A question on treestands.
 

I have several portable treestands, both hanging and ladder stands.

My question is this, does anyone leave their stands out year round? See my problem is that my property is about 115 miles from where I live, so its not like driving around the corner. I was wondering if it was ok, or safe to leave them up all year long.

RE: A question on treestands.
 

had my best stand stole right off the 'back 40' back home. Considering I was the only one with permission to hunt the land I was quite suprised...learned my lesson once, never again will I leave them up!

RE: A question on treestands.
 

My brother left his up for 2 years and hunted 3 seasons out of it. It was a hang on and he never had a problem. So if you asked him he would say its safe.
I just took mine down today.

RE: A question on treestands.
 

Truthfully......unless you also leave angry guard dogs behind as well, I'd say chances are your stands will not be waiting for you when you get back.

For some reason in this day and age people seem to find it perfectly normal to steal stands......private land , public land it doesn't matter. Someone WILL find them and there's a good chance that person will be using your stand next year instead of you.

It's a shame to feel that way about your fellow man......let alone your fellow hunter, but it seems to be a sad fact of life hunting these days.

If I were you I'd hang them right before you will be using them.......especially ladder stands.

RE: A question on treestands.
 

I have 24 stands(at least) out right now, and some have been out for 3 years. I wouldn't do it with a strap-on, or one with a cotton/light weight seat. I figure If someone finds out I have 30+ stands in my garage-their gone, but if I leave them out in the woods, no one has found them yet. They better get all my cameras too because it only takes one picture for them to rack up some fines( I'd probably have a little "chat" with them first).

If you leave them out, buy a chain-on, one with steel tubing for platform support-not cable, and one with a sturdy seat, say heavy nylon webbing...like a Blackwater Creek.

Jeff...U.P. of Michigan.

RE: A question on treestands.
 

Matt,
I would not call anyone a fellow hunter, that would take anothers stand.But you are right,it does happen often.In Vt. we can't leave our stands in the woods year round by law.I don't know if there is a similar law where you live but I'd check it out.I usually take a day after the season and pull as many stands as possible.

GOOD HUNTING,BRIAN

RE: A question on treestands.
 

My dads' ladder stand has been out for the past 3 years. We just moved it this past year. It is locked on and on private property. That doesn't make it safe but so far it has been undisturbed. The drawback I see (other then theft or vandalism) for ladder stands is that water can get into the main legs and freeze and burst the metal. This happened to a friends the one year he left it out but hasn't to my dads.

RE: A question on treestands.
 

I HUNT ABOUT THE SAME DISTANCE FROM MY HOUSE ALSO AND I'VE LEFT HANG ON STANDS OUT FOR AWHILE. AS LONG AS IT'S NOT RIGHT ON A ROAD OR 4 WHEELER TRAIL AND IT'S A HANG ON STAND, YOU CAN FOLD IT UP AGAINST THE TREE AND PUT A COUPLE OF LEAFY BRANCHES UP THERE IF IT'S NOT HIDDEN REAL GOOD, AND MOST PEOPLE WON'T SEE IT AT ALL. UNLESS OF COURSE IF THEY'RE OUT THERE LOOKING FOR STANDS TO STEAL. I USUALLY PUT A CABLE LOCK AROUND MINE ALSO. AND MINE ARE USUALLY AROUND 20' OFF THE GROUND.

RE: A question on treestands.
 

I wouldnt take a chance on my stands gettin stold. I always take my stands down at the end of season.

RE: A question on treestands.
 

Between myself,my son,and a friend,we've lost 6 stands that were all locked in the last 3 years.And none of them where close to the road or a 4-wheeler trail.If the WRONG people find your stand,it'll probably come up missing.

RE: A question on treestands.
 

I did this one year and had about six stands stolen! Last year I was scouting and looked on the ajoining(sp?) property and guess what I saw? One of my tree stands! But guess what I did. I was the bigger man and left it. If I was you I wouldn't take the chance.

RE: A question on treestands.
 

I can leave mine up in all places I hunt but one. Only in the property will it be sure to be stolen. I also know where other's stands are and they leave there's up too. But I do take mine down to check bolts, washers, and overall condition, before putting them back up. I also cover up the seats with plastic bags or the like so the darn bugs and squirrels won't eat them.

RE: A question on treestands.
 

I live over 130 miles from my hunting ground and i didn't leave my stands up. Once i left a ladder and a climber and they were both stolen. This year i hunted mostly out of two ole man tara's with climbing sticks and i just finished getting them out of the woods. Next year i am going to do my bowhunting exclusively out of Wedgeloc stands so i'll be taking the stand in and out with me.

The theft factor being said, also think about wear and tear due to the elements. I wouldn't feel comfortable climbing into any hanging type stand that has been left in the elements for a year. JMO

RE: A question on treestands.
 

You can leave them up...... BUT.... things happen. I'm not talking about theft either. Trees grow, stands get grown in, screw in steps become permanent, rust attacks bolts(always where you can't see it) Things get weak. I left a hang-on up for 3 years now. forget the steps and the future of the tree. The stand site is no longer good. Patterns change. Unless you have lots of them out I'd pull them. Grease and oil up screws when you bring them home and wipe off the access. They'll last a lot longer. Next summer take a couple trips to check out new patterns, hang some stands, trim some limbs and have an excuse for getting out.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> The worst thing that ever happened to me from leaving a stand was having a bunch of hornets build a nest under the seat. I didn't see it and then let me know just before good light I wasn't welcome. YEEEEEEEOOOWWWWWWWW