it for the entire season for these guys? Ive never sat in someone else's stand but I wouldn't blame a guy for sitting in mine if I weren't there. Would it be ok to set up your own stand or ground bling on the same water hole?

I would think putting up your own stand would be fine. Of course, what happens when the original stand guy shows up? Are you going to leave or because you were in that piece of public land first, it's yours? That's a little like the ghost tents that people put up to hold a camping spot.

[ghosthunter]

There are a lot of different issues.

If you are talking about a tree stand built of wood in a public area nailed to public trees, I say first come first serve.

If you are talking about personal property on public land, tree stand,pop ground blind, bike, camera, car, tent etc. No Way.

None of those items reserves a public piece of land. If you want to sit or hang something next to it fine. But I wouldn't.

I too use tree stands I find as gps marks .

If I came along and my pop up ground blind was occupied by someone else.  I would say excuse me but I am here to pick up my blind and chair. And I would take my property and leave. They would be free to sit there and hunt if they wanted.

On the other hand I have found many nice wood ground blinds in the Nile. I would set in one no problem. I consider them permeant structures on public lands. There construction was probably ill legal. 

I have heard stories of folks telling other folks to stay away from their spot on public land. I have never met those people. And hope I never do. I might end up in jail.

[WapitiTalk1]

I don't have to overthink this, my answer is no.... it's not mine or one of my friends (who I've gained permission to use from), so I have no business messing with equipment that is not mine. 

[Practical Approach]

 

I don't have to overthink this, my answer is no.... it's not mine or one of my friends (who I've gained permission to use from), so I have no business messing with equipment that is not mine.

[Griiz]

Build your own stand and find your own spot. I’ve had *censored*s use my stands and try to beat me into them. Selfish greedy people!!!! in my opinion

[Billy74]

Ive come across home made stands.  Just lumber nailed and drilled into the trees making a permanent structure eventual rot aside.  Does that change anyones views? 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Odell]

Build your own stand and find your own spot. I’ve had *censored*s use my stands and try to beat me into them. Selfish greedy people!!!! in my opinion

What makes it your spot?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk