AWOL treestand

[hogpatrol]

I guess it had to happen sooner or later. Over the weekend, some thieves lifted my one of my hanging stands, ladder sticks, rope and ratchet straps. Like Nat said in another post, times have changed.

 

[hogfarmer]

I feel for you, nothing I hate worse than a thief.

 

[bowfisher]

I lost two, a few years ago...still PO's me to this day. I have fantasies about going to a garage sale and finding mine, and asking where they came from, to see what the story is. I always carry a tire iron to garage sales. A guy can dream...

 

[Rupe]

That's one of the worst violations ! Four years ago when I came home from a hunt in NY a few days before our opener in PA, I walked to a spot on my property to check my ladder stand. When I reached the oak that supported the stand, I found it gone; straps, tie downs, even a cedar bench that I had built for the stand. Still can't get over it. Some SOB came onto my property and removed my property ! It doesn't get much worse than that.

Chuck - Rupe/PA

 

[fredhorace77]

my dad was having trouble with people stealing his trail cameras, so he put one up real high in a tree back behind the one that kept getting stolen. and wouldnt u know it he caught them on that camera stealing his other camera down below. they never new it was way up there. he did turn it into the sherrifs dept. and they eventually got one of his cameras back. the thief was dumb founded when he was confronted with great detailed pics of himself trying to sneak in and out of the location with the camera in hand. this was finally a win for the good guys (us)

 

[jonbearman]

I had 2 stands and 2 sets of summit tree steps stolen. The one set was ingrown into the bark so they took an axe and chopped my aluminum steps off the tree. Real class acts.

 

[crankythunder]

I got some hunting property up north and over the years I have been hit a couple times by thieves. really makes ya feel violated too. When they broke in the cabin they caused more costs with the damage then what was there to take.

What I have learned is that it pays to furnish and equip the hunting camp at the second hand store and from garage sales. Also, the quality of the trail cams have improved greatly recently and their costs have come down too.

As such, I have stocked up on some $50.00 trail cams and posted them at various locations to keep an eye on my property. some of my criteria are that they must be powered by 8 double a batteries and accept a 8 gig card (or better). I was able to get some at Dicks for sale price of 70 bucks, minus $10.00 rebate from Wildgame, minus $10.00 Dicks sporting goods $10 buck off coupon next purchase of $50.00 or more.

Tested them out and I am really encouraged by the pictures they have taken and the low battery usage. It says that the batteries will last up to a year which is a great improvement from my old camera that used four C batteries and was dead after a month in cold weather.

Going to keep an eye on the black Friday sales and see if I can pick up a couple more.

REgards,
Cranky

 

[joshb]

That's terrible, but it happens more and more these days. Many years ago, we had problems with poachers on a large tract of land my father owned. I "posted "it for him. We finally caught one of the poachers, red handed. Turned out he was a local Game Warden. Kept saying he had permission from the owner, till my Dad showed up.

 

[Corey Schwanz]

Nothing worse than a thief! I find it hard to believe the people that do that are actual hunters/outdoorsmen of any kind. Has to be kids or people who know what they are and know they can take them to a pawn shop for a quick $50-$100. Luckily, we don't have much of that problem where we hunt.

Had one stand a long time get violated. Back when we built wooden stand into the trees and used cut off 2x4s for steps. Some neighbor kids came across the fence, tore out the steps with a crowbar and cut down our gun/bow haul rope. We confronted the parents and the kids admitted to it. First, last and only time luckily.

 

[hogfarmer]

This reminds me of a time the reverse happened to me. I was walking the fences on my place when I came to a spot near the road where the fence had been cut. After repairing it I started wondering why it had been cut. I found a faint trail going into the woods, following it I found a tree stand that had been recently built.

Needless to say I was in that stand opening day, hoping the builders would come back. They never showed up, but I sure enjoyed that stand they made for me.

 

[joshb]

Now that's a case of sweet justice, right there.

 

[Dave T]

I had a stand stolen, ties, seat, camo apron and they even unscrewed my hangers that I paid $.89 for at Lowes. Near that stand my brother had a stand that was taken down and laying beside the tree and we assumed they were going to come back later and get it. In our state (WV) where I hunt we have a lot of ride aways and gas well roads and guys run 4 wheelers along these roads and spot tree stands and if the wrong person comes by you got a problem. Overall though that's the only time we've had a problem with thieves, well except one other time someone got into our hunting cabin, but we think they were using it to take their girl friends for a good time and to drink
Dave T

 

[LHSmith]

I probably bought my first portable tree stand when they first appeared decades ago. Even back then, I thought it to be a no-brainer to secure it with lock and chain.

 

[hogpatrol]

I probably bought my first portable tree stand when they first appeared decades ago. Even back then, I thought it to be a no-brainer to secure it with lock and chain.

LH, I agree. I've got 20+ tree stands locked and scattered all over God's creation and never had an issue. My stand was within sight of my back door. Didn't think anyone would have the huevos to heist it that close so I left it unsecured. The thieves must've took it at night or when I wasn't at home. My next one will be chained for sure. Live & learn.

 

[LHSmith]

^^^ Yep, I got more than a few also. My problem is not one of thievery.......but memory

 

[hogpatrol]

^^^ Yep, I got more than a few also. My problem is not one of thievery.......but memory

Ain't that the truth? ;D