Cutting tree limbs on public land.

[kumma]

Can you cut tree limbs on state land when using a tree stand?

[West Side AK]

Can you cut tree limbs on state land when using a tree stand?

I wouldn't risk it. I sawed off a small branch in the manistee National forest for my climber and was issued a warning citation for defacing an oak tree w/ out permission... I still have it kicking around somewhere...

[QuakrTrakr]

I wouldn't risk it. I sawed off a small branch in the manistee National forest for my climber and was issued a warning citation for defacing an oak tree w/ out permission... I still have it kicking around somewhere...

That's bs. You should be able to hunt state land in a tree as long as you're not killing the tree or reducing the value of the timber. How many trees has anybody hunted that didn't require trimming? I'd bet 0

Boehr- What's your take on this?

[boehr]

You won't have a problem unless you are doing excessive cutting. I have never heard, not to say it never happened but, never heard of any CO being concerned about normal practices of hunting from a raised platform.

[thebellman]

I found this info out while researching the dnr websites, hope it helps!

If you hunt on public land, your tree stand must be portable and your name and address must be affixed in legible English that can be easily read from the ground. Hunting platforms cannot be affixed or attached to any tree by nails, screws or bolts; however, a "T" bolt or similar device supplied by a tree stand manufacturer can be used.

Screw-in tree steps are illegal on public lands. It is illegal to use any item that penetrates through the bark of a tree in the construction or affixing of any device to assist in climbing a tree.

Type 2 (Dead Natural Materials Ground Blind). This blind must be constructed exclusively of dead natural materials found in the area of the blind except that a hunter may add netting, cloth, plastic or other materials for concealment or protection from the weather if these materials are not permanently fasted to the blind and are removed at the end of each day’s hunt. These items can be tied to the blind but cannot be stapled, nailed, glued or fastened in any permanent manner.

Commercial Forest (CF) Information
Lands listed in this program are open to the public for hunting, trapping and fishing. The CF lands are not public lands. These lands are private lands under the control of private owners
While permission to hunt, trap or fish on CF lands is not required, we recommend you notify the landowner of your intention to do so. It is a courtesy they will appreciate, and it will contribute to your own safety.
Although the general public has a right to hunt, trap and fish on these lands, the property is privately owned and subject to normal private property rights. Unless you have permission of the property owner, the right to hunt, trap or fish on the land does not extend to associated activities such as the following:
Littering
Camping
The cutting of shooting lanes, or the cutting or destruction of brush, trees or other plants for any purpose.
The use of nails, bolts, wire, tree steps or other materials or activities which harm, lessen or destroy the value of trees.
The construction of blinds or the construction or placement of other structures, except for the gathering of dead materials found on the ground.

[Rudi's Dad]

Bellman, thanks for providing that info. I cringe every time I go to Walmart or Meijer or any store selling archery stuff and see screw in steps. They just plain ought to be outlawed.

[theredmission]

Bellman, thanks for providing that info. I cringe every time I go to Walmart or Meijer or any store selling archery stuff and see screw in steps. They just plain ought to be outlawed.

Except for the fact that people that hunt on private land can use screw in steps.

[DANIEL MARK ZAPOLSKI]

cutting live limbs in any oak can be a death sentence! any of you know what oak wilt is and how it kills off COMPLETE STANDS OF OAKS? (all types of oaks to) cutting limbs is ILLEGAL PERIOD! as for the screw in steps they're allright for hanging ladders on in the garage, nice and beefy. other than that use they should be banned and anyone caught using them (wether they put them in or not) should have to pay a hefty fine and loss of hunting privileges for 3 years. rationale: some poor slob will find those steps someday and go and use them and either fall or have one break off and kill or cripple him or her, not to mention the damage to tree harvesters and their equipment.

[QuakrTrakr]

The cutting of shooting lanes, or the cutting or destruction of brush, trees or other plants for any purpose.
The use of nails, bolts, wire, tree steps or other materials or activities which harm, lessen or destroy the value of trees.
The construction of blinds or the construction or placement of other structures, except for the gathering of dead materials found on the ground.


" which harm, lessen or destroy the value of trees"
Point made.

[QuakrTrakr]

any of you know what oak wilt is and how it kills off COMPLETE STANDS OF OAKS? .

The oaks on my property, and the other property's I hunt are all doing fine. Oaks and pines are prefered trees for treestands because of the cover they provide. I trim them as needed. I try not to go too crazy, but I've never seen a tree die, let alone a whole stand of trees from trimming limbs.

Thanks Boehr!

[notmuchtime]

but I've never seen a tree die, let alone a whole stand of trees from trimming limbs.

Thanks Boehr!
Yeah well, I've never seen a bear crap in the woods either but I've heard they do. Indescriminate pruning of trees can and do damage trees. There are certain times throughout the year when you can trim/prune trees which minimizes the threat of disease/insect damage from the wound.

[bigcountrysg]

The part of Thebellman you all are quoting is for Commercial Forest. Which is property own by a company for the purpose of lumbering.

It has nothing to do with state owned forest.

[theredmission]

Yeah well, I've never seen a bear crap in the woods either but I've heard they do.

:lol:

[uptracker]

Bellman, thanks for providing that info. I cringe every time I go to Walmart or Meijer or any store selling archery stuff and see screw in steps. They just plain ought to be outlawed.

Yeah, I love them and use them a lot on private land. Honestly, I haven't seen them in a tree on public land for a long long time. I know of one tree that still has them on public land, but they've been there since the early 90's and it's impossible to get them out....I've tried.

They don't need to be outlawed. People that use them on public land should be outlawed, that's all. If that were the case, bait being sold before Oct. 1 should be outlawed and no one should be able to buy it by the truck load....actually, there should be a law that states "one shall not buy more than one bag per day between Oct. 1 and Jan 1".

[QuakrTrakr]

Yeah, I love them and use them a lot on private land. Honestly, I haven't seen them in a tree on public land for a long long time. I know of one tree that still has them on public land, but they've been there since the early 90's and it's impossible to get them out....I've tried.

They don't need to be outlawed. People that use them on public land should be outlawed, that's all. If that were the case, bait being sold before Oct. 1 should be outlawed and no one should be able to buy it by the truck load....actually, there should be a law that states "one shall not buy more than one bag per day between Oct. 1 and Jan 1".

Some people use guns illegally too. Maybe those should be outlawed. :rolleyes:

[GVDocHoliday]

Here at the park we take it very seriously...lots of campers seem to like to cut down limbs for firewood...it's a few hundred dollar fine, same as picking a wildflower. There are two levels...civil infraction or misdemeanor. The cutting of limbs usually receives the civil infraction...cutting a full tree regardless of the DBH is a misdemeanor on the spot.

[uptracker]

Ouch! That'd hurt a good criminal record on a fella that's done nothing wrong in his 40+ years!

[kutcheykoo]

of perfect people out hunting state land. Every hunter that has walked in the woods has killed or damaged a tree. A sapling is a tree and I am sure they get stepped on, not to mention when you got smacked in the face with that tree limb while walking and broke it off. I would bet every tree stand hunter has at some time grabbed and broke off a branch that was in their way. If not then you must walk on water.

[boehr]

Here at the park we take it very seriously...lots of campers seem to like to cut down limbs for firewood...it's a few hundred dollar fine, same as picking a wildflower. There are two levels...civil infraction or misdemeanor. The cutting of limbs usually receives the civil infraction...cutting a full tree regardless of the DBH is a misdemeanor on the spot.I agree but I don't believe the discussion is about hunting at a park, state or otherwise.

[DANIEL MARK ZAPOLSKI]

maybe you haven't seen an oak die from oak wilt good for you. if you want to see a couple of oak stands that have died from it i can show you 2 up in alcona county, not to mention another stand that we have under study RIGHT NOW. AND IF FOR SOME REASON YOU DON'T BELIEVE MY CREDENTIALS maybe you can believe someone by the name of HARRY (PETE) W. SQIBB who just so happens to be doing that study. the retired leo on site (BOEHR) I'AM SURE KNOWS OF THE MAN AND HIS CREDENTIALS!
just because you don't see something doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

[kdogger]

http://forestry.msu.edu/extension/extdocs/facts21.pdf

[kdogger]

If you read the above link on the disease, you will notice that as long as you don't prune in May or June, the probablity of contracting wilt is small.

[QuakrTrakr]

http://forestry.msu.edu/extension/extdocs/facts21.pdf

That explains it. It's not in my area. Thanks for the info!! Daniel, take a look. I didn't discount your opinion, I just had never experienced it. Wow, you learn something new every day. BTW-That's kinda my motto. If I'm not learning, I'm dying.

[DANIEL MARK ZAPOLSKI]

kdogger good post for the uninformed. there are many things we as sportsmen and women can learn about the woods in which we play in. all you have to do is listen and read a little. i'am forturnatley pretty well informed when it comes to trees and their diseases and needs as i have worked for a very well known arborist in the state of michigan many years ago. when he spoke i listen and ask questions and got the straight answers. he taught me a vast amount about the trees from pruning to hydraulic injection of medicine for those diseases and lack of vitamins etc..
any how the question was is it LEGAL/ILLEGAL to cut, prune,etc. YES IT IS ILLEGAL.

[jstfish48162]

i had this same exact conversation with a CO today at a gas station.

it is ILLEGAL and if reported, you can receive a ticket.

CO's advice....don't do it and find a different tree.

i hunt exclusively on state land. if my climber can't go 20' without a branch being in the way, then i pick another tree in the immediate area.

yes, i have mangled a sapling or broke off a "slapping" branch before. but i have yet to walk on water (except ice fishing:lol:)

[QuakrTrakr]

Luckily, I mainly hunt private land. But, personally, I'd take the chance on getting the ticket. I wouldn't try to harm the tree, but I'd make it huntable. Hopefully, I'd find a reasonable CO that understands the needs of a hunter. Another example of common sense not applying to the law. :rolleyes: Thank god CO's have common sense.

[roger23]

What does the Military say don't ask don't tell;) remember all the other laws ,don't speed .don't drink and drive,on and on I guess it is all about what your wallet can stand

[Chuck]

I hunt public land allot and its not the small trimmings that bother me but I see some guys who practically clear cut the area around there stands, This ticks me off. Thankfully I dont see it allot.

One thing you can do is buy some parachute cord and use that to tie to a tree and pull it off to the side to open up a shooting lane. When you leave take the cord with you. If you tie it high in the tree the deer dont smell it. I also will bend a tree and hook it onto another tree, sometimes using a few clothes pins.

I try to disturb an area as little as possible. It just makes it to easy for others to figure where I hunt. Having said that though I have cut a few small branches here and there. Also not trimming good shooting lanes has cost me a few nice bucks. There has been a few times I have had deer 15 yards away and not able to shoot becouse of this.

[skidoomaster]

Thanks for the info Kdogger. I'm glad this topic has been discussed. I wasn't aware of the damage tree trimming could cause. Personally, I use a climber and I'm guilty of trimming a few branches here and there on the trees I'm climbing. As for the screw-in-steps, Never used them, but I can name a half-dozen people I know who do. And could show you 4 or 5 trees with step in them on public land... I'm going to email this article to a few people I know. I don't believe they are intentionally damaging the tree, I just think it's lack of knowledge...

Thanks!

[TNL]

Can you cut tree limbs on state land when using a tree stand?


No.

[QuakrTrakr]

No.


lol! Did you read any of the previous 29 posts? :lol:

[bumpbottom]

I have been pondering this over the week end and had to ask........ there seems that there are so many acts of nature that take limbs down. High winds, porcupines. These things occured long before we started to hunt in trees. Do these things also lead to oak wilt or is it just pruning?? Excuse my ignorance on the issue... serious question though.

[notmuchtime]

I have been pondering this over the week end and had to ask........ there seems that there are so many acts of nature that take limbs down. High winds, porcupines. These things occured long before we started to hunt in trees. Do these things also lead to oak wilt or is it just pruning?? Excuse my ignorance on the issue... serious question though.

Mother Nature definitely causes disease but we can minimize our spreading of diseases/destruction by being informed and practicing safe pruning methods. This just isn't gonna happen with the general hunting public. Just think of what would happen to our forests if the state allowed us to manipulate the woods for our hunting/recreational wants and needs. I would think there would be quite a bit of damage done. Frankly, I'm surprised at Boehr's answer on this question. His answers are usually "by the book" and any opinions or loose translations are usually dealt with by closing the thread.

[boehr]

Frankly, I'm surprised at Boehr's answer on this question. His answers are usually "by the book" and any opinions or loose translations are usually dealt with by closing the thread.Interesting, when I didn't give a "real" life answer because it was my duty to provide what the law was and leave out "my opinion" I was jumped on for that and now a year and a half later of being retired when I have stated I don't keep up with the laws anymore, things change and when a person doesn't deal with many laws anymore information is forgotted so I get slammed for that. When I closed threads outside the law forum I get jumped on for that.:)

Real life, disease factor might very well enter into it but I have never heard of anyone, in the fall during deer seasons getting into trouble for cutting a few limbs (as I posted, unless they went overboard) for hunting from a tree. As posted by another, that time of year cutting would be low risk for disease and that disease talked about was for oak. Please though, if anyone here has ever received a ticket for cutting some limbs for hunting from a tree during the fall for deer season, please provide the information because I would really be interested. Doubt I will ever see that post though. I sure would like to see the number of people that hunt from a tree without cutting any limbs, ever. How about those that say they don't cut limbs but get up in that tree and don't ever break (even accidently, not by nature but because you climbed up there) limbs either. Same thing might happen, broke or cut right? Maybe Michigan should just outlaw hunting from trees altogether to prevent this disease that some are concerned with.

As for the law, the intent of that law had nothing to do with the factors that surround hunting from a tree. If it was the intent, hunting from a tree with a gun would have never happened. The current bill of hunting from a tree for coyote would never even been submitted. Putting a lot of people in trees for that law intenting on stopping hunters from making a tree cablable of hunting out of.:dizzy:

[TNL]

lol! Did you read any of the previous 29 posts? :lol:

Yes. :rolleyes:





R 299.922 Unlawful acts generally.

(h) To destroy, damage, or remove trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, or
other vegetation. Except in wildlife food plots, this subdivision does not
apply to picking and removing mushrooms, berries, and edible fruits or nuts for personal use.

[QuakrTrakr]

I have never heard of anyone, in the fall during deer seasons getting into trouble for cutting a few limbs (as I posted, unless they went overboard) for hunting from a tree. As posted by another, that time of year cutting would be low risk for disease and that disease talked about was for oak. Please though, if anyone here has ever received a ticket for cutting some limbs for hunting from a tree during the fall for deer season, please provide the information because I would really be interested. Doubt I will ever see that post though. I sure would like to see the number of people that hunt from a tree without cutting any limbs, ever. How about those that say they don't cut limbs but get up in that tree and don't ever break (even accidently, not by nature but because you climbed up there) limbs either. Same thing might happen, broke or cut right? Maybe Michigan should just outlaw hunting from trees altogether to prevent this disease that some are concerned with.

As for the law, the intent of that law had nothing to do with the factors that surround hunting from a tree. If it was the intent, hunting from a tree with a gun would have never happened. The current bill of hunting from a tree for coyote would never even been submitted. Putting a lot of people in trees for that law intenting on stopping hunters from making a tree cablable of hunting out of.:dizzy:

^^^^^^^^^TNL^^^^^^^^

[boehr]

TNL...here is the complete section of law that you took that sentence from. Please read the entire section and tell me if you really think it means what you say it means. I say it is not the intent of that section to prevent trimming, cutting, pruning, whatever you want to call it, to hunters from safely using trees to hunt from.

http://www.state.mi.us/orr/emi/admincode.asp?AdminCode=Single&Admin_Num=29900921&Dpt=NR&RngHigh=

The intent of that law it to prevent forest theft, to prevent the cutting of live trees to burn for camp fires etc. To prevent people from just plain out-right intentional damage to "our" forests.

[rjg30]

We had a tornado go through our area of state land that we hunt. I spoke to the forester out of the Standish office yesterday and he told me I may not cut any downed trees and limbs to make my way in and out of the woods easier. The only exception would be on a two track. He would have to inspect it and then issue a use permit to clear the downed tree. Hope this helps

[Nick Adams]

From the 2007 Hunting guide.
Screw-in tree steps are illegal on public lands. It is illegal to use any item that penetrates through the bark of a tree in the construction or affixing of any device to assist in climbing a tree. It would be a bit of a trick to trim a branch without penetrating the bark the tree.


-na

[wally-eye]

Trimming a branch does not have anything to do with tree steps........apples and oranges.....geez guys get real...........

[boehr]

We had a tornado go through our area of state land that we hunt. I spoke to the forester out of the Standish office yesterday and he told me I may not cut any downed trees and limbs to make my way in and out of the woods easier. The only exception would be on a two track. He would have to inspect it and then issue a use permit to clear the downed tree. Hope this helpsAgain I would imagine you would be cutting more than just a few too. Also another reason might be to have a jobber come in to purchase the wood. Obviously if some trunks are cut in the wrong place that provides for less board feet that the jobber can take which results in less cost and wood for the jobber and less money to use for other management or whatever purposes for the DNR.

One must keep the topic at hand in prespective.

Can anyone imagine how hunters could hunt from a tree if the rules were enforced as some believe the law to be, no one could get into a tree. Don't let your ladder knock off or damage a piece of bark:yikes:

[MAttt]

Wow!
Another great thread that affirms to me that
"they really do walk among us".:dizzy:

My only question on this would be
"What is your favorite folding saw you use?"

Mattt

[TNL]

TNL...here is the complete section of law that you took that sentence from. Please read the entire section and tell me if you really think it means what you say it means. I say it is not the intent of that section to prevent trimming, cutting, pruning, whatever you want to call it, to hunters from safely using trees to hunt from.

http://www.state.mi.us/orr/emi/admincode.asp?AdminCode=Single&Admin_Num=29900921&Dpt=NR&RngHigh=

The intent of that law it to prevent forest theft, to prevent the cutting of live trees to burn for camp fires etc. To prevent people from just plain out-right intentional damage to "our" forests.

boehr--I see your point. Intent is more of a subjective matter and I'm glad most CO's wouldn't write a ticket for it. I'm not sure where you would draw the line. Trimming only in that particular tree, trimming branches from other trees that intfere with climbing, or cutting shooting lanes?

I can think of 2 spots on State land where someone has taken a chain saw and cut shooting lanes--1 through a swamp cutting 8" diameter cedars and the other through a pine stand--presumably to have safer shooting. If their intent was saftey, is this legal?

I was very simply trying to answer the poster's questions to the letter of the law and provide documentation. I was trying to stay away from the "Yes, but..." answer. Clearly, the law has many gray areas open to interpretation. I think this has been a good discussion with regard to the law and it's intent.

[QuakrTrakr]

TNL- You're absolutel right. It's up to the CO's interpretation of the situation. If it's with reason, I imagine he'll let it slide, bt the chainsaw thing is out of bounds!