Yeah you have a lot more experience with public land then I do and everything you just said is as spot on as it gets I feel. the boat may be coming out this year on a new place just to try and get away from everyone.
You will love hunting pub ground by boat. I rarely ever see anyone! You can make the approach from places no one else can and get to areas no other hunter has ever hunted. Again it has its own set of challenges. Personally it scares me a bit after it get cold. Get in trouble up here on the water and you might not see another boat for days...
Permanent stands are a no-go here, Elite. The rules & regs state no permanent stands on public land. The book doesn't define "permanent".. so a couple of seasons ago, I figured I could pull it off for just a couple of months. I left a hang-on in Alum Creek wildlife area and removed the climbing sticks. It didn't last long. If another hunter didn't snatch it, a warden or wildlife officer did. And some of the others have a good point; even if it doesn't get messed with, it's going to attract a lot of attention and people are going to hunt the crap out of the spot.
I usually leave some hang during the season on public land I've had a few stolen though I don't hunt out of stands I find in the woods even though that is legal here in pa I don't wanna be sittin in somebodys stand when they show up lol
Here in NY i usually hang one stand mid Aug. but i lock it up tight even tho its deep in the woods... just nice to walk in without a stand strapped to your back... esp. if you have a 2 mile hike up the mountain side....!
id consult with the game warden about hanging perminant stands. where im at theres different types of public lands for example in wma you can hang a stand but you have to take it down when youre getting off your stand, and in state forrest you can hang it till the day you leave the area.
I could never sit I someone else's setup. After all the work that goes into it. Besides all I can imagine e is getting in early getting settled and right before light somebody else shows up and ruins your hunt. If I see a stand I keep moving deeper till I don't see anyone.
I actually talked one on one with a Game Warden today. Saw trucks and a open gate at the wildlife office near delaware wildlife area. He told me its all at my own risk. Also told me they get about 150+ reports of stolen stands every year. we also went over the Ohio hunting & trapping regs for 2015-2016 and it never saw anything that mentioned you couldnt leave your lock-on stand in the woods. He did clarify that permanent stands are not allowed, meaning if you ant take it down after you hunt its illegal. So all of those wooden stands in the woods are illegal to build because they are not able to be taken down. If thats what you mean by "Permanent stand" Josh then yes you are right.
At field & Stream they have lock on stands for around $35 I cannot remember the name of them at the moment.
$32.99 and free shipping if you buy 2 or more right now ($49 or more) http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/guide-gear-hunting-hang-on-tree-stand?a=585712
