I had a stand stolen a few years back. It really upset me as I take ALL precautions and hunt on private land.

I take my treesteps out as high as I can reach (and I am 6'1) and lock my stand to the tree.

I went to check on things and I looked up and there was no stand...the tree wasn't even there. Then, I noticed the 5-6 foot lengths of tree scattered around with some treesteps sticking out of them.

I figured out who it was and got my stand back.

Just goes to show you that it doesn't matter how good your lock and chain are, unless you are attaching it to a metal pole!!

If I were you, I'd get 2 trail cameras. Mount one in view of your next stand and mount one along the trail that you figure the guy is using for access.

GMMAT.... [:-]

Never had one stolen off a flagpole.

Gospel.

I had a Lone Wolf sit and climb ($350) stolen a few years ago onprivate land and it was locked with a cable lock![:@]Now the only way I'll leave my stand is if I know I'll be there before first light the following day.

paint it pink, then no one would touch it

I'm not so sure about that. Mobo just may take a liking to it!

The state I live in you can't leave a stand up on public land. If found wardens will take them. In your state can you leave them up on public lands. I think you should have to take them down because it is everyones land just not yours.

First buy cheap stands, engrave your name in the stand, camo them up and put them in non-obvious trees, use a 10mm or 12mm cable lock which is much harder to cut, use tree steps but pull the bottom 3 or 4. If that doesn't work, then just carry your stands in and out with you.

Buy a cheapo stand like the ones they sell at Dicks for 29.99 every year. Put it in an obvious place with a few cheap screw in tree steps. Attach a few razor blades to the steps with some JB weld. When the scumbag tries to climb up your tree he's going to learn a painful lesson......