This Sunday, my brother and I went to lunch and left our portable treestands on the trees next to our bear bait stations. We came back at 1:30 PM and saw an newer GM model SUV parking on the side of the road leading to my brother's bait station. As we got ready to replenish his bait station, a man jumped out ot the SUV and headed into the woods. As we walked into the woods towards my brother's stand, the man that went into the woods starting wistling. At about 50 yards into the woods, a kid was walking out my my brother's treestand. The kid claims he was going to call us and he was "scouting for deer hunting."

We got the treestand back without incident and went back to bear hunting.

Called the MN DNR today and I was told anything left on public land is public property, even at a legally registered bear bait station. Lesson learned: take portables with, even during lunch breaks. I can't believe MN laws encourages theft.

I guess the next treestand that goes up will be nails and 2x4's.

in MI you can't harm a tree over 3" in diameter I think...better double check

Permanents are legal in MN state and national forests.

If anything left on public land is public property, i think that i would hotwire the nicest truck parked on the land and have me a new ride....

LOL at Lanse! Try the COs truck first and let me know how that works out for ya.

I wonder if that also works for any hot chicks whose boyfriends leaves them unattended on some public beach area