I hunt public land too sometimes. I've done scouting, found some nice areas, and been back to find someone's stand there. They aren't supposed to leave stands there, but they do. I wouldn't hunt in one, but I have no problem setting up right on top of it if I feel thats where I should be and the stand is vacant.

I just started hunting public land this year so I've been reading all the rules. I'm sure it varies in other states though. From what I read, you can hang stands on public ground. You cannot hang a stand before a certain date and you must remove your stand by another date. I believe you are supposed to have your name, address, and phone number readily visible on your stand. You cannot use a stand, steps, or anything else that pierce the bark. I'm still deciding on whether or not climbers are legal....I've talked with several wardens and it seems like there is no clear consensus on whether or not they are legal. As far as hunting someone else's stand, I don't believe there are any clearly written rules but I for one think it to be wrong and would consider it private property. In a sense, it does seem a bit like you are staking your claim to that area but I sure would be mad if I walk out to my stand to find somebody else in it....hence the name tag....maybe it is required on your stand for this reason as well.

EDIT: I understand how some are saying that a permanent (or lock-on) 'stakes claim' to that surrounding area and we should do away with this on public ground. I have some concerns with this. I'm still young and can effeciently use a climber. What about older hunters who can't use a climber? I'm sure there's plenty of hunters out there who can't use a climber because of age, joints, injuries, etc.etc. I don't have a problem with them....if they're in'your' spot(which is contradictory b/c public land should not be claimed) then simply hunt nearby, or if you think the other hunter might disrupt your hunt then hunt elsewhere.

Just wanted to commend Maryland DNR for taking the time to remove 5 tree stands from the public hunting area that I hunt. Keep up the good work!

I feel the same here in Pa. Leave a stand and take your chances, leave with your stand and take no chances. Think about it, if your too hurt, too weak or too old, hunt on the ground, that simple.

On public land I wouldn't hunt out of the stands, but if I got there first I wouldn't hesitate to hunt in the same spot (first come first serve).

I haven't seen anything about leaving stands up in the MA abstracts other than in a few Wildlife Management Areas. Anyone know what the regs are. Some land is state some is owned by various Conservation groups near me? I've seen many stands up this spring most recently put up and locked with steps removed from the trees. The only thing I've seen in the rules is no permanent stand ie wood and spikes or screws. Talked with a few people who are putting up stands this month for the fall.

I think if you put up a hang on stand on state land that you do so knowing theres a pretty good chance that other people will use it if they see it and your not around. I've went out still hunting before and found a nice area to sit for the afternoon hunt and happened to see a hang on in a tree, so I sat in it with no problems. If the guy would of shown up, I would've left without problem. I personally think thats better than taking your climber to an area where there's a hang on stand and climbing a tree right next to it, (which would be within my rights) and telling the poor guy that owned it, "too bad I was here first", if he showed up later. If I was in that situation I would just rather use his so if he did come out, then I would gladly get down and leave insteadof starting a confrontation with a climber telling him I was there first and I'm staying. I hope that doesn't sound too confusing. But I can definately see both sides. Me personally, I get the hell away from any stand or anyoneI seewhen I hunt state land.

I think there should be a new "Man Law"
you do not use another man's treestand without permission

Many reasons
it's not yours
you don't know if it is safe
it's not yours
when hunting i want to spend my time looking for deer, not the guy that owns the stand I'm in
it's not yours
legal or not, it just doesn't seem right to me
it's not yours
if the owner shows up, it's going to ruin the day for both of you
and lastly,
it's not yours!

One of the MAIN reasons for some states not allowing stands to be left in the woods is to avoid confrontations between hunters. A stand left in the woods says "this is my spot" and on PUBLIC land that's not right, period![:@]
Like I've said inmy previous post, leave a stand in the woods and take your chances of it being stolen, removed by the DNR or sat in by another hunter -CONFRONTATION. It's soooo much easier to abide by the law, isn't it?

Last season I went in with my climber to a place I had some good luck the season before. When daylight came I noticed a hang-on in a nearby tree. I didn't mind it there because it's public land, but I don't think I was coming down if that guy showed up. I have a right to be there to, right?