Found out who cut down my treestand

[almostthere!]

Someone cut down one of our permanent treestands on public land one week before opener. Well, we finally figured out who did it. It was a landowner who thinks he owns more than his land. We followed a wounded deer into a corner and found the guy's ladder treestand, well into public land. It is in a corner because there are swamps on both sides of the land and the private property is more than 500 yards away. I know he has every right to be there as do we but to cut down someone else's stand so he can put up his is just plain wrong.

Ok, I am done ranting...

[BobT]

I wonder if it's legal to cut trees on public land without a permit.

Bob

[dustin85]

Where was this? I know a guy who cut down some stands that he said were on his property,....I wonder if this is the same guy??

[McGurk]

I could be wrong... I know, it happens... but isn't it a no-no to build permanent stands on public land? Did he cut the tree or just the wooden ladder stand down? I guess I'd like to hear a little more of the story. I've never hunted public land though, so please inform us.

[DRH1175]

That is why you should be using portable tree stands on public land. It also could have been the DNR they do it too because it is illegal to have them. And the ladderstand in the corner is legal. What did he do wrong there with putting up the ladder stand assumming he took it down each night as well? I use a Climber so I don't run into any of these issues. I hope I don't sound so negative just being honest.

[charliepete2]

There are definitely types of public land where it is legal to erect permanent stands. Some tax forfeit, some county, some township land etc. I personally don't think it should be legal, it basically makes public land private and causes trouble, but that is besides the point. It is defnitely legal in some instances.

[High Life]

We have the same problem on some of our leased land up north here, but I'm on the other end of the stick.

Every year we lease the same chunk of CRP wedged between two parcels of state woods. We spend our time and money on tripods and permanent stands that we put out in the field, and a guy every opener walks down a min. maint. road, turns and walks 1/2mile down the leased private ditch and pushes up his 8ft wooden platform stand that he leaves on public land all year long. He has about a 50yd x 150yd meadow that he looks over at the corner of the public land.

Does he have every right to be there? You bet. Does it stink that he can walk down the ditch and ruin the hunt for our guy on that side of the CRP, and then just push up his homemade stand without taking it in or out each night (year!)? Absolutely.

I don't want to get into a battle with this guy, but I do want him to work a little harder for his hunt. I've hunted public land also, and I have a portable that I put up and take out every night. I don't think that would or should give me the right to go in and destroy his stand though.

[almostthere!]

Permanent stands are still legal in state forests.

The guy cut all 4 trees down. These were not small trees either. He then went down the path and cut down a huge tree to block the trail.

I was thinking about taking his stand and dumping it into the lake. But that would be unethical.

[EatSleepFish]

is it illegal to hang a portable stand up overnight on public land?

[Outdoors_Junkie]

It is illegal in some public land to leave portable stands over night. It is also illegal in some public land to build permanent stands. Both are legal on other public land. Check the MN Hunting rule book to find out where you can and can not do these things.

[almostthere!]

It is still legal to build on state forests. It is still legal to hang portables in state forests.

My only wish was for the guy to leave the stand alone so we both can use it. It doesn't make much sense for the guy to cut it down because my group has climbing treestands which we always pack into the woods so we can always climb a tree next to the cut-down stand.

Hmmm, there are always a few trees standing in line of sight. Maybe I will build more stands so the guy can cut some shooting lanes for me.

[Bogsucker]

"Elevated scaffolds

Temporary tree stands are allowed in state forests, including portable and constructed stands, but marketable trees greater than 4 inches in diameter at 4? feet off the ground cannot be cut to construct an elevated hunting scaffold. However, shrubs, lateral tree branches and saplings smaller than 4 inches in diameter at 4? feet off the ground may be removed.

Construction of permanent shelters is prohibited in state forests. This applies to permanent enclosed deer stands, and structures associated with their use, such as toilets and camp shelters.

Deer stands on state forest lands are considered available for public use and must remain accessible to all. More about hunting in state forests (October 2002 news release)"

That is from the state forest rules page, notice the word TEMPORARY.

[dustin85]

Not the same guy I talked to.

[ovation62]

We had that same problem but reversed, we just got are land servayed and there was a stand that was on are property, we had it down 1 day beofre opener we posted a sign to ask permision to hunt on are land, we had been hunting there for years and always worried about cross fire across and swamp were one of are other hunter sits, we just bought this land and payed out alot of money to servayed it so we had alot of people walking right under are stands while we are hunting so we had to do something about it, even with signs they still walk across the lines.

We felt bad about this but this way no one well get hurt.

We have fed. land on one side and private land on the back side.