Go Back  HuntingNet.com Forums > Archery Forums > Bowhunting
Tree Stand Ethics >

Tree Stand Ethics

Bowhunting Talk about the passion that is bowhunting. Share in the stories, pictures, tips, tactics and learn how to be a better bowhunter.

Tree Stand Ethics

Old 10-17-2002, 06:46 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lancaster Ma USA
Posts: 66
Default Tree Stand Ethics

So.. next question, I am hunting this property the last four days. Every place I want to put my stand up, already has someone else's stand in the tree. Granted I scouted a couple of weeks ago, but I am not sure if I should put my stand up next to it, use the one that is there or what. I mean I have been out 4 times this week and have not seen anyone on any of these stands. What is the "right" thing to do here. I am new to this stand stuff and don't want to piss everyone else off. Thanks
ma_hunter is offline  
Old 10-17-2002, 06:55 PM
  #2  
Nontypical Buck
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 2,568
Default RE: Tree Stand Ethics

Ma, I guess everyone feels differently about using other peoples stands, personally, I don't do it. If I got in somebodys' stand, they would show up 10 minutes after I got in it and while I was explaining the situation, I'd be scaring all the deer off. Speaking of scaring the deer off, if there's been that many people in that area in a few weeks period, all the good deer have probably moved on or become nocturnal due to all the scent and disturbances in the area. My humble advice, if it's at all possible find somewhere a little more isolated. Good luck hunting for a place to hang your hat.

rockytop is offline  
Old 10-17-2002, 06:56 PM
  #3  
Nontypical Buck
 
BGfisher's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Middletown PA United States
Posts: 3,625
Default RE: Tree Stand Ethics

Sounds like you have the traditional guys who "reserve my spot". Is the land public--private? If it's private land you could talk to the owner and get more details about who is hunting their and when. Maybe he will know. Also ask what his policy is in reserving spots. If it's public land then that's another matter. Public land is for all to use and noone should be reserving their spot. It should be "first come-first served". But you'll more than likely catch a bunch of flack from these "land hogs" if you're set up too close. I think I'd just as soon find another place to hunt. Sounds like there's too much scent floating in the wind anyway.

BGfisher is offline  
Old 10-17-2002, 07:36 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: chiefland Florida USA
Posts: 5,417
Default RE: Tree Stand Ethics

if there is a stand there already,move on. do not put your stand next to someone else's.don't use the one there,it belongs to someone,(NOT YOU!!!)

find another place.you come in second on this spot.

just my 2 cents,there are 98 more!!!

I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest

remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.
Tree climber is offline  
Old 10-17-2002, 08:54 PM
  #5  
 
Iowa Monsterbuck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Iowa
Posts: 343
Default RE: Tree Stand Ethics

I agree with Tree Climber if you are hunting on public land then find another spot. I hunt public land and the rule I've always practiced is first come first serve, If somebody else scouts out a spot and puts a stand up before you get out there then find another spot. Under no circumstances would I sit in another hunters stand.

If you are hunting on private land then you need to talk to the landowner and see who else has permission to hunt there. If they haven't given anyone else permission then put your stand wherever you want but if they have then I'd treat it like public land, if they were there first then find another spot.

There will probably be some people who disagree and think that anything goes on public land but courtesy and common sense have to prevail. How would you like it if you invested hours and hours scouting the area, learning the deer patterns, selecting the spot to place you stand, hanging your stand and trimming your shooting lanes, etc, etc... Then you get up and head out to hunt excited as hell to see if all your hard work pays off and when you get to your stand here's somebody else sitting in it. I would ask them not so politely to get out of my stand and if they refused I would tell them "Fine stay in my stand but it's coming down, with or without you in it".

<img src=icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle>
Iowa Monsterbuck is offline  
Old 10-18-2002, 12:18 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Central IN
Posts: 400
Default RE: Tree Stand Ethics

The only thing I would recommend if it is public land, is to check your local laws regarding leaving stands on public property. Some areas it is illegal to leave it without name, address etc, and some area don't allow them to be left at all. On the other hand, if there are already that many stands up in that area, then I would want to get the heck away from it anyhow. But if it is a good spot, and no one seems to be hunting that area, then pack your stand in,hunt, and pack it out (assuming you have a stand that you can easily do that with).

--Man who fish in other man's well often catch crabs--
IndyHunter is offline  
Old 10-18-2002, 05:12 AM
  #7  
Nontypical Buck
 
Lady Forge's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: East Central ILLinois USA
Posts: 1,595
Default RE: Tree Stand Ethics

I always refer back to ( Do Unto Others AS You Would Have Them Do Unto You ). How would you feel if you went to the trouble of scouting the area and setting up a stand and leaving the area scent free only to come to it on your hunting day only to find someone else sitting in it, and you have no idea weather they used scent control and stunk up your area etc.I feel the same curtosy should apply wether it is private land or public land.There is also the issue of safety. I had a young man attempting to go up a tree with his climber last year within 30 yards from me and it was a straight clear shot from my seat to where he would of put his seat. God forbid one of us would of had a arrow go astry and one of us could of really gotten hurt or died.I prefer to find a secluded spot that is just nature and me.
Lady Forge is offline  
Old 10-18-2002, 06:31 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Scottsdale Arizona USA
Posts: 527
Default RE: Tree Stand Ethics

If we go out and scout early and beat you to the spot with a tree stand then stay out of it. It's just common courtesy. If you decide to use the stand then need to politely crawl down and go away if I come to it a few minutes late. If a person decides to be a jerk and start a fight then I have and will get busy and call their bluff. Also have several front crowns due to this but oh well. Good hunting.
gleninAZ is offline  
Old 10-18-2002, 06:50 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Freehold NJ USA
Posts: 219
Default RE: Tree Stand Ethics

<font color=blue> ma hunter</font id=blue>, I'm going to make the assumption that this is public land --
It seems as if I disagree with the majority of the board, but being in the minority is no indication of my being wrong. If you have scouted and looked at various places to hunt, you have as much of a right to hunt an area as anyone else. They (stand hangers) do not assume &quot;squatters rights&quot; just because they leave there stand hanging in the woods all season. If that were the case, why shouldn't you just hang 15 stands all over the place and essentially take over the property?!?

I don't think that this gives you the right to use any of these stands that aren't yours, <font color=red>you don't</font id=red>. However, you do have the right to hang your stand 10-20 yards from it and hunt as you usually do.

<font color=green>Lets look at it in a different light:</font id=green> If I know that there is a great parking spot at work, do I have the right to put an orange cone in it when I'm not there so as to reserve it for myself only? Obviouly not. In a public forum, area, etc.....there is no &quot;reserving&quot; for one's self or special privleges. It is first come first serve... Not, come and reserve.

&quot;Measure twice, shoot once <img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle>
http://www.hunting-pictures.com/memb...owhunter&quot;
NJ-Bowhunter is offline  
Old 10-18-2002, 08:01 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Piedmont OK USA
Posts: 839
Default RE: Tree Stand Ethics

NJ,

I think you are totally wrong on this. If you had a honey hole scouted out, stand located then came out to find someone sitting in a stand 10 feet away how would you feel? My guess is you would be totally ticked off! People get hurt this way.

My mentor pointed out to me the fallacy of starting an argument or fight with someone who is carrying a lethal weapon. Isn't that what we all use? Okay you might win the fistfight but there are people out there who will HURT you! Don't get me wrong. If its worth defending I will defend it. My wife, children, grandchildren, pets, house, etc. Getting hurt or having ill feelings over a treestand is not worth it.

I had this happen to me a few years back. Arrived at the location where I had placed my stand for the last three years. I had placed a stand there 2 weeks before the gun season started. About daybreak I noticed someone else placed a stand about 50 yards behind me and to the right.

Not only this but he arrived at it on an atv, got off, peed, lighted a cigarette and walked to his stand. He then proceeded to loudly and clumsily climb into it and lighted off another cigarette.

The location was in a corner of a timberland clear cut. I was pissed off but had no more &quot;right&quot; to the location than he. He did exercise poor judgment but nothing I did was going to give me a peaceful morning of undisturbed hunting.

I got down and proceeded to take the logging road out of the clearcut. As I skirted the edge and disappeared into the woods a nice 8 point had worked around downwind of the hunter left on the stand. He spotted the hunter before being spotted and apparently started away from him. I rounded the corner of the logging road and the deer and I almost collided, literally! When traveling to and from stand I always am prepared to shoot. This was no exception. I shot the deer from less than 5 feet. Nicest 8 point I have ever taken.

&quot;Size may not matter but it sho IS nice!&quot; [/quote]
Sooner_Hunter is offline  

Quick Reply: Tree Stand Ethics


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.