Proposal to leave up deer stand on public lands

[BeezeHound]

No matter what happens there will always be unhappy people. I don't really have a take one way or the other since I could come up with valid arguments for either side of it.

[mrklean]

Good point Mr.Clean...So, if the southern 1/2 or 2/3rds of the state is overcrowded on public lands why not just change the rule so that only the northern 1/2 or 1/3rd of the state could leave stands up...that would be the same "compromise" that was eventually reached over the managed-limited & closed state forest road classifications issue after the big meeting at the gardens in Warroad a few years back...

i like that idea but how do they say what the cut off line is? Do you use the border for rifle and shotgun, or something else. I like the idea but i dont think it will ever happen, because then the non-residents wouldnt be able to put there stands there

[lichen fox]

Simple, use the same criteria they used for the forest road classifications...the larger forests they left "managed", smaller forests and those close to metro area's were designated limited or closed...the new rule could apply to managed forests only...if that doesn't work just follow highway 2 from East Grand Forks to Duluth....that's pretty much the northern 1/3rd of the state...

[Musky Buck]

Sounds like oh my. Not that we should ever copy what another state does so what do they do, states that have a half million deer hunters or more ?

[winterwalleye]

I think its a bad idea. Just going to cause more headaches for DNR who are already busy with baiting complaints.

[Nightcrawler]

sounds like a very Democratic idea. was the non-res. from Chicago? in minnesota thats left when you are looking south.

[schmoe147]

It doenst bother me if they would make it legal. I know from scouting in the woods that many people already leave stands overnite already. I think we will see alot more stands for sale on hsolist and HSO-Classifieds if you know what I meen.

[LightningBG]

Overall, this seems like a horrible idea. Just going to lead to fights.

And this below...

In all honestly since I hunt public land and would like to have more than 1 stand up depending on the wind direction, maybe as I get cold I move to another one I do not like this at all. While it is ok to have 1 up I want 3 up where I hunt. Can I pay like a license to have more than 1? That would seem fair but I know people will put stands up and never use them and make people mad but I like having different options when I hunt.

I'm sure everyone would like to have dozens of stands. Then they can buy their way into blocking off there own little area. Ten bucks a stand, 10 stands, I'm sure that doesn't sound too bad for some. Sure the "law" states they aren't reserving it, but sportsmanship would dictate you dont set up near someones stand. After walking by 10 empty stands and finally seeing one guy, nobody would would have any courtesy, because its been abused so much.

Whatever, I shouldn't even care, I don't hunt public land.

[fr0sty]

I can see pro's and con's for the change, but it got me thinking. How is putting a hunting stand on public land different that what we do for ice fishing when people put fish houses on the lake all season?

They seem very similar.

[mrklean]

we just about have endless numbers of lakes around and the size of the lakes, but we dont have that much public land to hunt unless you go way up north. The thing with ice houses if one house stakes its claim on a certain spot another house can set up 40 yards away no real harm might annoy the guy but who cares, if you set up a stand 40 yards from someone the you know what is gonna hit the fan

[deerminator]

I can understand the arguements about greedy, spot savers but those people and issues exist right now. Having the ability to leave your stand overnight or all season isn't going to make that any worse. So what if a guy puts up a stand on the tree you wanted and leaves it there all season? Put up a stand two trees over. Whoever gets there first that day gets to hunt from that spot. Most of the spot savers will be in bed still while you're climbing up the tree. Or go to a more remote area that the lazy spot savers won't frequent and you're more than likely to have more success (not to mention peace and quiet).

What I do like about this plan is the ability to put a hang-on stand up and leave it for a week versus having to take it down every night. The biggest issue I see is stolen stands. If it passes, I'm likely to take advantage of it but my stand(s) will be well-camoflouged and hung off the beaten path not trounced through by the spot savers.

[pulleye16]

Boy I'm glad I don't hunt where all the rest of you hunt. Sounds like EVERYONE else in the woods with you guys is either out to get on another or wants to screw with your hunt. I hunt public land that allows for stands up all year if you want and legally able to put up perms. Tons of people hunt this woods and year after year the same people return, and year after year, most everyone knows where everyone hunts. New people come and go, and if they scout, they can see where people hunt. Yes-you don't own the woods and yes-you can place your stand right next to someone else. It's being respectful and ethical which people have where I hunt and have hunted in the past.

I've hunted public woods my whole life and I, like MOST hunters I know (unlike people who are in your woods), respect other hunters areas who've been hunting there for years-sure you can move right in but aren't those the people who you don't like?

Basically-if your new to the area its nice IMO to be able to see where other hunters hunt so I can find my own niche in the woods. If I've been hunting there for years-most people now where I hunt and respect my space. And don't give me no garbage about other hunters have rights, its a public woods cause I know that, but like all of you are saying...Be respectful and ethical...cause we're only talking about EACH OTHER here!!!!

Every year public hunting seems to draw huge attention on here but its us, as hunters, that are saying we, the other hunters are unethical and don't know the laws! hmmmmmmm....

[BLACKJACK]

Put up a stand two trees over. Whoever gets there first that day gets to hunt from that spot.

Thats a fine philosophy if the other hunter has the courtesy to move on to a different spot but what if he doesn't? What if he decides 'I've got a stand up, I'm hunting it'. I actually have had that happen to me, I scouted out a spot, got their early on opening morning, saw lights coming thru the woods, started flashing my flashlight - and the jerk climbed into stand less than 30 yards away from me!

[BLACKJACK]

I've hunted public woods my whole life and I, like MOST hunters I know (unlike people who are in your woods), respect other hunters areas who've been hunting there for years-sure you can move right in but aren't those the people who you don't like?

Right there is the problem with this whole idea of leaving stands in the woods on public hunting land, once someone puts a stand up, whether its permanent or a portable, they think they own that spot. Isn't it PUBLIC hunting land?? Just because someone else showed up two or ten years before and puts up a stand, should they 'own' that spot forever?

[tracker x-2]

sounds like all us hunters need a stimulas parcel of land.

[mrklean]

Originally Posted By: pulleye16

I've hunted public woods my whole life and I, like MOST hunters I know (unlike people who are in your woods), respect other hunters areas who've been hunting there for years-sure you can move right in but aren't those the people who you don't like?

Right there is the problem with this whole idea of leaving stands in the woods on public hunting land, once someone puts a stand up, whether its permanent or a portable, they think they own that spot. Isn't it PUBLIC hunting land?? Just because someone else showed up two or ten years before and puts up a stand, should they 'own' that spot forever?

Which is why i am not in favor of this law right there

[96trigger]

Why can't they park their stand right next to yours that morning? Oh wait, they can, if they are jerkbaits about it. I don't see the difference in a person who thinks they own a spot by putting up a stand on opening morning, or putting up a stand two weeks early. A jerkbait will bea jerkbait no matter when a stand is put up. Heck, they don't even need the stand to do it. These small groups of hunters are what continue to cause most of the problems, not when and where stands are put up. Its like blaming the gun for a murder.

[deerminator]

I agree. It's a small minority that usually screw it up and cause more laws to be imposed on the rest of us.

I've pretty much had nothing but positive experiences on the public land I hunt. Every now and then I encounter the occasional jerk, but you blow him off and move on with your hunt.

Whether or not the jerk can leave his stand up, he's still a jerk and will cause you problems either way. You can also look at it this way, if he has his stand up already and you don't want to set up next to him, you can always pick a better, more productive spot away from him without having to worry about him suprising you opening morning. At least you know where he is.

But again, 99 percent if not more of the public land deer hunters here respect one another and work together in terms of not screwing each other up.

[deerminator]

sounds like all us hunters need a stimulas parcel of land.

That's already in the works with the potential walk-in program, where essentially, the government is going to lease hunting land for us. Yeah, we sure have a lot of money to be doing that right now. And before someone chimes in, I know we're losing out on federal matching funds, but just because the federal government's jumping off a bridge, that doesn't mean Minnesota has to. It's like saying, loot this TV, eveyone else is doing it during the riot! So it makes it right! And think about this, when outfitters, or in this case, the government starts leasing land you privately had permission to hunt on for free, you definitely lose. Only in this case that land you worked so hard to hunt by helping farmer Jones fix his fences and paint his barn suddenly gets opened up to anyone and everyone basically making it the public land everyone seems to complain about.

[Musky Buck]

25 years ago my dad told me there would be big problems with land and deer hunting especially down the road. He is pretty close to right. Everyone wants this perfect quiet hunt and some who can't have that are making sure others won't either.

[pulleye16]

Originally Posted By: pulleye16

I've hunted public woods my whole life and I, like MOST hunters I know (unlike people who are in your woods), respect other hunters areas who've been hunting there for years-sure you can move right in but aren't those the people who you don't like?

Right there is the problem with this whole idea of leaving stands in the woods on public hunting land, once someone puts a stand up, whether its permanent or a portable, they think they own that spot. Isn't it PUBLIC hunting land?? Just because someone else showed up two or ten years before and puts up a stand, should they 'own' that spot forever?

It is public land and yes you can put up a stand right next to me a hunt. Then I welcome you to the next forum thread that's title..."some [PoorWordUsage] unethical hunter decided to hunt next to me". So what if we both arrived there early one morning? then what???? would you rather run into a problem a half hour before sunrise on opening morning or know weeks in advance that someone is hunting that area? I love the fact that I know where people are hunting.

[InTheNorthwoods]

It is public land and yes you can put up a stand right next to me a hunt. Then I welcome you to the next forum thread that's title..."some [PoorWordUsage] unethical hunter decided to hunt next to me". So what if we both arrived there early one morning? then what???? would you rather run into a problem a half hour before sunrise on opening morning or know weeks in advance that someone is hunting that area? I love the fact that I know where people are hunting.

That is ridiculous. "Knowing two weeks in advance that someone is hunting that area?" All that stand tells you is that someone hung a stand. Hanging a stand does not reserve a spot. For all you know, that stand may not get hunted all season. Why should someone not be able to hunt that area if they get there and there is no one hunting in that general area? This is exactly the problem such a law would create.

[pulleye16]

Do what you want if you see a stand in the woods, it is public, go ahead and set up a stand right next to me. Would you???? what do you do now if you see a stand in the woods???? What do you do now when you see a hunter in a stand in the woods??? what do you do now if you want to hunt that area and you see a hunter in a stand in the woods??? Nothing changes!!!! It is public land and you can hunt where ever you please. WE have never run into any a-holes in public land that we've been able to keep out stands....99% of the time. All stand placement means to another hunter is that someone has scouted this land and has been or is going to hunt it. If no one is there and you want to hunt it, then go ahead in hunt it!!! The hunter who's stand is out there UNDERSTANDS the laws as well.

Its nice going out into the woods in morning and night not having to hull around a stand. Yes-it does someone mark a spot in the woods but again-WE ALL, AS HUNTERS, UNDERSTAND THE LAWS OF PUBLIC HUNTING AND KNOW THAT OTHERS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO HUNT THERE!

Maybe next year we can talk about not leaving perm fish houses out on a lake too!!!LOL There is plenty of woods and plenty of lakes for us ALL!! HAVE FUN OUT THERE!!!

[winterwalleye]

I think it does'nt matter what the law is, we all run into slob hunters. We all need to get along or we'll be fighting each other and that's what all the anti's,Humane Society, and Peta want,hunters fighting hunters.

[jkjkoda]

Not good Lots of problems ahead. i could see some of the stateland with huge acreage but not the smaller ones.