He had the absolute right to take down a trespassers tree stand. I don't know what the law is in his state about disposition of a confiscated item from a trespasser, now he needs to continue to do the right thing and protect himself and turn it over the the authorities and also file trespass charges when they find out who it belongs to. There is usually a time period that a person has to claim what would be found property and after that time they lose it. Tell the police if he doesn't claim it, you want it. Put a note on the tree in plastic telling the guy who has the stand and let the decision be his as to claiming it or not. Meeting with the trespasser in person can well lead to trouble and the OP doesn't need that, that is that the authrities are for.
Last edited by Oldtimr; 11-18-2014 at 08:23 AM.