Permanent stands on public land
 

So I was out scouting state forrest and National Wildlife yesterday. In one area of state forrest I stumble across two stands built out of lumber, with one being fairly large with an old dining room table chair on it. Why do people believe that they can build a permanent stand on public land, when it is clearly a no-go? I was kind of torn when noticing the stands; bust them up and sit them myself when season starts this fall. I ended up leaving them alone, but also believe that people should play by the rules.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

On a National Wildlife area/refuge!! That takes some real Nads!

The farm I/we hunt is adjacent to very large WMA.The hunters bush whack deer coming onto our farm(perfectly legal) - But - We have found stands and one recently that was chained/locked to tree about 100yrds from us with fresh beer can at bottom of stand[:@]

We were very tempted to tear it down as I had a sledge and pry bar in hand.I didn't as I figured they would come on our land and trash stands.I'll wait till this spring - if its still there its down! If we find them next year we will find some way to get them out if it takes a phone call to F&G.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

Yep! It's illegal on any WMA in FL and especially any National Forrest.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

The biggest reason I have invested in a climber stand and a blind was in order to use on public land, as it is illegal to build permanent structures on public land. I would just like to see others play by the rules as well.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

I sold some timber 6 years ago to the IA DNR and it is state land for public hunting land.The state left the stands that we had built there. Maybe they were already there when the state acquired them such as this case.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

Hardcore, I don't think it was the case in this situation, as the land has been state forrest land longer than I have been alive (36yrs) and the stands were newer looking, but not brand new.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

I've seen a few permanent stands on newly acquired state land, but not anything new. There are a couple on some land that's been state for a couple years that are maintained though. It does get me mad at times, but I dont worry about it too much. There is one in a stand of white oaks where I'd like to hunt next year though. It always make me hesitant to hunt nearby, which sucks.
-- Branson

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

Pretty brazen behavior for sure on the builders part. Anybody can hunt them since they are already there; hunt out of them if you want, report them to the authorities, tear them down your self, ignore them, or if you are really bored, go up and take a dump on the seat so the guy can see your appreciation for his carpentry skills.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

if it is public land and not illegal to build a permanant stand there what is the problem?? if it is illegal then yes i would be mad as well, but in CA it is not and i was planning on building some for next year.....i fully understand if someone was sitting in them there is nothing i can do , but what is the big problem about someone building one....it doesn't mean you cannot hunt there anymore??

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

Its not a matter of not being able to hunt around them, its people thinking/acting as if they own the land or are entitled to privilages that other lawbiding folks do not take.
I will have to give some thought to taking a dumperooney on them as well.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

i see where you are coming from and fully understand......i don't understand however, how you think they own the land?? in your case i am assuming it would be illegal to build a tree stand on NF? so yes i would probably tear the sucker down, but if it is not illegal then what would be the problem?... to my knowledge if it is NF which is a federal thing then unless your local gov. says no building of tree stands it should be llegal?

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

I was talking about both State forrest and National Wildlife Refuge. I know for a fact that in MN unless you are significantly disabled (written exception through the DNR and/or USF&WL) you can not build any permanent hunting structures (stands or blinds)on state forrest land or Wildlife Refuge.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

One thing is for certain, it is illegal then you don't want to be sitting in that stand when the game warden shows up...

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

What happened to the days of Ground Hunting.These guys that build perm stands(where its Illegal) are simply trying to get the edge on other legal hunters - or - trying to bushwhack deer on neighboring property that they could not otherwise see.The funny part is these morons really think they have an easement of sorts on the area where they erect these stands.

I hunted a WMA some years back that was chocked full of these Illegal stands.The local Bubba Boys had key Deer areas sewed up with these stands.

Well - for about 2 yrs there was a warden who's sole purpose in life was to clean up this area of outlaws.He and others tore down every stand they could find and some more than once.Really pissed off the good ole boys in area

I won't reveal his real name - but - Everybody in the hunting community called him "Rambo" which was close to his real name.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

One of my spots is military land and within the last couple yrs. they allowed people to leave stands up all season. If you get there long before dawn & set up, someone who leaves a stand up all season (that you don't see in the pre dawn darkness) comes in later has the right to hunt the spot..... I think that sucks!

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

I'm hesitant to hunt in the area with permanent stands. The last thing I'd want to deal with, especially since I hunt solo 90% of the time, is an angry group of hunters who feel they have possession of a spot (squatter's rights?). But I know the spot has to produce deer. That's what really gets me. And as much as I'd like to tear it down, I dont think it's my place. Perhaps I'll make a call to DNR in the fall if it's still there, though.
-- B

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

If it's not legal to buld it on public land then you have just as much a right to it as they do. People who don't abide by the rules get screwed. That's life. If it's a nice, safe stand, you can hunt on it. In our state, that's legal.
If it's on public land, it's public property.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

I have seen several in different parts of the state on National Forest land where it is illegal. 9 times out of 10 they are in very poor condition and are beyond being used. I try to use this to my advantage to figure out where the hunters are hunting. I can't figure out why it is illegal to build a permanent stand, but not to chain a removable stand to a tree and leave it there. Unless it is for safety purposes and logging concerns. I've seen a few treestands that were chained to trees that were at least five years old.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

In MN, you are also suppose to remove any portable stand or blind at the end of each hunting day.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

On State land here in Pa your not allowed to leave stands in the woods, let alone build one. Anyone who leavesa stand on State or other Gov land [:@]should be awarethere are consequences.;)

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

I do have a problem with stand left on public land and I'll tell you why!! In most spots in my area are small wood lots and the larger state owned areas. Now these few guys who are our area slob hunters put up stands all over the place. They spend all of their off season doing this and I am talking about hundreds of stands over the years. Now along comes Joe average ethical hunter and sees these stands he will not hunt anywhere near another hunters stand just out of respect. But now tell me these guys who have put up these stands may never even hunt out of them that year or multiple years! But if you go anywhere near them you r a bumm and a ****** for going near their stands. These same people spend a lot of time hunting my truck during the season so they can find me and hunt my areas as I will have nothing to do with them or any of the areas they ruin. Once in the area (remember these are little wood lots) they won't wit still they urinate where ever they are hack spit weeze and what ever. I have now decided that any new place I find and they move into I will destroy any stand they put up. I am at my wits end with these guys and I don't know what else to do. I shot a real nice trophy deer this year and the next day they were all over the area now no one hunted this spot before and you can best be sure its ruined now. And by the way these guys rarly shoot a deer and when they do is always small buck and doe. So what would you do. I'll get off my soap box now.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

Mike, it sounds like you have a good reason to be on your soap box. It sounds like you have a tough situation. Have you ever considered speaking with your local wildlife management/dept of natural resources/game and fish or whatever you call them where you are from regarding this?

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

The main reason State and other Gov lands disallow putting permanent stands and leaving other types of stands in the woods is to eliminate the potential for hunter confrontations-intimidation, not to mention any possible damage to trees (permanent stands).[:@]
I think it makes perfect sense, why can't people just go by the rules? It's sooooo basic.:)

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

I totally agree. I dont want to hunt over another guy, and I really dont want to deal with any kind of confrontation that could result. And suppose I did use the stands. They're illegal to have on public land in MD, so I'd be at fault for using one. It just sucks. I dont see why people just dont put up portables. As far as leaving a stand somewhere, I dont think it's illegal in MD, but I'd fear it'd get stolen. And if it did, it'd be my fault and I couldn't whine about it.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

On public land here we can pretty much do what we want as for stands but all structures have to be removed by the end of December of each year. Spring bear starts around end of april so many are put up again. This law just came into place a few years ago as it used to be a free for all. Permanent structures that were built before this law were not taken down so there are a few in the bush but they are in very poor condition. Private land you can do what you wish as long as you own it or have permission and leave them there all year if ya want. Here's a pic of one of my stands on my land which i have arrowed 2 elk out of.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

It sounds like you need to get a different truck.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

i would have torn them down if i were you

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

It's against state hunting regs to put up a permanent or leave a portable stand up overnight on public land in MN. And it should be. These are the lazy ones who want to try to "reserve" what they think is "their" 10, 20,... acres of public land to hunt without going out early and putting the stand up and taking it down.
Personally, I don't hunt in stands period, mainly for safety reasons. But no one should be putting up stands to stay on public that belong to all.
For such stands that do stay up, anyone can hunt out of them by law in MN. But then of course you'd probably end up being confronted by the not so bright guy mid morning yelling at you for being up in "his stand". Not worth it. Just report them to the DNR, Game and Fish or whatever your state's dept. is called.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

MinnFinn,

You must have much better DNR guys in your area than I do. When I called them about stands put up around my area, they pretty much got this "light in there eyes" look. Like....what do you want me to do about it. I have also called about the poachers shooting deer off my fields at night and guess when he drives by to check....around noon!!! I guess he figures that way he won't have any paperwork to deal with. My brother say a guy stick his gun out the window of his truck and shoot a deer in the cemetary near his house......the warden said,"I didn't see it so there's nothing I can do."

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

This was a news release from 2005, but it's still valid for hunting deer in MN on stateand federal forestland.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/releases/index.html?id=1130346548

State forest land it says portables are "recommended". Permanent (without walls or roof) are allowed, but if unoccupied, anyone can use. However, 'In state parks and state wildlife management areas that allow hunting, permanent stands are not allowed. Portable stands are allowed but may not be left overnight. No deer stands (permanent or portable) are allowed in Scientific and Natural Areas."
On Federal Forest land it reads, "On national forest lands, only portable tree stands that do not damage trees and that are removed at the end of the hunting season are permitted."
So, that tells me permanent stands can't be constructed on federal forest land. I think that's consistent across the country on the later.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

MinnFinn,

Was this new regulations in 2005? I have been overseas for several years and came home for hunting but since I hunt my own property I hadn't noticed a change in the laws. I could have sworn that they were illegal before the previously posted date. I do know that the local state forester would tear them down if he saw them.
Thaks for the info.

RE: Permanent stands on public land
 

I don't know the exact year that such regs went into effect. I think the rules come down to the principal... public land that's designated for hunting and other outdoors useis for the general public and not for individuals to carve out their own areas for their exclusive use. It seems like just common sense that we shouldn't go into our neighbors land and build something sem-permanent and expect to have exclusive use of. That's pretty much what people who build things on public lands are doing.
As I always say...