Right or wrong

[tom turkey 2x2]

What is right vs wrong, ethical vs unetical? I have wanted to hunt a spot on a Georgia wms for several years walked in their over the weekend (labor day weekend) found a nice metal ladder in the spot I wanted to hunt, has been their a while the camo blind material is weathered and wind torn almost off. Would I be wrong to sit their on a specialty hunt in oct. In no one is thier??? Naturally I will not go in there if so one is parked there, or I would leave it someone came in after I got thier. Would I be wrong?? Have searched the reg book and the only thing I have seen kid stands are to be removed after the hunt.. ?

 

[bassculler]

Its public. First come first served. Several years ago, i found a rather nice ladder stand on a power line on a wma near clark hill. If i didnt see a vehicle, I hunted it. Saw some deer as well.

 

[ucfireman]

Hunt it.
Hunt the area even if a truck is there, its public land.
Heck take it, it was left and abandoned. As the regs state.
I don't think I would fight someone sitting in it for the spot but public land is public land and you have the right, (right or wrong, ethically and morally) to hunt anywhere that is open on that land.

If the "owner" shows up and makes a stink, report it to the WMA manager, and have it removed.

 

[jimdickson]

If we let people claim spots with stands on WMA’s it wouldn’t be public and there wouldn’t be anywhere to hunt. Hunt it.

In fact I’ve found several permanent stands on WMA’s and NF and I plan on sticking my buddies that went to come hunting with me up in them this year.

 

[Blackston]

I like to leave em and climb near em ….. I hunted a club that was pressured more than any Wma than I’ve ever seen …. I would climb HIGH pretty close to permanent stands, deer would walk out look at stand and proceed….. it worked for me

 

[krizia829]

Hopefully Georgia public land hunters aren't like Florida's.. Over here they think they own that piece where they have a stand simply because they've hunted it for years. It can get pretty ugly.

Legally speaking, it's public land and you have every right to hunt there. If it looks abandoned and no one is there, hunt it. If the owner of the stand shows up while you're there, be honest and tell him/her that you thought it was abandoned and took advantage of the situation.

If they give you any problems, kindly apologize and keep going then just notify the game warden of the stand being there when it's not supposed to once you're gone.

We need to all play by the rules or the little bit we have left to enjoy in public land will be taken away at some point

 

[Toliver]

I think the question has thoroughly been answered. However, I would just offer that if it was abandoned, I would check it over really well to make sure it's safe to hunt out of.

 

[elfiii]

I think the question has thoroughly been answered. However, I would just offer that if it was abandoned, I would check it over really well to make sure it's safe to hunt out of.

Not being safe might be the reason it was left there.

 

[kmckinnie]

If if abandon I would leave it. Sit in it and hunt.
I have a friend in Fl that puts cheap wood ladders up for him and anyone else that gets in it.
It’s public land.
Owner say something. It is his stand. Climb down say here u go. Still hunt the area if u want. Just bring a climber.

 

[Hillbilly stalker]

It’s public land…..not a public stand. I won’t hunt another man’s stand. He took the time and physical effort to put it there…..respect that. Be a man about it. Nothing wrong whatsoever with climbing or hunting right beside it if no one’s there. He doesn’t own the land but owns the stand. If he’s running late or works/hunts odd hours, so be it. It’s still his stand. The big fad with horn hunters is to hunt late morning or middle of the day. It’s first come first serve with the area, but the stand itself is different to me. People get dropped off at places all the time to hunt,if I see someone in an area I want to hunt, I cut a wide swap away from them. If I caught someone toting my stand out of the woods because they thought it was abandoned…..we would get dirty right there. I can’t stand a thief, if you know it’s not yours, leave it alone. If a man is so righteous and law abiding, call the game warden and let him handle it, that’s legal.

 

[LONGTOM]

do you think it would ok for me to sit in your truck while u r hunting public land ? Sit under that stand, Put a stand in the next tree but do not sit in that stand without permission.

 

[DAVE]

Hunt where you want but it is bad karma and poor manners to hunt someone else's stand without their permission. Hunt right beside it but not in it. Stealing a stand because you think it abandoned is still stealing and would confirm you to be a thief.

 

[slow motion]

This one is sure going downhill fast. OP good luck with your hunt. Post up some pics.

 

[biggdogg]

I wouldn't even consider climbing in the stand, but if you're there first, there is no reason whatsoever that you can't hunt that spot. Hunt underneath the stand or the tree next to it if you want.

 

[basshappy]

Maybe the stand is a decoy, an unwanted stand placed there on purpose to keep lazy hunters in that area, while the stand owner hunts elsewhere, where the bounty is good.

Some "hunters" make mock scrapes and rubs to keep other hunters out of "their area". As Tony Montana said, "I trust no one." LOL

I would not trust the hardware to a found stand without first examining it closely.

I teach my boy anytime you find something in the woods keep walking a bit, circle back around and look around, see if you see any trail cameras set up.

 

[elfiii]

This thread reminds me why I'll never hunt public land.

 

[antharper]

This thread reminds me why I'll never hunt public land.

I love hunting public land ! And also love it when I find a stand that’s supposed to be removed after a hunt or at least after season . I wouldn’t take it but I’d sure put a new strap on it for him and hunt it . He was probably just to lazy to carry it back out

 

[livinoutdoors]

If it looks old hunt the spot. If it looks new i would, not.

Just outta politeness though.

 

[JB0704]

This thread reminds me why I'll never hunt public land.

#metoo

Folks say it’s super awesome, and they can have it.

 

[Blackston]

This thread reminds me why I'll never hunt public land.

Not even if it was all ya had to hunt ?