UPDATE: Ok, just to clear up a few things. I have never been up in the stand. I use a climber. I happened to find the stand because I went to a good spot at night before sunrise, climbed up the tree I selected and when the sun came out I noticed a ladder stand 5 feet from me. My hunting buddy just got into hunting and does not have a stand. He has a ground blind. So I sent him a text message that there was an open ladder next to me. He came over and climbed up in it.
Since then we have been back 2 other times. No one has touched the ladder stand, and he has climbed up in it and he never hurt it. I am sure if someone walked up on it, he would kindly get out. He brings his ground blind with him, and if the ladder is empty, he hunts it.
Thoughts?