Permanent Stands (WMA)

[analyzer]

I'm sure this has been hashed out before, but I was having trouble finding a thread in the history section. Perhaps you can help me out.

I've hunted private land in the past, but the landowner's relatives are hunting it this year, so I've been scouting WMA's and state Forest land. The WMA I've scouted as numerous Permanent stands in place. They all look to be by the same "manufacturer" and built a number of years ago. They're all made from cut tree limbs, and strung together with string/rope, and a nail or two in the steps (if there are steps, some use sort of a walk up ramp on large tipped over tree limbs).

I know it's illegal to construct a permanent stand in a WMA, however we can bring portables in and remove them same day. My question is this, will I get tagged if I sit in one of the permanents that are already in place, and have been there, for what appears to be, years?

There are a couple of old ground blinds constructed from tree limbs, are those illegal to hunt from?

[mrklean]

tough call i would think if you show them that they are everywhere and showing the age on them you might be ok but tough call.

[motley man]

They pretty much know what stands are on WMA's from aerial photos and their knowledge of the area.

[analyzer]

They pretty much know what stands are on WMA's from aerial photos and their knowledge of the area.

I'm not asking whether the DNR is aware of them, I'm asking if I will get tagged for sitting in it?

[Cheetah]

I'm not asking whether the DNR is aware of them, I'm asking if I will get tagged for sitting in it?

Probably not.

I'd be more worried about if the stand has been maintained and if it is going to collapse under me.

[Bear55]

I don't know for sure but I think Cheetah is right, unless they catch you building it I don't think you will get in trouble. However I wouldn't trust too many old permanent stands, they tent to be death traps.

[bikeoutback]

My understanding from when I hunted state forest is they are definitely illegal to build however once built if they stand they are first come first serve basis to hunt from them. Essentially they are public and you can't claim it as "your" stand. I did use some last year that the owner walked up on me then realized I was in it and quietly moved on to another one. I talked to him at the end of the hunting day and they owned neighboring farm to the state land and had built them but had no issue with me sitting in it, he understood the rules. We scouted and found them earlier in the fall and ensured they were stable also so we knew what we were getting into for safety.

As usual someone else built it and I know for myself I'm not about to argue with someone with a loaded firearm as to whether the stand is in fact their's or not legally so I'd be prepared to walk away if a confrontation arises and then notify the CO and let them handle it.

There was a rumor last year going around also that if a CO caught you in a built stand in WMA or state land that they were going to assume you built it and ticket you based on that... I would have fought it in court though but never had any trouble. I think it was just rumor, I assume COs have better things to do than that. I'd say check it for stability and be safe.

On the ground blind you may want to consider getting something large and orange to put above you. I know man made ground blinds now have orange tops to point out their location. They worry me on public land simply cause your shooting at ground level straight and out flat. I'm not saying you would take a bad or ill advised shot but I don't know everyone out there and/or their judgement so they worry me.

[creepworm]

Once while duck hunting on a WMA I got checked by the DNR. He asked me I wasn't sitting twenty yards down in a permanent blind that someone had built. So from this encounter, one could believe that you would not get tagged for sitting in a permanent deer stand, seeing it must not be illegal to sit in a permanent duck blind.

[Jameson]

page 103 of the 2010 regs state the rules of elevated stand on WMA's. You may not occupy one.

page 112 of the 2010 regs state the rules of elevated stands on state forests.

[pureinsanity]

Email the DNR and ask. Anytime I see a permanent stand where there shouldn't be one I make it temporarily not accessible.

The easiest ones are people who lock their metal stands in a tree. I take ever last screw step starting from the top off and hiding them just behind the tree. Depending how close to my vehicle I am I will write them a note or tear the page out of my handbook and put it in a ziplock bag so they can see the regulations. I have never followed up to see if they took it down, BUT I bet it makes them think.

I don't think its that big of a deal that they are there, but the fact the rules state it shouldn't be there and they knowingly break them.

I just make it nice for them to go to there stand in the morning and no way for them to get up the tree

[Getanet]

Please realize permanent stands are, while not encouraged, are still legal in State Forests.

I think a good rule of thumb is if you want to enforce these laws, you should go become a CO. Otherwise a phone call to the CO is probably best.

[pureinsanity]

I saw the signs that stated no permanent stands right at the entrance of all of these.

[analyzer]

So if that's the best tree in the area, then I basically need to tear down the old permanent, and put up my portable on the day of. Or perhaps, I can just put my portable inside the permanent, and sit on the portable. Then technically I'm legal right?

I don't know. It all seems silly. I understand to an extent, why they have the rule, so that guys aren't trashing the woods/forest putting up dozens of permanents, but I don't see the harm in sitting in a permanent that is already there.

The St.Croix river does not allow new docks. But the existing ones are grandfathered in.

[KG243]

I have been told the best thing to do is go out there with a gps and give the coordinates to the CO so he can take all of them down. That is what I do to help them out on the WMA I hunt. I know he appreciate's it because he has thousands of acres to cover and I know where the not so bright people put up a stand and chain it every year, they must be rich because they do it year after year!

[motley man]

He may even ask you if you would tear it down. But I think they cut the trees down also.

[Lunker]

You mentioned ground blinds. I believe you can construct them from natural material that has not been cut on the WMA(so one made out of dead limbs for example would be alright).

[mrklean]

as long as you arent harming live trees is the rule i have always gone by so not cutting limbs down etc

[SartellMN]

analyzer

I was thinking exactly what you said. Bring a portable. Use the stand to climb the tree, strap it on next to the permanent and use that. You can't hunt from a permanent stand, but the regs don't say you cannot use the steps. If a CO questions you, you just say that you did not make the stand and would never dream of sitting in it for fear of collapse. So you climbed the tree and used your portable.

[Wensel]

Here's a thought, move on..... focus on a new spot, if someone else is there so be it.

I'm not condoning illegal stands but why get off your game???

If a stand is there, legal or not, its not up to me to inforce law, I'd never touch it or sit it.

Just a thought

[analyzer]

Yeah, I guess when it comes down to it, I sat in it, and it was really comfortable, and it's in a very good location, and well, it's just plain tempting. : )~

In this particular area, it was kind of funny, just about every time I found a decent spot, with some scrapes and rubs, recent droppings, food source, water source, multiple crossing trails, transitions, funnels, etc... I'd look up, and spin slowly in a circle, and whoop, there it is... a permanent. Some of them are very old though. There's even a portable, with a squirrels nest in it.