Treestand ethics?

[CanuckShooter]

What are your feelings on tree stand ethics [permanent stands only]....when you find a man made tree stand in a very good spot would you use it? Are these stands the personal property of the builder or are they free to use on a first come, first serve basis??

[Zuludog]

I'd leave it but that's just me. If it seemed abandoned I might use it though?

[Scott N]

On crown land?

[CanuckShooter]

Originally Posted by Scott N

On crown land?

Naturally, if it was on private land you would need permission of the land owner. ;-)

[Ronji]

I have found many old stands that were left behind on crown land. I have used them, and people have used mine. All of my stands were located in areas that were far enough back, that you would know if anybody else was around. Found some that were used by bears as their "outhouse with a view"

[SkytopBrewster]

I found a decent one that I know for a fact has not been used in the last 3 years, I took it over this year and set up a bait.

[Scott N]

Originally Posted by CanuckShooter

Naturally, if it was on private land you would need permission of the land owner. ;-)

Of course, but it doesn't mean that someone might not use the stand on private land, assuming that more than one party has access. If someone uses a stand on crown land that they didn't build, the argument gets a little more complicated.

[Pincherguy]

If I came upon a pemanent stand that was made from natural matrial, branches etc. I would use it. That being said if someone came along and said that they had built it for thier own use, I would vacate the stand without hesitation. They built it and I would not think about doing anything but leave.

[Bigmountainrider]

On public land I would use it and yeild use to the builder if he/she shows up. On private land this would not be a question, for I would know who the builder is, whos using the property and if I was ok to use the stand.

[Junglefisher]

So, if I was out in the bush with my family and we encountered a tree stand, it would be OK to climb it and have a look around? For non-hunting purposes?

[SkytopBrewster]

Originally Posted by Junglefisher

So, if I was out in the bush with my family and we encountered a tree stand, it would be OK to climb it and have a look around? For non-hunting purposes?

I would say if it was obviously recently set up to leave it be, It's a chance we take leaving stuff on cround land, I am really hoping anyone that comes across my stand or trail cameras leave it be, Have had much stuff stolen over the years.

[CanuckShooter]

Originally Posted by Junglefisher

So, if I was out in the bush with my family and we encountered a tree stand, it would be OK to climb it and have a look around? For non-hunting purposes?

I would say it would be OK to climb up and take a look around, just be extremely cautious that it's safe.

There is a faction of outdoorsmen that don't think the permanent stands should be left in place and advocate tearing them down if they find them...:-(

[Big Daddy Badger]

Originally Posted by Junglefisher

So, if I was out in the bush with my family and we encountered a tree stand, it would be OK to climb it and have a look around? For non-hunting purposes?

Whats the harm?
Besides... if they cared THAT much about it... they wouldn't have left it there.

[grinr]

Originally Posted by Bigmountainrider

On public land I would use it and yeild use to the builder if he/she shows up. On private land this would not be a question, for I would know who the builder is, whos using the property and if I was ok to use the stand.

This^^
I've found dozens upon dozens if not hundreds of stands on Crown land over the years.Sometimes portables,climbers,ladders,permanent wooden stands in various states of repair,from rock solid tree condos to rickety death traps,a bucket seat from a Mustang 30 ft up a white pine....you name it.
Some I've used,some I didn't,some I wouldn't trust to support a squirrel,some that obviously been abandoned for years.
I've got no problem with using a found stand,just like I know others have used mine.About the only thing I wouldn't do is use somebody's stand over an active bear bait,being as after putting in a few seasons guiding bear hunters myself,I know how much time,cost and effort goes into it.
When you hang a stand on public land,permanent or otherwise,somebody else finding and using it is one of the chances you take,as long as they don't steal it,all good IMO.
I would certainly leave if the rightful owner came along,or not use it at all if I knew he objected.
At the end of the day,after decades of hunting and likely sitting in a few dozen dozen found stands over the years,I can only recall ever shooting exactly ONE buck from same that I rattled in and shot literally straight down thru the shoulder blades.
Unless I'm bowhunting,I generally prefer stillhunting and building 2 minute ground blinds for rattling etc.,and usually hunt too many places in any given season to invest too much time hanging stands all over Hell's half acre......I like variety I guess?

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Bigmountainrider

On public land I would use it and yeild use to the builder if he/she shows up.

That's what I would do as well... with a built wooden one anyway. I would never use a portable stand someone had left.

[Big Sky]

I wouldn't sit in a stand that had been set up by someone else.
However, I wouldn't hesitate to sit on my stool or on a stump in a location where someone had set up a treestand. If I like the location I will sit there.

If someone is there before me, whether sitting in the stand or sitting on a stump, I would wave and move on.
If someone shows up after me, they should be moving on.

The land belongs to us all. As I see it, the rule of first come, first served is applicable.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

That's what I would do as well... with a built wooden one anyway. I would never use a portable stand someone had left.

Oh man, I didn't realize this was a boomerang thread that is 2 years old!!!!!!! I said exactly the same thing earlier on this thread in 2013!

[58thecat]

Simple, not yours stay out of it. If you see another stand and you know a hunter puts his/her butt in it do not place yours anywhere near it. Lots of woods out there so share it nicely.

[elkivory]

I was walking down an old abandoned logging road a few years ago. As I came up a hill I noticed a newly built wooden tree stand right off the side of the road. It was actually one of the nicest tree stands I have ever seen, and I have seen many.

It was about 8 in the morning so obviously nobody was hunting in it that morning, so I climbed up the tree and did a cow in heat bawling call sequence.

To my complete surprise, within a couple of minutes a nice 2 and 1/2 year old bull came running up the hill crashing though the trees all the way and popped out of the treeline about 150 yards away directly in front of the tree stand.

He sure did taste good!

[heretohunt]

If you don't want someone sitting in your stand or blind on public land you should take it home with you.

[purgatory.sv]

Originally Posted by CanuckShooter

What are your feelings on tree stand ethics [permanent stands only]....when you find a man made tree stand in a very good spot would you use it? Are these stands the personal property of the builder or are they free to use on a first come, first serve basis??

I am only going to respond to post number one.

I will move on.

As far as I know nothing is permanent.

Keep posting.

[deerguy]

Seems like a fair bit of ignorant people on here. You should find a new area if you come across a permie, how is this even debatable? It called respect and ethics.

[Supergrit]

Hunting is first come first serve if some one is there first then you leave. If I am there first it's my hunt in that spot for the day. Since I'm there first I would hunt in the stand cause you should be left alone. If some one builds a permanent stand it belongs to the forest. It certainly isn't a marker for life if that spot by the stand builder.

[burbotman]

Originally Posted by deerguy

Seems like a fair bit of ignorant people on here. You should find a new area if you come across a permie, how is this even debatable? It called respect and ethics.

I would not hunt out of someone else's stand. That said putting up a stand does not give you owner ship of the land.

Would you be okay if I popped up a stand where you hunt often. Of course you could not hunt there any more out of respect, right?

[deerguy]

Originally Posted by burbotman

I would not hunt out of someone else's stand. That said putting up a stand does not give you owner ship of the land.

Would you be okay if I popped up a stand where you hunt often. Of course you could not hunt there any more out of respect, right?

No I wouldn be ok with it, yes i would move, it's the respectful thing to do.

[Battle Rat]

I sat in one of Lloyd McMahon's one morning just because.
Had some fun with his butt head guide that showed up.
Should of crapped on the seat.

[riden]

Originally Posted by deerguy

Seems like a fair bit of ignorant people on here. You should find a new area if you come across a illegally installed permie, how is this even debatable? It called respect and ethics.

Fixed it for ya.

[Bird]

Originally Posted by deerguy

Seems like a fair bit of ignorant people on here. You should find a new area if you come across a permie, how is this even debatable? It called respect and ethics.

If that's the case people will be putting up stands all over the place to claim that hunting area. Kind of like the guys posting crown land with no trespassing/no hunting signs. Not hunting an area because of a tree stand set up doesn't make sense to me, if it's crown land it's fair game whether or not there's a stand. There's nothing ignorant about that. If another hunter is active in the area that's a different story and leaving the area alone is the respectful thing to do...

[FallAirFever]

Originally Posted by Bird

If that's the case people will be putting up stands all over the place to claim that hunting area. Kind of like the guys posting crown land with no trespassing/no hunting signs. Not hunting an area because of a tree stand set up doesn't make sense to me, if it's crown land it's fair game whether or not there's a stand. There's nothing ignorant about that. If another hunter is active in the area that's a different story and leaving the area alone is the respectful thing to do...

Well said...

to my way of thinking it is ignorant for someone to put up a stand on crown land that belongs to everyone and expect some sort of exclusive right to the area. If I spend time going over maps and google earth to find a decent looking spot then make a trip out there and like what I see, someone's "permie" stand is not going to stop me from hunting there! Of course if someone is already in the area all bets are off and its on to plan B.

[CNP]

Originally Posted by deerguy

Seems like a fair bit of ignorant people on here. You should find a new area if you come across a permie, how is this even debatable? It called respect and ethics.

Originally Posted by Bird

If that's the case people will be putting up stands all over the place to claim that hunting area. Kind of like the guys posting crown land with no trespassing/no hunting signs. Not hunting an area because of a tree stand set up doesn't make sense to me, if it's crown land it's fair game whether or not there's a stand. There's nothing ignorant about that. If another hunter is active in the area that's a different story and leaving the area alone is the respectful thing to do...

He doesn't get it Bird. Do not put up a permanent stand thinking in perpetuity the surrounding location is yours................if he does he is ethically challenged himself. The respect part of it plays out by NOT erecting any permanent stands and not thinking this is my castle and my fiefdom.