So I got off work early today and figured I'd go climb into one of my treestands for a couple of hours. I hike into my spot and lo and behold my stand is gone! The thieves missed two steps up in the tree but took the others, cut my cable lock and took the stand. Third one to be swiped now. Why is it that some hunter's have no respect for others, and feel the need to pilfer their equipment? I'm so friggin pissed off I don't know what I'd actually do if I caught one of these little pricks in the act.
Why do hunter's need to steal?
- Thread starter Big Game
- Start date
Some people steal just because they can, and its easy when its in the bush. They just see $200 sitting there for the taking. Wouldn't matter if its a tree stand or any other item. If it was a tv, they'd just shoot it.
A buddy went to his moose camp a few years back and someone had stolen their half-barrel they use for a toilet. Why? Who knows...
A buddy went to his moose camp a few years back and someone had stolen their half-barrel they use for a toilet. Why? Who knows...
On another site i frequent a lot of guys have had trail Cams stolen. Some are putting up a second hidden cam to wach the first one. Seems like some people have a problem with private property and a general lack of respect for others. I blame the young offenders act, they learn at an early age how to get away with murder.
WE are seeing a generation raised by the "Me first " mentality. We've been through 20 plus years of telling every kid that they can have everything they want and that life is about taking care of what you want because it may hurt your precious self esteem. When I was raised it was always about others and respecting them first. What followed was the complete opposite.
We have an entire generation where a large proportion ( not all obviously) see nothing wrong with taking a tree stand or a camera out in the woods. I want that and I'll just take it. There is zero consideration that it may be someone elses and the owner may not appreciate it being taken. In my profession I often deal with young people who deliberately tell false hoods in order to further their own agenda. I have been told that I cannot call them a liar because that will hurt their feelings and it is too harsh
I my day getting caught lying or worse yet taking something got you a bit more than being called a liar.
I know that it may be generalizing a bit with regards to who might be doing this but I'll bet the odds are that the thief is not in his/her late thirties or older. I'm sure the CGNr's out their who fall into that younger demographic will probably crap all over me but that is fine. If it makes you angry it is probably because you actually have character and resent being placed into a group with other idiots and for that I do apologize.
However, I have witnessed hundreds of people in that age group grow up and I can honestly say there has been a deterioration of character in that population in general. I'm afraid that missing tree stands will be the tip of the iceberg.
We have an entire generation where a large proportion ( not all obviously) see nothing wrong with taking a tree stand or a camera out in the woods. I want that and I'll just take it. There is zero consideration that it may be someone elses and the owner may not appreciate it being taken. In my profession I often deal with young people who deliberately tell false hoods in order to further their own agenda. I have been told that I cannot call them a liar because that will hurt their feelings and it is too harsh
I my day getting caught lying or worse yet taking something got you a bit more than being called a liar.I know that it may be generalizing a bit with regards to who might be doing this but I'll bet the odds are that the thief is not in his/her late thirties or older. I'm sure the CGNr's out their who fall into that younger demographic will probably crap all over me but that is fine. If it makes you angry it is probably because you actually have character and resent being placed into a group with other idiots and for that I do apologize.
However, I have witnessed hundreds of people in that age group grow up and I can honestly say there has been a deterioration of character in that population in general. I'm afraid that missing tree stands will be the tip of the iceberg.
WE are seeing a generation raised by the "Me first " mentality. We've been through 20 plus years of telling every kid that they can have everything they want and that life is about taking care of what you want because it may hurt your precious self esteem. When I was raised it was always about others and respecting them first. What followed was the complete opposite.
We have an entire generation where a large proportion ( not all obviously) see nothing wrong with taking a tree stand or a camera out in the woods. I want that and I'll just take it. There is zero consideration that it may be someone elses and the owner may not appreciate it being taken. In my profession I often deal with young people who deliberately tell false hoods in order to further their own agenda. I have been told that I cannot call them a liar because that will hurt their feelings and it is too harsh
I know that it may be generalizing a bit with regards to who might be doing this but I'll bet the odds are that the thief is not in his/her late thirties or older. I'm sure the CGNr's out their who fall into that younger demographic will probably crap all over me but that is fine. If it makes you angry it is probably because you actually have character and resent being placed into a group with other idiots and for that I do apologize.
However, I have witnessed hundreds of people in that age group grow up and I can honestly say there has been a deterioration of character in that population in general. I'm afraid that missing tree stands will be the tip of the iceberg.
Exactly what you said x2, And the fact that there is no conciquence for their actions.
When will the older generation stop using "they aren't raised the way they used to be", seriously your parents said the exact same things about you as did theirs. Pull your heads outta your arses and realize there are good and bad people out there of all ages and stereotyping a certain age group doesn't negate the fact that it's quite possibly somebody your own age (and it's most likely is). It's the way you where raised and what moral code you live by that determines who you are as an individual not what decade you where born in.
Shifting the blame onto young people ( or any group) is an easy and mindless way to come up with a solution to a problem that you actually have no answer for.
Shifting the blame onto young people ( or any group) is an easy and mindless way to come up with a solution to a problem that you actually have no answer for.
You may be an exception but the fact is that in the past 2 decades or so, morals have descended like an eagle's a** in a power dive.
Respect for other folks and their things is at an all time low.
I have lived long enough to see it, clear as glass.
Eagleye.
^ This.
Age has nothing to do with it, always been crime. Plenty of thieves that are older. Goes with anything. I've heard of young people committing similar crimes, and 70 year olds do those things. And more then likely the people stealing things like trail cams, blinds, tree stands, etc are hunters. Bad apple is bad apple.
Now, I'd agree that in many aspects things have gotten softer. The whole can't hit a kid, no physical punishments, slap on the wrist, hurt their feelings, etc etc. Look at the youth criminal justice act and how many youth literally get away with murder/attempted murder. But to blame something like this on a generation eh..
There is an answer to the problem. It is called accountability. You are accountable for your actions. Or rather should I say you used to be accountable. The message preached has changed drastically in the last couple of decades. Yes every generation complained about the youth but when the youth became adults the underlying value system governed the life of most of those from that generation.
Today the underlying value system is very different. It is far more self centered and we are seeing the results of this. Crime is still crime regardless and people know the difference between legal and not legal but the grey areas are different. I would say that far more people in their 20's today would say finders keepers with regards to tree stands and trail cams found in the woods than would of 20 or 30 years ago. We have created ( and I accept my own fault in the matter ) a generation that places far less value on the needs of others.
Are there old farts like me out their that would do these things ? You bet. The younger generation does not hold a patent on being an arsehole. However, anyone who has dealt with youth over two decades will have seen this change. I speak from first hand experience and I am sure others on this board have as well.
Thanks for challenging me on my arguement because I am more than happy to defend it.
Now back to the solution to the problem.
1) Parents need to teach their children values and stop trying to be their childrens friends. Be a parent and put the time and effort needed. Don't let computers and televisions raise your kids. ( ironic I'm on a computer now )
2) The Education system needs to stop worrying about making every one feel all warm and fuzzy and develop and stick to standards of achievement and behaviour
3) Those who do break the law need to be held accountable. especially the youth. I personally favour the restorative justice model.
You took my tree stand. You work to pay back the cost of the stand, time it took to replace it, and the wages of everyone it took to catch you and make sure you pay the bill.
Is it a quick fix ? No. But many things take a long time, solid focus, and hard work. But that may be an alien concept to a generation that has grown up with instant gratification and 30 second attention spans.
Today the underlying value system is very different. It is far more self centered and we are seeing the results of this. Crime is still crime regardless and people know the difference between legal and not legal but the grey areas are different. I would say that far more people in their 20's today would say finders keepers with regards to tree stands and trail cams found in the woods than would of 20 or 30 years ago. We have created ( and I accept my own fault in the matter ) a generation that places far less value on the needs of others.
Are there old farts like me out their that would do these things ? You bet. The younger generation does not hold a patent on being an arsehole. However, anyone who has dealt with youth over two decades will have seen this change. I speak from first hand experience and I am sure others on this board have as well.
Thanks for challenging me on my arguement because I am more than happy to defend it.
Now back to the solution to the problem.
1) Parents need to teach their children values and stop trying to be their childrens friends. Be a parent and put the time and effort needed. Don't let computers and televisions raise your kids. ( ironic I'm on a computer now )
2) The Education system needs to stop worrying about making every one feel all warm and fuzzy and develop and stick to standards of achievement and behaviour
3) Those who do break the law need to be held accountable. especially the youth. I personally favour the restorative justice model.
You took my tree stand. You work to pay back the cost of the stand, time it took to replace it, and the wages of everyone it took to catch you and make sure you pay the bill.
Is it a quick fix ? No. But many things take a long time, solid focus, and hard work. But that may be an alien concept to a generation that has grown up with instant gratification and 30 second attention spans.
Good on you for at least trying to prevent it with a lock. For everyone else complaining its the same idea as leaving your house unlocked when you're gone on vacation or leaving your keys in your running car while you're in the store. There is no one to blame why your things got stolen but yourself if there are no steps taken to prevent it. Most people wont steal things but if there are no consequences to their actions and there is absolutely no deterrent it could be a simple matter of finders keepers. Especially if you're on crown land and you know there are others frequenting the area, buy yourself a bike lock and at least make an attempt to secure your belongings. I'm kind of wondering the laws against it actually. You can't exactly bring your personal belongings on public land and essentially squat a space for it. But again at the same time you cant be in possession of stolen property if you were to take it.
I personally don't steal stands or cams but I would do it to trespassers if the situation arises. Either that or leave a note on the stand telling them to get their things off the property. I guess I'll deal with it if the time comes.
I personally don't steal stands or cams but I would do it to trespassers if the situation arises. Either that or leave a note on the stand telling them to get their things off the property. I guess I'll deal with it if the time comes.
Edward Teach
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- who cares?
Bulls**t!
Whether or not someone takes precautions does NOT give some other thieving c**ks***er any right to take it. If it's not yours, you leave it the f**k alone, whether it's locked up or not.
back40sniper
CGN Regular
- Location
- South east Sask.
Dammitt! Edward Teach beat me to it. There is that mindset the older fellows where talking about. I am an almost older fellow and agree that morale values are taking a dive.
Yeah I agree with that fully but a thief looking for an easy opportunity does not. Its a lot easier to lock it up then deal with the headache of looking up at an empty tree at 6am. There will always be people out there that do not give two s**ts about your property and you have to find ways of dealing with them, like it or not. And for $5 its not the end of the world for peace of mind.
In order to steal my stand the a**hole(s), would have first had to find the location and then go and find some bolt cutters to cut the lock,that is unless they drive around with a set on their ATV for just such an occasion. I have to agree with some of the comments in here about a lack of respect today for other people no matter which generation! I know that I was taught as a hunter to respect others stands, I wouldn't even think to climb up and use someone else's stand without permission, much less take it. I guess I was brought up believing that hunters were like a brotherhood and we respected each other and our sport, not so much anymore. I guess I'll keep buying and putting up treestands and the punks will keep stealing them until I get lucky and catch one, then........ I'm not sure what my reaction will be!
