ORIGINAL: DropTine249
technically a stand placed on public property for a period of time could be considered abandoned and free to take. I don't know how true this is. Maybe someone with knowledge could chime in.
I hope that, even if this is true and in NJ it is, you do not take stands hung on public land.
As hunters, we know darn well when a stand has been "abondoned". We KNOW, that stands are hung and hunted rarely in some cases. So, using the wording of the "laws" in your favor, in this case, would be horrible ethics and show no integrity.
If there are vines growing through a rusted stand, MAYBE you can consider that stand abondoned.......Aside form that, on public land...dont take stands. Who knows, maybe that guy only hunts a day or 2 out of the year...
First, I've never taken a stand, or even taken one down. But as far as defining abandonded stands on public ground, MO states that all temporary stands must be removedby the end of the season. So, if it was there a month after the end of season, it would be considered abandonded.