Tree Stand Thief

[LarryA]

My tree stand thief is back. He is driving his 4 wheeler through my property again. Usually the only time I see his tracks are when my tree stands are gone. The police nor CO will do anything eventhough I pretty much know who it is. I want to get a trail camera to get proof, but admit I am worried it will get stolen too.

Maybe, I should just go to a climbing stand! The bad side there is only a few limited trees that a climber will work on (too many limbs) on my property.

Are there any good climbing stands that I don't have to take a loan out on???

[chinook22]

Bob,
I bought a hunter's view climber from Dick's sports and I love it. The only problem I had with it is that the steel cable that runs through the plastic sheath frays and I got a deep scratch from it--nothing that a little camo duct tape couldn't solve. I paid $120 dollars--on sale. Check out their web site too...Good luck catching your trespasser...

[steve ypsi]

When I bow hunted I made my own for my property here and the U.P, I used 12 foot 2 X 4's for the legs and I used a Radial arm saw to notch some 20 inchs or there about 2 x 4 at a 20 or so degree angle for steps , notch's were about a 1/4 inch deep so I could glue and nail them in, used a 3/4 treated ply wood for the stand it self about 30 inchs by 3 feet, when this is done it weigh's about 100 pounds or so and since it couldn't be taken apart very easy no one in his right mind would steal them, made some for some friends and they never had one stolen, we took them down at the end of the season and left them by the tree until the next year. I had a aluminum ladder stand that I just used as a reference
I would guess the cost to be about $50 to $60 ea

[safetreehunt]

I don't think it's a good idea to build your own. Trust me, I've been down this road, take a look at my ankle in my avatar.

Also read this from Deer and Deer Hunting Magazine.

http://www.collect.com/interest/article.asp?t=krause&Pub=DH&id=9587

Tree Stand Safety Survey Results '99 Part 1: The Homemade Stand, If You Build it They Will Fall

You might consider one of those super strong bicycle locks for security. Go around the tree and through the stand, they are usually plastic coated so they don't make any noise.

[Swamp Monster]

Mark your stands so they can be easily identified. One of the best ways to do this is to take a piece of paper and put your name and ph # on it, place it in a baggie and rig it so you can stick it in one of the hollow ends of the steel or aluminum tubing. Rig it with fishing line so you can push it in far enough so that it's out of site (atleast with a casual glance), then use duct tape or electrical tape to tape the fishing line inside the tube so you can grab it and pull out the info. There's a real good chance the crook won't bother to look in there. If you can get a CO or other LEO on your property and show them the atv tracks (hopefully they lead to the crooks house and they can follow reasonably well) that should be enough to at least warrant some questioning and maybe a search?? I would also visibly mark the stands with name etc...NO personal info ofcourse, and photograph the stands in detail. If all the spots you photographed are destroyed by the theif, the photos will come in handy.

You can always post a nice little note on the seat of the stand that says "smile your on camera!" Maybe it will scare him off or atleast slow him down while he looks for a camera! If you put a game camera out there, you can bet he will take it if he hears it or see's the flash.

[wecker20]

Why can't the police do anything about it? Thats what they're paid to do. They should be investigating your complaint and doing something about it. We had a truck run through one of our fences, toor up a field, and damaged some trees. They took it very seriously, took photos, and started to patrol that area every night. Don't know if they ever got the guy but it was the last time it happened. If there are 4 wheeler tracks going onto your property, that alone is enough proof and they could atleast patrol the area(unless its land locked) They probably can't confront the guy w/o a warrant so proof would be needed. Set up a trail camera and make sure its hidden very well. You could have most of it covered and still be able to take pictures. I can't stand trespassers. You need to bust the dude.

[wecker20]

Swamp must have posted the same time I did. He thought a liitle more on the camera than I did. Maybe try to set up the camera on his trail so he can't hear it go off. Do the infared digital cams have a flash? If not, maybe that would be the ticket. I've seen somewhere w/ cams that don't have a flash and take pics at night but they might have a red light to take a pic at night. Like I said earlier, you gotta bust the dude....somehow. He'll keep doing it until he's fined or put in jail.

[Dawg]

The infra-red cameras are on a heat activated sensor. You'd have to get a vehicle to stop.

Spike strips? :yikes:

[Banditto]

Why bother with all the theories. You can't win against the thief as he has already figured out that you replace your stands when they are stolen.

You need to either use a climber, which you said you don't have enough big trees to do so. Or better yet take your stands down every time you use them. Get a Lone Wolf or Chippewa Wedge (which I have 2 and would sell my other 7 API's for 1 more Chippewa)

9lbs to carry, back straps, very quiet and easy to put up and take down. Either get screw in steps or a climbing stick.

[Itchin' to go]

Nothing gets my blood boiling like a tree stand thief, I've had 3 stands stolen (all in different areas) in the past few yrs.

A couple yrs. ago I bought a square link high security chain, I've tried every kind of saw and even 4 ft. bolt cutters to try to cut a link and it doesnt even touch it. I also put the lock in a corner underneath the stand to help prevent that from being cut. (the chain is from a mcmaster-carr catalog and cost about $32 for a 5' piece) I havent had any promblems since I got that.

Its not foolproof method but I think it atleast it stops joe blow thief with a hacksaw or bolt cutters from getting my stand.


Ryan

[upstraightshot]

I don,t know if you use screw in steps or strap on ones but if you do you could just take them with you when you leave---------- or maybe a big pit with sharp sticks at the bottom of the tree :yikes: ( just kidding) :yikes:

[steve ypsi]

safetreehunt
Homemade Ladder Stand Safety Factor 18 Used by 21.4 percent of Respondents Accounted for 3.9 percent of Accidents
Tree Stand Safety Survey Results '99 Part 1: The Homemade Stand, If You Build it They Will Fall
Strange, the home made ladder stand was as safe or more safe acording to the link you put in. yet they say it will fall.
I guess a poorly built ladder stand would, I used the steps notched in and glue, not thin boards nailed on the front of the 2 X 4's, some I built 10 years ago are being used yet with out a failure. I started with a aluminin ladder stand, I never felt very safe as I weighed 300 pounds with all my gear on, It was rated for that but it felt wobbly, My home made ones were rock solid

[wecker20]

I just can't see taking your stand down everytime on your own property. Sounds like a good idea and may have to do it but the trespasser still needs to be caught.

[Nimrod1]

I don,t know if you use screw in steps or strap on ones but if you do you could just take them with you when you leave---------- or maybe a big pit with sharp sticks at the bottom of the tree :yikes: ( just kidding) :yikes:
Been there, done that, didn't stop the bum. We locked the stand with cable, carried climbing sticks in and out. No way to get to the stand, can't steal it. Right? Wrong! I was mentoring my buddy who was just taking up bow hunting, so we were hunting close together, 50 yards or so. I got to hear the night he spooked off a spike, by knocking his arrow off the rest. Boy was he pumped! Next time we walk into the woods, his stand is gone! Hit him so hard he has not gone again. That was 8 years ago. I could still ring the b#*tards neck! By the way, my buddy was my 14 year old son.

[THETOOLMAN]

beat his @$$ thats what we do!! -- always seems to work.. foreget the law they are mostly scared of hunters ,they have bigger guns than they do. IF a hunter is a thief,, he may shoot if harrased by cops--- ya!! , beat his @$$ :lol:

[TrailFndr]

I have had 3 stolen on public land in the last 5 years. It really pisses ya off. I go DEEP into the woods where no-one is hardly ever seen, and still the thiefs find me. I hide my way in and out, I do everything possible, including BIG chains and high quality locks...still the tiefs get me. I won't take another stand into the woods...I'll use a climber...or stay my butt on the ground. Its not worth the money spent. I'd rather quit bow hunting, and leave the public lands to the slobs, and NO I am not saying that anyone that uses State lands are slobs...but unfortunatly too many are

[bigrackmack]

Well this is my first post but wanted to let you in on what I found to work,,,I found I ran into this problem a few years back,,,,,The cheapest way to deal with this problem is to go to Home Depot ( or local hardware ) get yourself some good size lagg screws or bolts,, If you own the property this shouldn't be a issue drill a hole in the top of your stand and one at the bottom which the screw will fit and go hang your stand back were you always had it,,,,,then run the screws into the tree (then strip them ) this way when he comes to get your stand the next time ( not unless he has a grindre with him ) this will also hold your stand from moving while your hunting,,,This should put a end to your problem......The best couple dollars you will ever spend.....Good Luck.....John

[eyemaster]

well what i did was dug a big hole on a trail 3 1/2 to 4 ft deep and maybe 3 ft wide cover it then put a 6x12 wooden plank w/ nails in it 2ft before hole . so when he hits the plank tires go flat then he hits the hole and crash. front end is screwed up hopefully you hear it and call the co or cops trespassing is a nice ticket and may give police probable cause to do a search. personaly I'd just thump him till I got my stands back . if he stole yours he might steal mine so give extra for the rest of us :bash:

[rzdrmh]

well what i did was dug a big hole on a trail 3 1/2 to 4 ft deep and maybe 3 ft wide cover it then put a 6x12 wooden plank w/ nails in it 2ft before hole . so when he hits the plank tires go flat then he hits the hole and crash. front end is screwed up hopefully you hear it and call the co or cops trespassing is a nice ticket and may give police probable cause to do a search. personaly I'd just thump him till I got my stands back . if he stole yours he might steal mine so give extra for the rest of us :bash:


if you did that, or are planning to do that, plan on trouble with the law. your property or not, you'll be prosecuted for willful and wanton misconduct.

[Banditto]

I just can't see taking your stand down everytime on your own property.

Well wait until you get ripped off a couple more times. Then you'll get wise.

Honestly I don't see why all of you guys don't get a chain-on stand that is easily removable. Even if a trepasser doesn't steal the stand you risk somebody hunting in your stand and ruining your chances of seeing a deer. So on the weekends that you wonder why your not seeing deer.... now you know.

GET RID OF PERMANENT STANDS--mods make this a sticky because this is a reoccuring thread

[PITBULL]

If you are hunting on private land that you own I would build permament stands. As far as digging a pit with spikes that will get you in trouble. Now if you catch him red handed and kick the crap out of him thats just self defense. Give him a few kicks for me. This is your property. you bought it and pay taxes on it each and every year. You should'nt have to carry out your stand and steps every time you hunt. I hope you catch this jackass and he gets what he deserves.

[LarryA]

Thanks for the ideas. Trust me this issue has been driving me nuts. I have made permanent stands, and he tears them down. I have used 1/2" airplane cable, and he cut it. I want to try the infrared game camera with a decoy stand, but the wife say's too much $$$$ to risk getting it stolen. I even had a huge very heavy two person stand for my son and I to hunt together stolen.

Things is this is a neighbor. He knows when I am home and when I am not.

I actually checked out the Chippewa stands out last night on-line. That might be an alternative.

THe police and CO absolutely refuse to do anything. Trust me, I have called both several times over this. I even tried to get a transmitter that I could hide in a decoy stand, but the tracker company wouldn't sell me one unless the local police sent a letter to them. Guess what, they won't even do that!

To say I am frustrated is an understatement. :bash:

Thanks again.

Larry A

[dongiese]

What part of the state do you live?

I would be going crazy, one stand is enough. I would buy an old stand and brake the welds or weaken it some how then repaint and hang for him to take. nails in the seat cushion or something.

[Dormin]

Years ago, I worked with a guy who ran his security cable through a garden hose. He plugged one end with silicone or sportsmans goop, then locked the tree stand and filled the hose with something nasty and plugged the other end. I suggest filling it with food color or skunk scent, he used bleach. His idea was that when the thief reached up with his bolt cutters the liquid would pour out onto him. You may still loose your stand but at least you get some revenge.

[Banditto]

Well seriously I wouldn't try to harm the perp in anyway. For all you know it's just a bunch of kids. Kids do stupid things. I know you guys are angry, hey I had it happen to me too before and I was upset enough to hurt somebody... but it just isn't worth it.

spread the word around you think you know who did it and the police are involved. Most likely it is a neighborhood kid who lives nearby and knows when your there by where you park.

[spk131]

I had a similar incident where me and my dad scoped out this land and put up two nicely placed tree stands. they were on state land but were very close to the property line and we knew the owner of the adjoining property did not like us hunting that close, even though we were facing away from his property. One day we went out there and all of our equipment was gone. This is where it get good. a few years later me and my dad purchased some property and guess who was our neighbor. he was in the middle of building a house for his family and had yet to have electricity run to his house to run the power tools and was running everything with a few thousand dollar generator. One night some one came by and stole the generator. What goes around comes around.

I had nothing to do with stealing the generator. Im a hunter not a theif.

[LarryA]

I would never do anything to harm anyone. It isn't kids. It is a grown man in his late 40's. I have followed his atv tracks right to his property on several ocassions. I have had this problem for about 8 years, and have lost 6 or 7 stands. This doesn't include at least 3 other stands that were taken from other hunters to the north of me during the same period within a 1/2 stretch.

I live in Genesee County.

[Swamp Monster]

Larry, Those Chippewa's are arguably the nicest hang on stand you can buy. And once you hang one and see just how fast and quiet they can be set up you'll be amazed. They are not cheap and I certainly would not donate one to the neighbor, but they are easy to pack in and out. I know this doesn't necessarily stop the problem, but it will keep you from donating stands.

Does this guy hunt? Is he using your stands do you think or is he stealing just to steal? I would be doing some extra scouting if it were me, but their are consequences, and two wrongs don't make a right. I doubt I would steal them back, but that info would be handy.

I would be making lots more noise with the local law enforcement. If it's citie or township or county, I would be at every meeting open to the public and voicing my concerns. Sometimes the squeeky wheel gets the grease!

[bhntr]

I cant beleive the CO or police wont do anything :rant: Thats just being lazzy. I would work my way up the chain of command untill I got someone to listen. Maybe a nice editoral in the local papper about your problem and lack of response from the CO and police would do the trick.Or the town meeting like someone else said.
I wonder if you could set up a decoy stand with sometype of permanent ink or something that could be smeared on the cables or tree steps, ect... to mark the theif. You know kinda like dye packs do to bank robbers. When he had it all over his hands and clothes it would be a little obvious. ;) Maybe you could get finger prints.
If this is the type of stuff the guy normaly does who know what else he maybe up to at other times.
I would look into a portable option like others have said until the problem is taken care of. No sense of suffering at a jerks expence.
Might invest in some cheap $20 trail timmers with the thread so you get an idea when hes comming on your property with the four wheeler. Figure out his pattern just like a deer. people tend to be more predictable. Put some empty treestand boxes out by the road for the garbage pickup to move him into action. :D If you can patteren him a video camera and a good hideout might be all you need.
Good luck and keep us posted.

[Randy Kidd]

Call your local newspaper or your local television station, Write an editorial, Instead of fooling around with your local cops, call the nearest state police post. Here is an idea that I have seen and it works great.. Take a 2 inch steel pipe about 15 or 20 feet long, Set in deep in concrete, either put a real or fake camera on top of the pole. If real put a heavy steel shield over it, Set one or better yet more of these out in the open where everybody can see them..you can pour really thin concrete down the pipe to make it impossible to bend with an ATV and chain. Lots of work but cheap to do and it works. But i would really like to catch this guy and whup up on him awhile..I think if I knew for sure it was him I would have had a talk with him by now..proof or not I think that I would have told him that if another stand goes missing his fault or not he was going to get his ***** beat..may be wrong but that's just me.