Tree Stand Safety

[scbigler23]

I recently moved from WI where I had the good fortune of having multiple friends with large plots of land on which to hunt. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone with land here in IA. So here is my concern...I only have permanent tree stands and I'm planning to hunt in public hunting area. While I am planning to put a good chain and padlock on my stand, how worried should I be about my stand getting stolen? Please advise.

 

[Shredder]

You get the wrong joker out there and stumbles across your stand location, it can be in trouble for theft. My advice is to get a Lone Wolf Climber or a LW Alpha Hang On With Climbing Sticks and just pack them out at the hunts end.

 

[River1]

Hard to say, some public grounds you'd probably be OK, others I wouldn't leave one up for more than over night . I would suggest buying an ultra light stand and sticks package. Then your not advertising your spot, you have a little more element of suprise and others aren't put out when your not there.

 

[jkratz5]

Where abouts are you thinking of hunting, I know a few areas in the past that have been trouble for stands getting yanked.

 

[TimberPig]

I've never had a stand stolen, knock on wood. I would not use chain and a padlock. Chain is noisy and both are easy to cut with bolt cutters. Use a fairly large diameter plastic coated cable that has an integrated lock. I really like the Python locks for trail cams and they make a heavy duty version with thicker cable. If you have ever tried to cut cable, it is a bear.
Another idea is to use climbing sticks and take the bottom two, or all of them, with you. They cant get stolen then and it makes taking the stand alot more work for lazy thieves. If you cut shooting lanes dont leave the cut brush laying around to tip someone off and camo paint on the stand wont hurt either, harder to see is harder to steal.
Good luck!