I have had my tree stands stolen in the last couple of weeks.
I use a climbing stick with hang on stand.

Any practical suggestions on how to prevent a stand from being stolen.

I have had them stole to. [:@]
It sucks, espesaly when you go to get in to hunt. [:'(]
I am not sure about stopping them from being stolen.
But if you ingrave your name on a spot that you can't readly see.
Then ifthe police find it at a pawn shop, or some ones house.
You will have proff that is yours, and you can at least get it back.

Other than log chains and big locks I don't know.

I hope this helps.

Hardened steel, at least 3/8ths inch, chain with the largest lock you can find and try to run the chain under the stand and around the tree in a way that it would be hard to get a big pair of bolt cutters on it. With 3' bolt cutters it isVERY hard to cut chain like that on the ground, much less in a tree.

Well it has happend probably to all of us and it sucks. If you hunt in the same area, custom build one.

We started using the round locks from Masterlock. with a grade 5 chain.

My theory is if they want it they will have to earn it. So we go all out with the chain and multiple cable tree stand locks.Its a pain but its worth it if you have an expensive stand.This crap is getting out of control with these people who are to cheap to buy their own stands/trail cams. My friend has lost a couple andIve lost one or two.He just posted his land because of it. I havent posted mine yet but I have considered it. If you hunt state land its hard but the above is a good deterrent.

Where I hunt, you cant leave a stand overnight, which sucks lugging my climber in and out, but at least I've sitll got it.

Go to a local welding shop and get a 2" wide end cut from a 12" C-channel, have them bore a hole in the center large enough for a 1/2" lag screw. Hang the stand, place the C-channel over the riser bars so that the flanges of the channel surround the bars, then drive in the lag screw. Enclosing the shaft of the lag screw with a short length of metal tubing or pipe will deter hack saws as long as the tube rotates freely. The stand absolutely will not fall, and since nearly all stand thieves carry bolt cutters it will be there when you return. It goes without saying, but never leave your climbing stick sections on the tree when you leave, it just makes it easier for the thief. BTW, you probably know your thief, I'd hang a trail cam with the flash disabled.

i just use a cable and a lock. neither are large, they just keep an honest man honest. nothing will stop a good pair of bolt cutters. if someone finds you stand and truely wants it, they're gonna get it.

Maybe you could weight them down with Lead.

big rockpile