Unoccupied blinds and tree stands?

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Rugdoc

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What is the accepted etiquette regarding unoccupied blinds and stands?

Being semi-retired, I can hunt waterfowl during the week and there is a blind on a nearby river that I have often used and have never seen anyone else nearby though I find empty shells sometimes and clean them up for the poor souls whose backs hurt so much they obviously can't pick them up themselves.

Then in the woods deer hunting I have occasionally found old, neglected an unused tree stands and recently a newer one. And this on a long weekend with still not a soul around. it was recently baited with yummy deer food too.

Is it okay to use them?

They are on public land and by law (in BC anyway) they are illegal as it is unlawful to build a structure on crown land and leave it up longer than 14 days. But that said, if it is unoccupied what harm is there in using it?

If someone comes along and says "Hey that's my stand" I wouldn't argue and I'd vacate it but even then who says that that person was really the builder?
 
Well...IMO if you're occupying a blind that's not yours and some dude comes by and says that this said blind is his handy work...and you ask him to prove it, you will then be in a possible confrontational situation. I have a couple simple duck blinds which are nothing more than a bench with some covering above on crown land. Others have used these on occasion as empty shell casings prove this but I mainly hunt week days and have never physically found anyone in one of my blinds. I'd probably ask him/her to share it with me that day if they weren't a jackass as one might make a new hunting partner.
 
A commercial tree stand on crown land wouldn’t last 14 days in the woods in B.C. before some jackazz steals it.
Unless of course one had to hike in three days to place it and in that case the owner isn’t far from said stand.

Ground blinds made from local fauna is a different story.
If hunting ducks in a marsh and I’m the first to the spot having discovered it I prolly would invite the next group to shoot over the decoys and as mentioned before hand if they are not jerks or of questionable character then maybe both parties may have found a new hunting group or at least someone to share hunting information and updates on the types of birds in the area.
Rob
 
Waterfowl etiquette I was taught when growing up was if on public land it belonged to the builder opening day and after that it was anyones but if going by the letter of the law it’s illegal to erect a permanent structure on public land and is a chargeable offence if erected on a navigable waterway as it’s considered a navigation hazard so laying claim to it may not be in your best interest. As for the other hunter stumbling onto you using it well it’s up to you where you draw the line in terms of staying put or leaving. A tree stand that has fresh bait out? I would bypass that. Last thing I’d do is hunt over someone elses bait/stand unless invited. As well you may find yourself in a real bad situation, some folks can get pretty goofy thinking public areas are their turf!
 
Iff'in yew'ears that chainsaw fir'in up and yew t'ain't the won'old'in les hen-zagg'in,
scurry qwickly.
Timmmmmmber mite bee'erd before yewse tawple tuh mah terre.
 
There is an area I hunt that has remained relatively the same for a couple decades and the same hunters show up in the area every year. Over the years of exploring the area, which is pretty brutal hiking in most places, I've found several ground blinds and treestands of various construction. One day I hiked into "my spot" and discovered the old timer that showed me it had put a single man stand up in a tree. I know the one or two other guys that know the spot have used that stand but I have left it be. The old timer doesn't come around anymore and I assume left the stand for the handfull of guys that he shared his knowledge with. I put my own stand in this year in a new spot and I have every confidence it will be there for years unless the area is logged. Then again most hunters don't want to hike into such spots unless they really know the area well.
I think the proper thing to do is leave it well enough alone or leave a note with your number and maybe the guy will call you and a friendship will start. I've met a few guys over the years that do hunt the same spot as me because the old guy showed them as well. Over the years we all have patterned our trips so we don't overlap each other and disturb each others hunts and have all found our own "spot" in the valley that we all kind of respect. I don't as a general rule use thier ground blinds or treestands though I have most of them located on my treasure map hehehe
 
I don't use other peoples stands or blinds, if I didn't build it or place it, it isn't mine to use. Besides that, most people are noobs and don't place stands or blinds properly.
 
When I'm hunting/scouting new areas and come across someone's deer or bear stand , blind or trail camera on public land I leave the area. My theory is that if someone has put enough effort to drag a stand or blind and bait into an area I wont crowd them. Not a blind duck hunter but would probably do the same.

That being said it is hard to find productive area to hunt on public land that are not being hunted by other hunters but they are out there.

Its disappointing when you have spent lots of hours scouting/driving/pouring over maps/google earth and do find a nice spot and have been hunting it for 4years with nobody around. Then you start seeing the same guy standing in front of your trail cameras a couple times a week with a different buddy tagging alone. To make things even better they are nice enough to leave you a bunch of beer cans and garbage at the bottom of your stand.
Happen to me this fall so I gathered up my cameras and left the area. It was not worth running into a guy and his buddy drinking in my stand, it wouldn't of ended well for anyone. I did make sure mention to my Regional Police buddy to watch out for a certain Chevy Silverado that was seen parked there.
 
In Ontario,there's only a gentlemen's agreement among waterfowlers that if you build a blind,it's yours for exclusive use until noon on opening day,BUT, and it's a BIG BUT,that this agreement is NOT enshrined in law,so,if you show up after that and someone is already there,it's up to you to move on. Cause a scene and you'll be charged with "interference in a lawful hunt" that'll cost you at least $250. For years,I've used a portable blind that I can use anywhere,any time. It's a lot less hassle.
 
The trouble with leaving stands in the bush is that it implies ownership
of that spot. If you don't think so, hunt that spot and see if he doesn't try to run you off. He's hoping that your good nature will keep you away so it doesn't come to that.

Of course he could be a true gentleman who completely understands that he doesn't own the bush. In that case I suppose he wouldn't mind if you used it. That's sarcasm btw.

I could hang 20 stands and claim some serious territory. It would work on most people, but it's still a #### move. That's why I've come to believe that all stands should either come down everyday or become public domain the next day.

OTOH I mostly hunt private land if there's stands involved. I catch you in my stand there'll be hell to
pay.
 
Usually hunt on my own land or patented mining claims with surface rights.
By law everything there is MINE, MINE, MINE.
I don't care if others hunt on my ground and it isn't fenced off but I'm the undisputed king of every flat sitting surface there.
There are lots of hunting spots so if I find someone else occupying a tree stand or ground blind I move on to the next one. I built them all so I know where they are.
I'm a live and let live guy almost to a fault.
If someone tries to evict me that gets settled quick. Only happened once in 30 years.
 
hoytcanon said:
I don't use other peoples stands or blinds, if I didn't build it or place it, it isn't mine to use. Besides that, most people are noobs and don't place stands or blinds properly.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. I won't use somebody else's tree stand. I'm not sure what I would do if I found somebody else in my stand; likely be pi$$ed, but move on as I have other spots I can use. They would have to be early risers to get in ahead of me, since I'm usually there by legal shooting time.
 
Dogleg said:
The trouble with leaving stands in the bush is that it implies ownership
of that spot. If you don't think so, hunt that spot and see if he doesn't try to run you off. He's hoping that your good nature will keep you away so it doesn't come to that.

Of course he could be a true gentleman who completely understands that he doesn't own the bush. In that case I suppose he wouldn't mind if you used it. That's sarcasm btw.

I could hang 20 stands and claim some serious territory. It would work on most people, but it's still a #### move. That's why I've come to believe that all stands should either come down everyday or become public domain the next day.

OTOH I mostly hunt private land if there's stands involved. I catch you in my stand there'll be hell to
pay.
Click to expand...

..... ^this^

In my area, there isn't much crown land and the crown land that does exist are small patches surrounded by private land... We are talking 50-150 acre parcels so not very big....
If I wanted to be a prick, I could put up (build) some tree stands in key locations and then claim the area as my spot(s).... just not right....

If you bring it in, take it out.
 
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