still need help with PA public land treestands
 

are climbers legal on public land?


i ask because on page 32 of the book it says
"It is unlawful while hunting or preparing to hunt to 1) damage any tree on public or private property by constructing a treestand or using a portable device to climb a tree..."

now does this mean all climbers are illegal, or climbers that damage trees are illegal?

RE: still need help with PA public land treestands
 

i think that it means the screw in steps......but to be on the safe side....dont hurt a tree

RE: still need help with PA public land treestands
 

well yeah i wouldnt. i have an API climber that doesnt hurt a tree in any way, i'm just unclear on that wording.

RE: still need help with PA public land treestands
 

They mean the screw in steps and the climbers that have those knarly teeth that grip and dig into the tree while climbing are not allowed on state game lands, state parks, or state forests. You also cannot use or build treestands that are permanent or left for long periods of time in those areas, which I don't think will be a problem because it'd just get cut off and stolen anyway. Basically they just don't want you doing harm to the trees. Regular newer aged climbers rarely have those damaging teeth on them anymore, though. Some of the really older ones used to come that way though. Using climbers isn't illegal though, just damaging treestands of any kind are illegal.

RE: still need help with PA public land treestands
 

iused a loggy bayou climber on state game lands years ago. it had rubber grips where it came in contact with the tree so it wouldn't hurt the tree.

RE: still need help with PA public land treestands
 

hm. i think mine might qualify as "gnarly teeth". thanks.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y46/bkalbach/0824072139.jpg?t=1188006214

RE: still need help with PA public land treestands
 

I could be wrong, but this seems pretty subjective and ultimately is up to a DNR officer to enforce.

Sure, a cop could pull you over for going 27 in a 25, but isn'tthe more effective and greater good done by nabbing those going 45 in a 25? The same is true here. Yes,if a DNR officer really wanted to give you a hard time about your climber, he probably could find damage to the bark of just about any tree you climbed with just about any climber-even state of the art ones. But I think the overall goal is to stop people from screwing 20 steps into a tree or building 3'x3' weather treated platforms out of 2"x4"s.

It seems to me that if you bring back out everything that you bring in on the day of your hunt, you don't screw or nail anything into a tree, and the damage to tree isn't blatantly obvious to anyone passing by, you're probably ok.

RE: still need help with PA public land treestands
 

Keep in mind that damaging trees would also exclude clearing shooting lanes. Not sure I could hunt any of my stands without a little trimming but even that would violate the law. Sorry to say that I trim anyway.. A man's got to do what a man got to do. If they really wanted to bust the old nads they could..

RE: still need help with PA public land treestands
 

So to further the debate...Are Bow Hangers and Umbrellas illegal since they are screwed into the tree?

RE: still need help with PA public land treestands
 

I believe so.

RE: still need help with PA public land treestands
 

Sure, screwing those things into the treedoes a little damage, but I hunt PA and it's not like DNR officers are trapesing through the woods looking for people with screw in umbrellas or bow holders. I too have been known to trim a shooting lane or two, but never on public land...wink, wink. I think this is one of those laws written to stoppeople from abusing public game lands rather to harass responsible hunters.

RE: still need help with PA public land treestands
 

Tree stands that will damage the cambium layer or the layer below the outer bark of the tree are illegal. Any hangers, steps orholders that screw into and penetratethe outer layer of barkare also illegal. Marks on the outer bark from a tree stand are not a concern and most manufactured stands on the market will not penetrate the outer bark.Basically the PGC is trying to eliminatehome made stands that are constructed with 2 x 4's and nailsas permanent stands on state or public property. If you are on private land youcan do what you want if the land owner agrees.

RE: still need help with PA public land treestands
 

if it penetrates the tree in any way......ILLEGAL.... seriously

RE: still need help with PA public land treestands
 

I emailed a DNR officer and he stated as long as the treestand doesn't penetrate the cambium it is legal. Most treestands made today are legal.The DNR is most commonly referring to permanent stands or built with screws and nails.See photo

RE: still need help with PA public land treestands
 

frocb: Thats a helpful pic, thanks for posting.


As for will WCO's fine people for screw in steps, umbrellas, and bow holders...yes.

Last December I was hunting down in the Propagation Area of Pymantuning State Park and there were a couple of guys who got busted and fined for that exact thing. Granted that was a special hunt with WCOs all over the place, but they do have the authority to cite you for it and they will.

RE: still need help with PA public land treestands
 

No bark biters, steps or anything that messes up the bark. If you can fix a big peice of tire over it or something then you should be fine. But I don't recomened it. If you alter you stand without knowing what you are doing you'll wind up hurt or worse!