Hey guys, I finally registered.. I don't know why I waited so long but anyway what are your thoughts on this? I get to my stand today on public land after not hunting it for about 8-10 days and the bottom ladder section is off the tree on the ground next to it. I have a big game treestand from bass pro, hang on with 3 ladder sections, the type that strap to the tree with one nylon strap. I don't see how this could fall off on its own but why would it be off? Why wouldn't someone steal it if they took it down? I check over everything else carefully, nothing appears to have been tampered with and the stand itself is locked. Any ideas?
Someone being a jerk... or... A bear... ? Edit: And where are my manners, welcome to the forums, glad you registered...
Not sure about your state, but in MD it is illegal to leave a stand on public ground. Perhaps the person was sending a message that you didn't own that spot but was nice enough not to steal the stand?
That's possible. But I did glass it from as far out as I could because I was half expecting the bottom two sections to be gone.
I don't really see that as an option. It seems to me that if someone were going to steal a hang-on and ladder stick setup they would need to work from the top down, not the bottom up.
Someone leaving you a message that they r in the area and know your there it's happened to me before. They could just leave u a note but they r hoping u leave!
Yea a note would be much more clear this area isn't very heavily hunted but there are others. I look all the time and iv never seen another stand around. Unless of course they're using a climber..
was the bottom ladder, that was on the ground, strapped to the tree? if not my guess is that someone stepped on it to climb up and it sunk into the ground, then came off. if you hung the stand when the ground was dry and it was muddy when someone tried to climb it i bet it sank into the earth and came loose. look at the ground and see if it has a hole where this could have happened. It wouldn't be the first time someone hunted another person stand on public land that was left for everyone. Hince the name PUBLIC! I've had ladder stands that the bottom fell out when i tried to climb when it was wet out.
no, its not that type of ladder.. the bottom section straps to the tree itself, about 3-4 feet up off the ground. I knew the risk about public land when i decided to leave it up but i just figured they would be there or stolen, not left on the ground.
I was using a climber once, shot a doe and climbed down to take up the trail... Long and short got about 50 yards away and heard clanging and the sound of my squeky wing nots for the bars.... High tailed it back to find a moron trying to steal my stand.. So, it's plausible you literally caught someone in the act, and like posted above, they spooked.
