Tree Stand in "my spot"

as a disclaimer, i know crown land is first come first serve and i cant claim a spot as "my spot", hence the quotes. just looking for some advice on how to proceed

ive been scouting a great location for 2 years now and hunted deer last season and turkey this last spring at this spot. never ran into another human. went out last month to check the trail cams and noticed a hillbilly treestand was put up 50 feet away from one of my cams and right where i was planning to put a blind. (hillbilly treestand is when its just wood and garbage drilled into a tree).

i went to inspect the stand and there was no name or number so i left a note with my name and number in hopes they reach out.

its been a month and no word, I checked my trail cam again today and the notes still there untouched. i suspect they wont be back to the stand until the fall :(

i dont know how to proceed. i dont want to abandon the spot as i get deer on the cam almost every day and night, including moose and bear on occasion. i also dont want any conflict, especially with people with guns.

i also dont want to set up my blind right next to the tree stand, it seems wrong. it also feels wrong that some people can drill stuff into a tree and "claim" a spot.

i see 3 options for myself aside from them reaching out and us coming to an agreement on what days we will be hunting

1. abandon the spot and find a new one (i like this the least)
2. dont change my plans at all and show up REALLY early and hope that i dont have any issues when the season comes
3. just use their stand and show up REALLY early and hope i dont have any issues when the season comes

im feeling number 3 is my best option, the stand is in a great spot and if im gonna park my blind right next to it, i may as well be using the stand itself

my main concern is conflict with another hunter, i hope they just reach out but i have a gut feeling its not gonna happen.

also a question, is it even legal to build a permanent tree stand into multiple living trees and leave it there permanently?

#2. Set up your own stand or blind and proceed as usual (maybe get there 15-20 mins earlier). It's public land, they may only hunt for a day or two the whole season or see your vehicle there first at the trailhead and you may never cross paths. Proper etiquette would NOT recommend sitting in their stand.

Not quite sure, but I was always under the impression crown land only allows for a 30 day stay in any 1 location and then your camp or temporary structure must be moved to another site. Others here will have more info on the aspect of permanent stands on crown land.
John

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Originally Posted by johnjyb

Not quite sure, but I was always under the impression crown land only allows for a 30 day stay in any 1 location and then your camp or temporary structure must be moved to another site. Others here will have more info on the aspect of permanent stands on crown land.
John

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Public tracts seem to be littered by perm stands, so it wouldn't appear that this law is being followed as rule of thumb

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Stand on Crown Land (oodmag.com)

Depends on your personality. You can wait it out and see what happens i.e. wait for the guy to call you, or go full out and hang your stand and wait until the season starts and try to get to it first. As for myself, I would be looking around for other options as having another guy around would weigh heavily on me. I hope that things work out for you.

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Originally Posted by newbiehunter

Public tracts seem to be littered by perm stands, so it wouldn't appear that this law is being followed as rule of thumb

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Yeh its to bad that we do not follow our American cousins and make it unlawful to put up permanent type stands. Stands are fine for a limited time and should then be taken down, that way nobody makes a claim to the spot and we do not end up with all these junk stands on Crown land.

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Originally Posted by Gilroy

Stand on Crown Land (oodmag.com)

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Thanks for circling back on that thread, I had forgotten about it.

If your experience with "the spot" enables you to determine the direction from which the animals typically approach, just locate your stand further in that direction (I'd say at least 100 yards), consistent with not being downwind of the other stand given normal wind direction.

like you said neither you or the other guy can lay claim to the spot, so first come first served. Having said that if you hunt there and are first there, other guy should back off, but what are the chances of that happening. anymore there seems to be a complete lack of ethics. I'd think the best solution would be to talk to this person and try and arrange a schedule, if that is possible. I know around here there have been fist fights over who gets to hunt spots and it doesn't matter who was there first. In fact I know a guy that was in a spot well before legal, this is on a lake waterfowl hunting, another boat comes and sets up almost on top of him, he shines light on him but guy doesn't care, then a 3rd boat pulls up and the 2 newer guys get out of their boats and start throwing punches. the original guy pulls his stuff and leaves, shaking his head and never went back again.

I agree with canthitathing. Those deer are coming from somewhere. Move your cameras to find that location and cut the deer off before they ever get to his stand.

We had some knucklehead move into one of our quality boxes...on OUR land! Tried to say it was crown lol. 6' in air, lumber, posts etc. Nobody is putting that much into a public land stand lol. Our C.F. active Sgt. put the run on him lmao.

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Originally Posted by canuck

as a disclaimer, i know crown land is first come first serve and i cant claim a spot as "my spot", hence the quotes. just looking for some advice on how to proceed

ive been scouting a great location for 2 years now and hunted deer last season and turkey this last spring at this spot. never ran into another human. went out last month to check the trail cams and noticed a hillbilly treestand was put up 50 feet away from one of my cams and right where i was planning to put a blind. (hillbilly treestand is when its just wood and garbage drilled into a tree).

i went to inspect the stand and there was no name or number so i left a note with my name and number in hopes they reach out.

its been a month and no word, I checked my trail cam again today and the notes still there untouched. i suspect they wont be back to the stand until the fall :(

i dont know how to proceed. i dont want to abandon the spot as i get deer on the cam almost every day and night, including moose and bear on occasion. i also dont want any conflict, especially with people with guns.

i also dont want to set up my blind right next to the tree stand, it seems wrong. it also feels wrong that some people can drill stuff into a tree and "claim" a spot.

i see 3 options for myself aside from them reaching out and us coming to an agreement on what days we will be hunting

1. abandon the spot and find a new one (i like this the least)
2. dont change my plans at all and show up REALLY early and hope that i dont have any issues when the season comes
3. just use their stand and show up REALLY early and hope i dont have any issues when the season comes

im feeling number 3 is my best option, the stand is in a great spot and if im gonna park my blind right next to it, i may as well be using the stand itself

my main concern is conflict with another hunter, i hope they just reach out but i have a gut feeling its not gonna happen.

also a question, is it even legal to build a permanent tree stand into multiple living trees and leave it there permanently?

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Every once in a while we get into this. There's no such thing as "my spot" when hunting Crown or other public property. If someone else is there when you show up,wave and say hello,better luck next time. Move along to another "spot".

Had this happen to me a few years ago, I just moved on, I had a bridge across a deep creek, I moved it out on the eve of the hunt.

Is this a bow spot or a gun spot? If it's a gun spot I would think about taking up bowhunting. In my area there is quite a bit of public land but during gun season there are quite a few hunters as well. During bow season it's rare to find someone in one of my spots. If you really like the spot I would still set up a stand in the area. TC

In these situations I usually try to find a way to use the intrusion to my advantage. By finding out his route or day he is hunting you can set up downwind of the location to incercept deer moving around him.

These set ups are usually done by inexperienced hunters and will act as deer deflectors moving deer towards someone using a mobile setup like a climber or saddle.

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Originally Posted by Marker

In these situations I usually try to find a way to use the intrusion to my advantage. By finding out his route or day he is hunting you can set up downwind of the location to incercept deer moving around him.

These set ups are usually done by inexperienced hunters and will act as deer deflectors moving deer towards someone using a mobile setup like a climber or saddle.

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That's a very successful strategy which I've found in the past works quite well. There's always certainly more than one way to skin a cat and all without confrontation which helps nothing.

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Originally Posted by Marker

In these situations I usually try to find a way to use the intrusion to my advantage. By finding out his route or day he is hunting you can set up downwind of the location to incercept deer moving around him.

These set ups are usually done by inexperienced hunters and will act as deer deflectors moving deer towards someone using a mobile setup like a climber or saddle.

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This advice would be good only if the other guy isn't there or there first. Otherwise its akin to telling someone its okay too set up 100 yards downwind of a decoy spread and pass shoot ducks working the rig.
Best to work together not against each other.

If you've only hunted the spot one deer season, the odds are probably high that you are encroaching on a spot that was previously being hunted imo.

I wouldn't be climbing up in anyone's homemade stand just from a safety concern

In terms of next steps, for me it really depends what season you are hunting. Bow season, I would feel more comfortable hunting near the stand or simply hunting along the route the deer I've got on cams travel. Reasons are twofold, #1 the chances of running into another hunter is lower during bow season and #2 reduced range of weapon. If you are hunting an area with a Rifle season, I don't want to be anywhere close to another hunter, so I would abandon the area. Shotgun season, I'd be far enough away I don't have to worry about someone blasting in my direction.

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Originally Posted by Ryeguy

If you've only hunted the spot one deer season, the odds are probably high that you are encroaching on a spot that was previously being hunted imo.

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Good observation, and I would definately agree with that.

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

This advice would be good only if the other guy isn't there or there first. Otherwise its akin to telling someone its okay too set up 100 yards downwind of a decoy spread and pass shoot ducks working the rig.
Best to work together not against each other.

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You make a good point especially for a guided hunt where clients are involved, I think that makes a difference as I would be much more open to a guide 'reserving' a spot on public land where his business is dependent on.

The joys of public hunting ? Like it's been said; First come, first served/gets. As they didn't post their name and what the reason is for the treestand and you have tried reaching out and not getting a reply I would just go ahead and sit there but have a Plan B or C just in case. I know with duck hunting it has been a long tradition to honour a posted spot or blind for Opening Day but after that ... it's first come, first gets.

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Originally Posted by longpointer

The joys of public hunting ? Like it's been said; First come, first served/gets. As they didn't post their name and what the reason is for the treestand and you have tried reaching out and not getting a reply I would just go ahead and sit there but have a Plan B or C just in case. I know with duck hunting it has been a long tradition to honour a posted spot or blind for Opening Day but after that ... it's first come, first gets.

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Yep,by gentlemen's agreement on opening morning is a long honored and cherished tradition. After lunch and from there after,first come,first served. I gave up on permanent blinds long ago. I like to rig the boat to use as a floating blind. That way,we can come and go as we please.

I hear ya Trimmer21 ! When I was young it was always a great "work weekend" putting out the blinds in mid September as we built them at the cottage and stretched them across the gunnels for a trip across the bay but bringing them back late November/early December was a p i t a ! Much safer now in a boatblind plus it's advantage of wind direction and available cover. I still put a sign every year for Opening Day in almost the same spot for the past 50 years and have had some words with those who were younger and ignorant of the tradition and will do so until I have to hang up my gun.

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Originally Posted by longpointer

I hear ya Trimmer21 ! When I was young it was always a great "work weekend" putting out the blinds in mid September as we built them at the cottage and stretched them across the gunnels for a trip across the bay but bringing them back late November/early December was a p i t a ! Much safer now in a boatblind plus it's advantage of wind direction and available cover. I still put a sign every year for Opening Day in almost the same spot for the past 50 years and have had some words with those who were younger and ignorant of the tradition and will do so until I have to hang up my gun.

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Good on ya,LP. I,too,enjoy an opportunity to educate the young'uns. Many are starting out from single-parent families without any mentorship. To their credit,they seem to suck up instruction and education like sponges.

thought this might applyhttps://youtu.be/4K2x1A2Ldgo