What do you use to secure your stand so it will be there when you return? I am planning to hang my stand in a national forest. I usually hunt on private land, and don't have to worry about someone stealing the stand.I thought about using a bike cablewith a lock. Any suggestions?

I would recommend buying a good climbing stand if you're gonna be hunting on public ground. That way, you can take it with you when you're done hunting and you can relocate easily if somebody's hunting too close to your stand. They're not cheap, but it's better than getting a stand stolen and running the possibility of a ruined hunt.

I don't want to have to pack that much weight as far in as I hunt every day. And, some days I will only get to hunt a few hours. I'll stick with the stands I already own.

Get enough 3/8" (or bigger) HARDENED chain and use a large lock if you want to have any chance of your stand being there when you return. Locking the chain under the stand, harder to get to with a bolt cutter will help. Make sure the chain is hardened steel.

also, check the regs where you hunt. Some WMA's and state, national forests do not allow prem stands or any stand left over night

Use a climber...even if you have to hide it under a brush pile in the area you plan to hunt....or learn to hunt on the ground...I left a Baby Grand locked to a tree about 10 years ago in the Uwharrie National Forest, here in NC...it was gone when I went back to hunt a couple of days later...thieves hunt too...but, I learned my lesson...I now own 3 climbers....I either pack them in or have them hidden in the woods.

Also use a Harden Shackle Padlock and not the ones with case harden shackles!

I had a stand stolen from me a few years ago. Whoever stole it, cut the cable that I had securing it around the tree.

To top it all off, it was on private property!


The only SAFE way to leave your stand is not leave it in the first place. If you are going to be hunting in a stand on public land, either build one (if it's legal in your state to do so), or use a climber.

You can't trust anyone these days.

I had a stand stolen from me a few years ago. Whoever stole it, cut the cable that I had securing it around the tree.

To top it all off, it was on private property!


The only SAFE way to leave your stand is not leave it in the first place. If you are going to be hunting in a stand on public land, either build one (if it's legal in your state to do so), or use a climber.

You can't trust anyone these days.

Well, I hung my stand today, and used a 3/16" chain and a masterlock. It is fairly well hidden from view until the leaves fall. I haven't seen any sign of anyone being in the area, so hopefully it will stay in the tree.