Yes it is sad!

I have seen steps on homemade wooden treestands get zipped down the center with a chain saw to prevent someone from using it.
Also have seen trees with lock ons simply cut down to get the stand.
Oh yeah and this is on private property.

I think I will do as Stump_MN_Hunter suggests, but I will lock my hang-on on the thickest trunk tree iI can find to prevent chain saws from going through too easily.