Ok guys last year i was on private land i went around 100 yards in the woods.
I think it might have cost me big.
this year i will be on public land and i have a ladder stand when it goes up it will be there till jan. god forbid it gets stolen.
How far in do you guys go or think a person needs to go to get away from the other hunters.

Well I guess it depends...but in one area, I am 45 minutes in and across the creek and never see others

This is not legal onstate land in Pa. Stands that get brought in must be taken out when you're done hunting. If you leave your stand on public property for any prolonged period of time, you deserve to get it taken, because you know better. I hate to be painfully honest, but that's what it comes down to.[8D]

it is fully legal here i asked twice at the office.
As for it getting stolen i will use a cable and lock and hope it does not get stolen. but i am not going to not do something that is fully legal and my right just because some dam thieft might steal my stand.
I do not have a choice all i have and can use is a ladder stand and i can not take it out everyday

Early in needs a chill pill. Nobody deserves to get their equipment stolen. On public property in Missouri you can leave your stand and ladder. Mine is heavily chained.
Last year my closest stand was just over a mile in, took about 30 minutes to get to. The other was another half mile in. I didn't see anyone the entire year. Could be different this year. You never know.

early in, just curious...is that in the book somewhere?? i never noticed that...?

pretty sure state parks have a rule that stands gotta be down by feb or something like that...cant be left up all year...and stands cant damage the tree unless you have landowners permission or own the land...

My mistake. I was referring to "state park" land,not all public land. Never the less, leaving a stand for an extended period of time on any public land is nothing short of "staking your claim" whichcan lead to conflict when two hunters wind up in the same spot. OnANY public land, it's first come, first served. That's the only fair way.
As far as "taking a chill pill" goes,anybody who knowingly leaves a stand in the woods whenit's against policy does indeed deserve to have it stolen. In fact, on the state land that I hunt, if you leave a stand in the woods, the DCNR guys will take it if they find it.They do this for thepurpose of avoiding the possible conflict I mentioned before.
On public land, the further in the better. Hunt where othersare too lazy to go. I like not seeing other hunters, and I like hunting undisturbed deer.

To answer the original question….it all depends. Sometimes guys go way in and pass up a real nice area close to the road. Sometimes you do have to truly out walk everyone. Scout for hunters as much as you do the deer.

You can only walk in half way. After that, you're walking out!

When I hunt public in MO...have had both good and bad luck. I have lost 2 stands which were chained and locked and you'd have to have climbing sticks to get into them...that is over 15 years. The last one was 2 years back and I am pretty sure I met the nice gentleman on opening morning of gun season, as he mentioned his buddy had a stand stolen????

Anyway, I just think it depends on the area. I leave a climber on area I get drawn for a managed hunt chained up for a month and it's fine...it's also 1.2 miles (easy walking) and I haven't ever seen another hunting out there. I suggest you just find a less used area/spot and you'll be fine.