I use API stands and one day I went to one of my stand sites and discovered that my stand was missing. I left it unlocked because in 30 years of bow hunting in Vt I never had any problem like that. I went to Aubuchon hardware and got a 6' 3/8" double eye aircraft type cable, painted it brown and pass it around the tree, through the verticle part of the stand and lock it to the ratchet hole with a long shank sesimee combo lock through the locking pin hole in the ratchet handle. No problems since.

I went out this morning and carried my ladder stand off the Rockaway River WMA.

Thanks for the reminder!

That 11 pointer was killed in colts neck on the Freehold border - was told it will score in the mid 174 range net - quite a deer. I live in Colts neck and most of the bigger bucks hold up in the houses once the season starts (gun).

The number of stands I have had stolen in the last 5 years is incredible. I use locks and chain, and they still take them, although it slows them down. My father in law and I are hunting a golf course that backs up to rt18. opening day of Shotgun, my father in law is in his tree. Sun comes up, and he can see 70 yards away a guy in a pop up - 20 yards from rt 18. This guy was dropped of on rt 18 - popped up, then left.

this week, my father law goes into his ladder stand, only to find his shooting rail has been taken. Brand new. No one else has permision to be in here. There is a local group that drives the golf course, even though they have no premission. But unless you are there to catch them - nothing we can do. The game wardens know them as well. But there is only one guy in this sector - and he is swamped! The unfortunatly thing is people tresspass, and steal you gear as they tresspass - AND, shoot what ever deer they see - WE let the year and 1/2 8 points go - and the local tresspassers kill them.

This is what NJ deer hunting has become. US bowhunters dont have it as bad, and we get our 2.5 month crack first, but once anytype of firearm hunting starts - the sport dissapears, and the contest begins

I hunt on private property where we use each others stands. If the owners come we move. It is an understanding that most of us have. We watch out for each other. The last day of permit shotgun last year one of the other guys on the property told me and my father that me stand was missing. I had it opening day and the end of the following week it was gone. I have since gotten a climber I saw at the Rockland Show last year. Great stand.
That was just one problem last year. Some new guys were granted permission to hunt and we began finding litter in the woods. I'm not talking candy wrappers by bags of chips in ground blinds.
This year 4 people had their rights taken away from bringing other people with them without permission. This happen in the middle of the six day shotgun season, so they arrived early one morning stole the locks to the gates and drive through the property to disturb the area leaving trash through out. On top of that, I didn't see many deer because they will shoot anything and zone 5 has unlimited anterless.

Just a little tip for all you guys getting your stands stolen....I hunt on land that others hunt and I leave my stands up year round without locks on them, and in 20 years I have only had one, thats right, one stand stolen. Not bad considering that I have over 30 up at any given moment. So, why don't they get stolen......#1, I hunt almost entirely out of pine, spruce, and hemlock.....#2, I only clear the tree minimaly and I am carefull about clearing my shooting lanes. Don't cut trees and branches, pull em up by the roots and snap em clean off. Nothing says "there's a stand nearby" than clipped limbs and sawn trees. And #3, I hunt at least 30' high. 35-40 is better, but sometimes the tree isn't big enough. Most guys won't climb that high even if there was a $100 bill flappin in the wind. So even if they see it, it's safe. Just a little friendly advice. And for those that say thats too high and it cuts your angles and all that crap.....bull.

I agree with your height. I had a guy in my stand last year on private land. I went out on my atv to put some corn in the woods when, I seen him in my stand. I drove the atv up to the tree, got the bait put it out never looking at him in MY stand. As, I got on the atv to leave, I looked right at him and said " if i come back here again and your here thier will be a chainsaw with me and the tree and you are coming down." Have not had a problem since.

WW

no luck catching the culprits. the parts that had to be replaced cost 60$ and 15$. at least the stands can be used again. i dont think much will stop a person wanting to steel a stand. with a set of big bolt cutters and those battery powered sawzalls we dont have a chance. my buddy is handi cap so having to bring in a stand all the time is a pain but now its his only choice. what we need is a way to put a transmitter in a stand so you can go find your stand again.

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