I've hunted situations like that before. It was private ground and at least four of us were hunting it. Everybody felt it only fair to have first dibbs on a stand you put up but after that who ever want to hunted out of what ever was out there. The better you work/hunt together the better for everybody. If one guy can't stand to sit long and you know it and everybody else does, that's a good thing to know when you are getting frustrated, haven't seen a thing and are cold by 9:00. You know "candy a$$" is going to get up and start moving them for you, LOL.

Really, it can be a great way to hunt if everybody respects each other and makes an effort to treat each other the way they would want to be treated.

First off on the descrepancy between what you saw and what he talked about. My first guess is two or more guys worked together designing, gathering material, and maybe building those stands. ie the similarity.

You were talking to ONE guy and he was discussing stands he put up or that he considered his of the bunch out there. He doesn't want to speak for everybody and you need to talk with the others for yourself.

I would expect similar reactions from the others but there may be one who is a little more uptight about it, explaining the reason for reluctance to speak for everybody else.

Assuming this all works out and you want to fit in at this camp, you need to get busy on your own contribution. I'd recomend an equitable design comparable to what they are using if you can feel comfortable with it. Get out there and find the best spots left and or the new trails deer have been "forced" to start using.

Next time you run across some others from this crew you have something to offer as well and it will be a much more "comfortable" situation for all.