In the old days (the late 60's & 70's for me) bowhunters were truly a brotherhood. You had to look long and hard to find another bowhunter, most people looked at you kinda funny when you said that you were a bowhunter and local archery shops were rare. You could leave your stand in the woods unlocked and all your gear outside at camp with no fear of loosing it. Sadly that changed as bowhunting continued to gain popularity. I have had several stands, gear and two bucks stolen. I now lug big chains and locks into the woods because of these theives calling themselves bowhunters. I've often wondered how the conversation goes with his buddies..."New stand Charlie?" "Yea, I came across it in the woods and nobody was around so I took it. Pretty neat huh?" or what does he tell his wife or kids. "Where did you get the stand daddy?"

I make my own stands, both hang on and climbers and it really gets me when I losoe one. The first time it happened, I used to dream of coming up on the guy in the woods up a tree in my stand.............and I start the chain saw........