Iwould just hang a laminated sign on the base of the tree.

"If your reading this my trail cam has taken your picture"

Ofcourse there is no cam, but maybe there is...and most thieves would keep walking.

To me it's a crying shame that there are people out there who supposedly enjoy the same pastime as we do who would steal someone elses stand. This is proof enough that quite a few who hunt are nothing but low lifes since it seems to happen so frequently. Then we wonder why access to private hunting land is becoming very difficult. Honestly, why would most people want hunters on their land when many among us are capable of such behavior? It's really not hard to figure out.

Truth I have two Stands that I leave up year round,they've been there 3 years now.But i had a guy tresspassing.I went over to his house showed him some pictures from my Trail Cams,he no longer comes on my property.

big rockpile

Good ideas guys, I was thinking of leaving my climber out overnight before opening day of regular season this year with some sort of lock, its private property and about a mile hike back to the tree I hunt. Last year we rode an atv in around 4am so we didn't have to carry the climbers that far (was concerned we spooked deer out even though we went in so early). Even though it is posted private property it is also bordered by state land so I'm a little nervous of some dirt ball trying to make off with my expensive climber, especially since I hunt fairly close to the property line to take advantage of the guys running deer around the state land. Worked out well last year when somebody's errant shot sent a 10 pt buck right to me.

I also have a hang on stand and climbing sticks at another private property we hunt that have been there for a couple years now, leave it up all year. It not being near state land and also posted property it seems to be safe.

If you have to leave it up, chain it and take the ladder. If they carry bolt cutters maybe they won't have their own ladder.

I use a special hardend bolt that takes a star bit to drive it . it is about 10 inches long so you need the right bit and a drill driver to take it out. it keeps the honest people honest