What to do when you come across a tree stand?

[new and novice]

This year I went on my 1st deer hunt. I found a lot of good watch areas with empty tree stands in them. As I was sitting on my pad near one of them, I began to wonder "What if the owner of the tree stand showed up? Do I have to move, as I was there 1st?" It is crown land, and I have just as much right to be there as anyone else. It is not my fault that I made it to a good spot before him. He may own the tree stand, but does not own the woods anymore than me.

So what would you folks out there do? Yield the area to the tree stander, or tell him to pound sand?

 

[skoal]

Dosnt matter if his stand is there first depends whos there actively hunting that day first.

 

[Kelly Timoffee]

So, if someone is hunting on the ground under my stand in the afternoon and I show up for an evening hunt I can't use my own stand? Don't think that is right.

Having respect for fellow hunters is a pretty important thing.

Dosnt matter if his stand is there first depends whos there actively hunting that day first.

 

[mlehtovaara]

So, if someone is hunting on the ground under my stand in the afternoon and I show up for an evening hunt I can't use my own stand? Don't think that is right.

Having respect for fellow hunters is a pretty important thing.

So respect the guy that was there first and go find somewhere else to hunt. LOL

Seriously though, hunting under someones tree stand is just dumb. Good chance that guy might come out to his stand and interrupt you anyways, so I'd move on.

 

[new and novice]

So, if someone is hunting on the ground under my stand in the afternoon and I show up for an evening hunt I can't use my own stand? Don't think that is right.

Having respect for fellow hunters is a pretty important thing.

This is exactly why I asked this question, to see which side has the better argument. On crown land, just because you put a stand up, does that give you a reservation to be able to kick someone else out? How could you kick someone off of public land? Just playing devils advocate here looking for some differing POVs.

 

[bmorsh]

I say you help one another and share the game. Become life long friends.

 

[new and novice]

So respect the guy that was there first and go find somewhere else to hunt. LOL

Seriously though, hunting under someones tree stand is just dumb. Good chance that guy might come out to his stand and interrupt you anyways, so I'd move on.

Ok so I move on. Now on my way out, I realize that the tree stand owner never did show up. Now I may have given up a sweet spot for nothing.

 

[supernova]

You can't kick someone off public land. If you set up a tree stand and show up to find someone using it, you can kick them out. But if you show up and someone is there but not in the treestand then you're SOL because you set your tree stand up on public land. Trying to get them to leave the area would be considered interfering with a lawful hunt because he was there first. That's the risk you take hunting public land. You might own the tree stand but you do not own the tree its strapped to. Ethics dictate being polite and leaving other hunters alone when they were there first, even if that means not using your tree stand that day.

This is exactly why I asked this question, to see which side has the better argument. On crown land, just because you put a stand up, does that give you a reservation to be able to kick someone else out? How could you kick someone off of public land? Just playing devils advocate here looking for some differing POVs.

 

[new and novice]

You can't kick someone off public land. If you set up a tree stand and show up to find someone using it, you can kick them out. But if you show up and someone is there but not in the treestand then you're SOL because you set your tree stand up on public land. Trying to get them to leave the area would be considered interfering with a lawful hunt because he was there first. That's the risk you take hunting public land. You might own the tree stand but you do not own the tree its strapped to. Ethics dictate being polite and leaving other hunters alone when they were there first, even if that means not using your tree stand that day.

Bingo! That's what I was thinking, but wasn't sure. Well said.

 

[mlehtovaara]

Bingo! That's what I was thinking, but wasn't sure. Well said.

Again though, picture the scenario.....

Your sitting there, and you have a huge buck walk out in front of you, moments away from a clear shot when........

Tree stand owner comes out of the bush and scares off your buck.

Where I hunt there is lots of crown land, so I would find somewhere else, in hopes that others do the same.

If I find someone camped out right at the bottom of my stand, I'm gonna be pissed.

F it I would probably let off a couple shots as I walked out cause you are a ####! Try and prove I didn't see a deer, and took a shot at it.

 

[xeon]

This is why scouting different areas pre-hunt is critical. You get an understanding of the way the game moves in the area and you can also find and work around stands that are already there.

No sense hunting near someones stand knowing they could come back anytime. And if you both stay and try to wait the other one out, together you'll just ruin both the hunts because you both claimed rights to a spot... that neither one of you own.

 

[hoytcanon]

Personally, I am very particular about where I hunt and where I place stands and leaving the area as natural and scent free as possible... if there is another hunter under my stand, I am going to pull my stand down and I wont be returning to that spot... it has never happened to me, because I generally hunt in remote locations with difficult access (specifically to avoid this kind of scenario)... most hunters wont do the work required to hunt where I do.

 

[theshootist]

I've wondered about this topic while hunting on public lands this year. I think it will be worth a call to my local Wildlife Officer. Seems to me last year at the mandatory pre-hunt meeting they said you must not leave at tree stand up at night. They must be carried out after each hunt, each evening. Now if I can remember to get that phone call done... I'll tag this thread

 

[new and novice]

Again though, picture the scenario.....

Your sitting there, and you have a huge buck walk out in front of you, moments away from a clear shot when........

Tree stand owner comes out of the bush and scares off your buck.

Where I hunt there is lots of crown land, so I would find somewhere else, in hopes that others do the same.

If I find someone camped out right at the bottom of my stand, I'm gonna be pissed.

F it I would probably let off a couple shots as I walked out cause you are a ####! Try and prove I didn't see a deer, and took a shot at it.

I did not say sitting directly under a tree stand, I said near one. At one point, I did put myself about 50 - 75 yards away from one, after a half hr hike off of a dirt road. Bt there were lots of empty tree stands everywhere in the six days I was there.

 

[petew]

and then we have the guys with 10 or more stands set up, they can't be in all of them , so do they have exclusive claim to these areas??, or how about the guy that sits behind natural cover on the ground, and comes along to find a stand placed close to where he hunts from ? Many seem to think a stand trumps a ground blind, lol, and many think nothing of sitting in a bush blind built by someone else, yet the same person raises merry hell if someone sits in their stand.
Realy guys it is just a chair or place to park your butt, wether in a tree or on the ground.

 

[arcticcathonda]

No way. If the stand is vacant when you get there, hunt around it if you wish, just be prepared for a run in. You all mean to tell me that if you set your lawn chair up in the local park near the swing set, you would tell the kids to get lost and go use the slide instead?! grow up. If I understand some of you correctly, what prevents a guy from hanging junker stands every 100m on crown land securing a several hectares to be "his"

 

[Mauser GDog]

This is why scouting different areas pre-hunt is critical. You get an understanding of the way the game moves in the area and you can also find and work around stands that are already there.

Agreed, scouting is an important and enjoyable part of it. If you don't have time to scout, you are rolling the dice. Find a stand, I'd consider that location potentially spoiled.

 

[fuse]

I piss on stands. Three times a week to keep the smell fresh.

 

[hoochie]

you are contradicting yourself in what you are saying. You say the tree stand is there before you got there, then think you got there first? Do you really understand the amount of time and effort people put into pre-season scouting? Countless hours can be spent following tracks and trails, watching the animals as they go by. Someone who has placed a tree stand does not do so just for the hell of it. It was a planned out move, after hours of prep.
For you to hunt near it is ok, but if dude shows up.. Its time to move on.

 

[mlehtovaara]

Realy guys it is just a chair or place to park your butt, wether in a tree or on the ground.

Not in Ontario it's not!

We can bait, and set up feeders, or food plots, game camera's etc.

If I go through a #### ton of work for months prior to the hunt, I expect some respect from a fellow hunter.

I have come across this several times, and in great locations, but I move on out of respect for the guy that put in all that work. I just haven't had time these last couple years to do it myself, and don't expect to profit from someone elses hard work.

Next year I plan on baiting for bears in Spring and Fall, and setting up a couple spots for deer. If I find someone in my spots, we will quietly discuss the best direction for them to leave....