Crown land ethics question.

[schian]

So a friend and I were scouting crown land about 2 weeks ago and came upon a nice blind and a perfect cutline for whitetail. It's a raised platform with a snowcamo blind and a pivoting chair inside to go along with a propane tank. It doesn't look as though it's been used this year.
Would it be way out of line to use this stand seeing as how it's on public land? I want to hunt that cutline anyway and this would give be a much better vantage point. Thoughts and opinions welcome!
Please don't judge because you can't tell me you wouldn't consider it! Haha
Definitely leaning towards no at this point.

Schian

[Donkey Oatey]

Originally Posted by schian

So a friend and I were scouting crown land about 2 weeks ago and came upon a nice blind and a perfect cutline for whitetail. It's a raised platform with a snowcamo blind and a pivoting chair inside to go along with a propane tank. It doesn't look as though it's been used this year.
Would it be way out of line to use this stand seeing as how it's on public land? I want to hunt that cutline anyway and this would give be a much better vantage point. Thoughts and opinions welcome!
Please don't judge because you can't tell me you wouldn't consider it! Haha

If it ain't yours don't touch it.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Donkey Oatey

If it ain't yours don't touch it.

Pretty much says it all
Cat

[Kristopher10]

Personally I wouldn't touch, because it's not mine. If it's not being used, I wouldn't hesitate to hunt the same cutline though.

[Slicktricker]

Only a loser would use someone else’s gear. Yet would complain that someone used theres

[zhunter11]

I leave stands out and have made a lot of homemade stands on crown land. I don't have a problem with guys using anything I have left on crown land as long as they keep it clean & respect it (to me its part of the risk), when I get into the field and station myself for a couple of days I will leave a note or something so guys know I am in the area too. I have never had anything swiped on crown land but I have on private land closer to the city... That being said I have never used anyone else's setup either because it does not feel right.

[Moo Snukkle]

How about if I come across your camp while you're out hunting. Can I hop in your bedroll for a quick nap and grab a bite when I leave? Me thinks the answer will come to you as you're laying there at night, smelling my aftershave on your pillow.

[Kurt505]

I had a tower stand on crown land for years. One time, second last day of the season, 3 o'clock in the afternoon I went to go sit in my tower. When I got about 300yds or so from it, I looked through my binos and watched a guy climb out of it and head off the opposite direction from me. With only about an hour and a half left of season, and a half hour walk back to the truck, I decided to go in the stand anyway. 45 minutes later I had a 160" whitetail on the ground.

I never got upset watching the guy climb out of my stand, it was on public land, what else would you expect? I had no problem with people using my stand, it's when they stole it that I got a bit upset.

[srs123]

Originally Posted by Moo Snukkle

How about if I come across your camp while you're out hunting. Can I hop in your bedroll for a quick nap and grab a bite when I leave? Me thinks the answer will come to you as you're laying there at night, smelling my aftershave on your pillow.

Legally you dont own anything on public lands unless it is registered to your name. Be respectful and be kind. If i see a stabd and i feel like using ut or hunting around it then i will

[Xbolt7mm]

Originally Posted by Moo Snukkle

How about if I come across your camp while you're out hunting. Can I hop in your bedroll for a quick nap and grab a bite when I leave? Me thinks the answer will come to you as you're laying there at night, smelling my aftershave on your pillow.

that's not the same thing at all and if you don't know the difference between the two scenarios then your part of the problem. if I had a stand up on public land then I don't care if someone uses it, just don't steal stuff or wreck things and that's where the problem lies, not that they used it but damaged it. Of course they leave if I show up to hunt my stand.

[burbotman]

No way I would even consider using it. If I had just found the spot I would move on and hunt somewhere else. If however I had scouted out the area or hunted it previously I would proceed to hunt the area if the blind was un occupied

[srs123]

I have a stand on crown land. Youu are more than welcome to use it if you can find it. Just dont be in it when im heading in and keep it clean.

[buck12]

I agree, If you didn't build it or set it up its not yours to use. Find another spot to hunt RESPECT is still a valuable trait

[DJS]

Originally Posted by Donkey Oatey

If it ain't yours don't touch it.

This guy gets it!

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by schian

So a friend and I were scouting crown land about 2 weeks ago and came upon a nice blind and a perfect cutline for whitetail. It's a raised platform with a snowcamo blind and a pivoting chair inside to go along with a propane tank. It doesn't look as though it's been used this year.
Would it be way out of line to use this stand seeing as how it's on public land? I want to hunt that cutline anyway and this would give be a much better vantage point. Thoughts and opinions welcome!
Please don't judge because you can't tell me you wouldn't consider it! Haha
Definitely leaning towards no at this point.

Schian

I check it out and then take the ideas and maybe implement them into a build but no I wouldn't use it...car sitting in parking lot might stop and admire it but wouldn't use it same thing.

[CritterCommander]

I know of at least 1 very nice set up that I found completely by accident that looks very expensive, has been brushed out and re-seeded that no one has been to for at least 2 years. In mind that's fair game.

[TylerThomson]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

I check it out and then take the ideas and maybe implement them into a build but no I wouldn't use it...car sitting in parking lot might stop and admire it but wouldn't use it same thing.

Not even close to the same thing. If you think it is call the cops and tell them someone is sitting in a permanent structure you illegally erected on public land and you want them evicted and see how far you get. They would laugh in your face.

Saying that having someone jump in your bedroll isnt the same either. A tent is a temporary structure that is a protected domicile.

Fact is it is illegal to build a permanent stand on public land so if you do you got no room to complain if someone else uses it or even if they tear it down for firewood.

[fish_e_o]

i wouldn't use the propane but i'd sit there.

[DJS]

I'm actually very surprised by the amount of guys here who would use someone's set up. I agree that if no one is there hunt the area. Putting out a blind, setting up a stand or building a stand on crown land doesn't give anyone exclusive rights to that spot. But using someone else's stuff without permission..? Really? Since when did this become ok? Someone else bought the blind, took the time and effort to take it out there and set it up. What right does anyone else have to use this setup?

The analogy that someone else used about leaving a car in a parking lot may not be the best but it is easy to see the comparison. What if it was a quad or side by side parked out on some cutline? Is that free to use by anyone? I'm guessing not.

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by DJS

I'm actually very surprised by the amount of guys here who would use someone's set up. I agree that if no one is there hunt the area. Putting out a blind, setting up a stand or building a stand on crown land doesn't give anyone exclusive rights to that spot. But using someone else's stuff without permission..? Really? Since when did this become ok? Someone else bought the blind, took the time and effort to take it out there and set it up. What right does anyone else have to use this setup?

The analogy that someone else used about leaving a car in a parking lot may not be the best but it is easy to see the comparison. What if it was a quad or side by side parked out on some cutline? Is that free to use by anyone? I'm guessing not.

Would you leave your $10,000 quad or side by side in the woods with all identifying marks, ie: plate, serial numbers removed? No? Why not? Because its not the same, not even close.

I once snuck on private land and sat in the guys tower stand with a buddy when we were kids, well 19yr old kids. Wouldn't you know it, the guy decided to drive out into his field that day. Lucky for us he didn't climb into the stand at that time. We left there shortly after, never to return. We left it how we found it. 25yrs later, after getting to know the owners I told them about it All was fine, but would most likely been a different story if they caught us that day.

What I did that day was wrong, it was on private land and I was trespassing. Public land is public land, leaving a stand out in the middle of nowhere is basically abandoning it. If your walking down a cutline and find a 60" flatscreen TV still in the box with nobody around do you leave it there?

[last minute]

Whats the big deal no one around use it someone shows up leave .

[Lefty-Canuck]

I hunted a stand abandoned on public land. Made sure it was safe first, was left behind by a guy who moved away.

LC

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by last minute

Whats the big deal no one around use it someone shows up leave .

Kinda like your car sitting in the parking lot, some will use it, no problem eh after all it's on public land.

Best post on this thread was if its not yours don't touch it...unless you have permission.

[alpinebeers]

If its not being used then heck ya go ahead. If the fellow who built it shows up then move along. If you do use it leave it in the shape you found it. No big deal.

If you came across a duck blind on private land would you use it?

[Xbolt7mm]

Originally Posted by alpinebeers

If its not being used then heck ya go ahead. If the fellow who built it shows up then move along. If you do use it leave it in the shape you found it. No big deal.

If you came across a duck blind on private land would you use it?

on private land you should know its there before you go in or you know who to ask for permission. if its there without permission from the land owner it should come out.

[alpinebeers]

Originally Posted by Xbolt7mm

on private land you should know its there before you go in or you know who to ask for permission. if its there without permission from the land owner it should come out.

Ha sorry I meant to say on Public not Private. Your 100% correct on private land

[tacomama]

Originally Posted by alpinebeers

If its not being used then heck ya go ahead. If the fellow who built it shows up then move along. If you do use it leave it in the shape you found it. No big deal.

This^

I don't see a big deal with it. Public crown land means everybody has access to it, pure and simple.
Comparing a tree stand in the middle of the woods to a camp or a parked vehicle are very different things, not quite apples to apples comparison.

Make sure you leave it as you found it and if you see something that needs a quick fix then fix it. I wouldn't move it, take it, or alter it in any way, it's not mine. But what's the harm in using it for a while if no one is around.

I wouldn't mind if someone used my stand if I left it out, we are all out there to have fun and enjoy the outdoors, so if a stand is not being used, why not use it.

P.s. Maybe leave a note that you used it, thank the owner and wish them good luck in their hunts. That's a lot better than some of the replies....

[DiabeticKripple]

I would use it, but I wouldn’t use the propane. If buddy shows up, I’d leave

If he gets mad, then he shouldn’t be leaving his stuff on public land.

[Xbolt7mm]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Kinda like your car sitting in the parking lot, some will use it, no problem eh after all it's on public land.

Best post on this thread was if its not yours don't touch it...unless you have permission.

its not like that at all

[Kurt505]

it's simple. If you don't want anyone sitting in your stand, take it with you. If you leave it on public land unattended, don't get upset if someone uses it.

I guide, I have several stands set up on public land, it's just something you have to accept. If I don't want anyone in my stand I just have to be there first.