I have gone as far as chain and lock to keep my stand in public hunting lands. Once the thief actually brought a pair of bolt cutters into the woods and got my summit stand. Man I hate a blasted thief.

Another method is if you use screw in steps, to take out the lower ones as far as you can reach up, stick twigs in the holes so they' re easier to find in the dark, and hide the steps close by.

But let' s face it, if they want the dang thing bad enough, they' re probably gonna get it. Just don' t make it easy for them.