Perms on public land

[dietdew]

sorry but I have built stands on public land and always have the notion that it isn't anymore mine then the next guys and if someone is sitting in it when I come to hunt then I keep moving. the people that would get mad at someone in a stand they built on public land can get bent for all I care. If they gave me a lot of flack I might just start ripping the stand down right in front of them to teach them a lesson. Lets let them try to knock my teeth out!! Hate those that think public is solely theirs cause they live near it. I pay taxes and the land is just as much mine as theirs!! I have never ran into this issue of people having a problem but if the stand is there don't be afraid to sit in it. If it is a stand like a ladder or portable then I won't touch it and move on. I have hunted with a party that has a bunch of permys out on public and when people go into "their" area they get mad at times and I just laugh...they always say "we have hunted here for 20+ years" and I always say "so?" Go out relax and enjoy the season!!

Out of curiosity , what do you define as "permanent" and why would you sit in some ones permanent but not in a portable ?

[Xplorer]

So here is another question. This is the first year I am on public state forest land (had private access prior but after taking a 215# 8 pointer, my friends father, brother and nephew decided that they wanted to start to hunt his 30 acres from then on, so I and my now 12 year old son were out)

Perm's are not allowed on state forest land but portables are. I started scouting this area this late summer. I have found, just in the areas I have scouted, over a dozen-15 portables that are left out year round. In talking to some of the hunters this past weekend, there is a group from the cities area (I'm in the very north end of 183) that has a shack on a couple acres next to this public tract that has left these out for @ 10 years. There is a wheeler trail that goes for close to 3 miles with stands of theirs all along it. I scouted up to the weekend before season, and never saw one ounce of activity at any of the stands. This trail runs along the back side of several private fields which obviously attract deer. Is it right for them (4-6 hunters I was told) to expect everyone else to stay out of this area the whole season? Even if all 6 are hunting, there are at least 6-9 empty stands, and my guess is there are even more than that.

I have my stand setup a ways away from this trail, but I have thursday off and am considering walking this trail to see how the snow is effecting the deer movement. When I scouted this area earlier, I literally could not find a spot to put a stand on the backside of those fields that was not within 200 yards of another porty.

[ozzie]

I define permanent as a stand that is usually wood and was built into the tree or not leaving the forest. I won't sit in ladder or climbers with the thought they just put them up but if there is sign that the stand has been placed and left out then have at it as I have thinking back sat in a ladder stand or 2 on the 3rd weekend up north when a sole is not around. I don't want to sound like a [PoorWordUsage] but I just don't get the entitlement some feel when using public land. I hunted for years a tract of land that was way deep in the woods for most to access unless trespassing but occasionally I would have a determined person trek back and we would cross paths and if they were set up I kept moving. In fact one time some one was sitting in my favorite stand I built and I had a casual conversation with him and away I went. He offered me the stand but like I told him "yeah I built it (with wood I gathered) but you got here first today so enjoy the stand and good luck!"

[Getanet]

So here is another question...

I would just put your stand where you are comfortable with. Unless it's all field with no trees in-between, I wouldn't consider 200 yards to be crowding anyone else.

I think most people assume there is going to be conflict in these situations, but most people hunting public land understand seeing other hunters and having them in your general vicinity is par for the course. Plus, there is no way 6 guys could cover 3 miles of trail.

But, one point of clarification, perms are allowed on state forest lands. They are not encouraged, but they are not illegal.

[pikestabber]

Seems unfair that the locals can build these stands and in effect "reserve" some prime areas. I didn't see anyone out there on Friday. Permanents are illegal. What should I do?

Honestly, treat them the same way you'd treat a portable or ladder stand...find a new area! Why compete in an area where there are other hunters? Why risk ruining opening day with a dispute? There are lots of public acres if you're willing to go off the beaten path. Be honest with yourself...are you mad that is was a permanent, or more mad that it was set up where YOU wanted to be? If it was a legal ladder stand put up three weeks ago, that's no less "claiming" an area than if it was a permanent--it means someone is probably going to be there. I'm not casting stones or picking a fight. I get where you're coming from and it can be frustrating. I'm just saying it's easier to move along and find your own quieter piece of real estate to hunt.

For me personally, I avoid other people's stands like the plague. I don't sit in something I didn't put up whether I am "entitled" to or not. They scouted, they put the work in to put the stand up, and that's their area--in my opinion, mind you. To each their own.

[Xplorer]

Elevated scaffolds

"Temporary tree stands are allowed in state forests, including portable and constructed stands, but marketable trees greater than 4 inches in diameter at 4 feet off the ground cannot be cut to construct an elevated hunting scaffold."

"Construction of permanent shelters is prohibited in state forests. This applies to permanent enclosed deer stands and structures associated with their use"

"Deer stands on state forest lands are considered available for public use and must remain accessible to all."

I tend to think of "perms" as having walls and not being "Temporary". These, if not removed are illegal. Direct from the DNR site, so technically a permanent stand is illegal.

The area around the private fields is thick mature woods with ravines.

I can tell you that I will be putting alot of miles on the truck next summer tho, looking for a piece of private property in 183 for Junior and I to hunt next fall.

[Getanet]

Direct from the DNR site, so technically a permanent stand is illegal.

You have to look at page 107 from the Reg Book that relates specifically to State Forest.

Something like this would be legal:

Something like this would not be legal:

[leechlake]

yes.

I built a ton of those stands in triangle shaped trees over the years. A lot of them are still just old reminders of me being 30 years younger while I sit in some type of portable close by.

[Xplorer]

The first would be legal to build, but under the law it has to be removed each year after the season. If it is left up longer than 14 days after the season is over, it is illegal (per the area CO and state law). BUT, we all know that is not the reality, that these remain pretty much forever. But it does not make them legal.

State law also says that any personal property left unattended for 14 days on state forest land is considered abandoned, but common sense tells us that (or should tell us) that we cant just take any porty stand in the woods that we find after January 15. Personally, I cant fathom leaving my portable up on public land after hunting season.

It really has been pretty interesting seeing the public land side of hunting. I've already met most of the gun season regulars on this tract, and have shared some laughs. I met a young man and his wife opening morning and he helped fill me in on where certain folks usually setup on the land close by us, which helped a ton. Also met another father and son duo who have hunted this area for 16 years, and he shared alot of info with me so that i was able to really dial in the locations of others and where their trails were, and marked up my topo maps with it so I could avoid those. With 7-8 inches of snow on the ground now, I'm really looking forward to spending the rest of the season with my son trying to get him his first deer

[ozzie]

good luck Xplorer