well went out scouting this morning in chasawiska (HOT HOT HOT)after some google scout. and saw 7 deer, 3 bucks, a nice 8 and couple 4s to 6 and nice does. Fox and a cubby of turkey. all in all for the first time in there and all i can saw is wow. goes from thick to hard wood to scrub to swamp. it was very very cool. now for the ethics i got deep in to back of zone b and found ladder stand in a area i thught would be good, it looks to be there a while. would it be good hunting ethic to use this left stand :euro or chalk it up to a pass on by. thanks for the input now just gotta get back in there to find some good marks
be safe
If there gonna abandon a stand there I say it's a shame to let it go to waste and have used one I found there severall times, but cleaned up all the trash below it and left it better than I found it. is it right and ethical? I would definately leave without argument if the owner came along and even left a thank you note last time. they are supposed to be removed after season so I say it's fair game. just be carefull some of them have been there a long time.
Don't hunt in someone elses stand............
If it looks like it has been there for a while, how do you know it is safe? Are the straps in good condition? Is that surface rust all the way thru? Did it fill with water and freeze, where you can't see it?
What if you plan on hunting it, and the dude is sitting in the stand? What if you are sitting in the stand and the owner shows up? Both ended up in a wasted hunt, because you gotta go somewhere else in either case...
Its a pet peeve of mind. And I personally don't think stands should be left for any period of time if you are not sitting in it
Find another spot. There's plenty of room
Make a few more trips out there before the opener. See if you can find the trail that those deer use. Maybe you'll find the bedding area they are using. You might find a good spot that's away from that stand.
I've found spots where I've found old stands. I've hunted the area, but not "in" their stand. If you absolutely want to hunt that spot, you better make sure you're there first. I wouldn't sit in his stand though. I'd be in my climber.
Whatever you decide, make sure you have a backup plan.
No 1 person has the right to claim, or leave a stand for an extended period of time on public land. If you really want to hunt this spot hunt it. Just do it out of your own equipment. My motto is the first one to the location has the spot. A lot of guys leave stands in the woods, and never come back. You are out there doing your homework just as much as the next guy, and entitled to the fruits of your labor. Good luck!
