Sorry to hear about your stand, but leaving anything on public ground is taking a chance. Over the years I have left one thing on public ground and that was a ladder stand that I hauled by cart about 1/2 mile in. I was hunting this property over a 2 wk managed hunt (only 30 hunters were drawn) and was in this stand nearly everyday.

It sounds like you did everything right, no trail markers, taking steps out, chained, etc. There are still some pieces of trash out there that will do anything to get what they want. Keep an eye on Craigslist, especially after the season ends.