yes it is legal to leave your stand up on public land in minnesota, but if someone beats you to it they can use your stand and u cant say s***....thats what i would advise to you, if no one is there use it, atleast thats how its done here in mn....i gun hunt on public land and thats common practice, i have arrived to one of my stands and pple have been in it and i just keep walkin, its what u risk to leave your stand in the woods on public land that is