I've recently started hunting on public land been out hunting it maybe 15 times since the middle of november. Ive ran into only one hunter while being in the field and he told me there were quite a few stands that people leave up all year long which your not supposed to do but it doesn't bother me and if I wasn't worried about getting one stolen I might do the same thing. But more to the point everytime I find a area on google maps that I'd like to try in hunt I walk in to set up and someone has a ladder stand setup, I went Saturday morning walked in climbed a tree and when daylight hit I noticed a ladder stand not more than thirty yards from me that has been there a quick min have not seen anyone in this area the times that I have been out there this year. I would like to hunt that same area again but a little further from the ladder stand. I'm a little conflicted on one hand someone has setup up in a nice little area but on the other he is not hunting it that often for what I've seen and to lay claim to piece of public land is unfair to other hunters IMO. If I did leave one up all year and came in and found someone hunting the area I could only be mad at myself for not getting out there sooner or not setting up in a more secluded area as long as he or she had the respect not to hunt from the stand that I had placed. Thoughts?

I'd only hunt my own setups, but don't be surprised if it's not there the next time you go hunting. I see threads every day where someone's public land stand/feeder/camera has gotten stolen. Also I have read where the forestry service will go around after season and pick up stands that were left out after the season.

This is corp of engineer land from what I've heard if they find them they will tag them giving you a chance get it out of there before they do. From the looks of it this stand it's been there for more than just this season and secured with pretty heavy chain.

If there seems to be a gentleman's agreement with everyone seems honoring each other's stand sites, I would just go with the flow. But since it's public land, I suspect the rule is still broken quite often with people hunting other stands when the opportunity presents itself. After all, if you find someone in your stand on public land, there's nothing you can really do other than to ask them vacate it for yourself.

That's exactly the stance that I've taken with the stands that I have on public land. If someone should happen to find them, they're free to give them a shot (parden the pun). Besides, no one owns the deer on public land either.

Dan Ive only talked to one hunter he told me a story about catching a guy in his stand and not being to happy about it. I wouldn't hunt anyone elses stand just would like to hunt area that has a stand in it. I like your way of thinking though.