Back around New Year's day I was hunting with my flinter and while still hunting I came across a ladder stand (about a 16 footer) that had a bigdead snag leaning against it at about a 45 degree angle. The stand took the impact and the right side where the snag is the square tubing is bent. The ladder itself is bowed from the weight but still intact. I believe the nylon webbing is what is actually holding the snag up.
I went past it yesteday just going for a walk. It is on public land and appears to have been abandon (2 months after the season). Do you guys think it would be considered stealing it if I cut the snag down with my chain say and recovered it?
I believed it could be made usable again with a little effort.
__________________ PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE RISING COST IN AMMO PRICES I WILL NO LONGER BE FIRING A WARNING SHOT.
A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have.
I'm not as good as I'm gonna get - but I'm better than I used to be. "Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."
Back around New Year's day I was hunting with my flinter and while still hunting I came across a ladder stand (about a 16 footer) that had a bigdead snag leaning against it at about a 45 degree angle. The stand took the impact and the right side where the snag is the square tubing is bent. The ladder itself is bowed from the weight but still intact. I believe the nylon webbing is what is actually holding the snag up.
I went past it yesteday just going for a walk. It is on public land and appears to have been abandon (2 months after the season). Do you guys think it would be considered stealing it if I cut the snag down with my chain say and recovered it?
I believed it could be made usable again with a little effort.
Yes, I would consider it stealing since it is not yours. If you made that judgement that it is fixable, so will the owner. Take nothing that you have not earned or paidfor. You can always leave a note on a 3x5 card inside a sandwich bag on the stand, taped with some electrical tape with your phone number offering to buy it from the owner at a nomial price ($20 would be fair for a broken ladder stand).You must live with yourself and God with a clear conscience,this approach will keep your conscience clear. Now lets say somebody that does not own the stand, calls you and tells you it is his and you can buy it for $20, to send the check to him at xxxxx address. I would ask him where he got it, what brand it is, and how much he paid for it, if he cannot tell you this right away (any hesitation), then don't send the $20 and leave the stand there for2x seasons. If it is not used in 2 seasons I would say it is safe to recover it as an unused tree stand. Now, what if someone else gets the stand by taking it before the two season. Well, I would say your conscience is clear, andjust wait tillSept 18 (or there abouts)and buy a cheap "River's Edge" or Comfort Zone at Dikcs and your in business, then do my "improvements" on the cheap ladder tree stands:
Bronko, that's a hard question. Have you checked the stand to see of the owner has an identification tag on it. We often times will scratch in our name and phone number. If just for proof of ownership. If that were the case you could call him and ask if he has left it.
Or you could get it out, fix it, and leave a note on the tree explaining that you believed this stand was abandon because it was damaged. But the owner can contact you at such and such, with proof of ownership, and you can then reach some agreement.
But legally, that would be considered theft. It is property you know is not yours. You are intentionally removing the property without permission of the owner. And basically have the intention of keeping that property for your own use or gain. Now in Wisconsin it used to be that no stand can be permanently attached or left on public land. In those cases, you could contact the Department of Natural Resources (we call them the Department of Natural Disaster) and see what their take is on it.
I know of two stands exactly like that. One has been in the tree for seven years. In fact the tree had grown around the chain. I might go cut that out this year. But I hate the kind of stand it is and would not want to sit in it anyway. One of them home made that hangs on by a chain. I had too many of them fail.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
I sort of thought the same thing otherwise it would already be in my garage. I don't really need another stand but I don't want to see a stand in the woods that no one is going to use again either and leaving it there as scrap and to rust away. I'm not sure if it is fixable and it would be a good deal of work to remove the snag. It is about 16" in diameter. I was amazed the stand took the impact.
__________________ PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE RISING COST IN AMMO PRICES I WILL NO LONGER BE FIRING A WARNING SHOT.
A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have.
I'm not as good as I'm gonna get - but I'm better than I used to be. "Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."
In Michigan it is unlawful to leave a stand or blind on public property with out a name and address. Plus if it is left over night then the first person that gets there can use it. I know that rule stinks but that is one way the DNR get the stands removed from the woods.
I would look for some type of owners ID. Look real close for a SS number or drivers licence number. It may have been put on with an engraver.
I got a stolen boat back because I had taken the time to engrave my name and drivers licence number on the rail under the oar locks. The pawn shop owner wouldn't believe me but did all but wet him self when the law showed up. I also had pictures regerstration slip and the bill of sale too.
Ya thats why I did like pawn shops, The recycle center of stolen property, the centerfor theredistrabution of stolen property.
Al
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Garden View Apiaries where the view is as sweet as the honey.
I would contact your state wildlife agency as there is usually a time limit on when stands can be set and have to be out of on public lands. Here in MO we can set stands but they must be removed by JanuaryI beleive. If the conservation officer finds one, theytake it and leave a note around the tree asI have come upon a few in the woods that states they havetaken such and there is usually a fine to pay in order to get it back. If the fine is not paid in within a certain time they usually give it away or they keep it. In the condition the stand is in I would assume they would get rid of it. it does'nt hurt to call them and see what they say. They could possibly help you out.
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Fire at will! Which ones Will? Nyuk, Nyuk, Nyuk
I sent an email to the PGC on this because there are several stands in this same area that were constructed by nailing boards to the trees. This is definately illegal. I informed the PGC that I would gladly show a WCO the locations of these illegal stands.
__________________ PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE RISING COST IN AMMO PRICES I WILL NO LONGER BE FIRING A WARNING SHOT.
A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have.
I'm not as good as I'm gonna get - but I'm better than I used to be. "Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."
Them stands would not last a day after the deadline around here, i got a couple dnr buddies that wait for the deadline like a kid waiting on candy.I sit in the tavern one day and watched 6 of them change hands.of course they went to the guys that let them hunt their property.
Need your opinion
Al 
