I hate it too.... but it's the nature of the sport. You leave things out, people will hunt from them. I use a climber most of the time for just that reason. And stands I put up in places where they MAY be found, I usually use a climbing stick or something for the first 10 feet or so and then screw in steps above that. I either take the climbing stick out with me or if it's a long haul I hide it along a log on the way in, but never close to the stand. If they're going to use or steal it they'll have to work for it.