Fingerlakesman

Ive found that most of the time, the whole ethical and unethical argument starts when YOU posess a skill or a work ethic the other guy doesnt.

I agree with buckhunter 100%. But you know what the ranger at Sampson State Park told me? That I was being unethical to put up my portable that close to a ladder stand even if the guy was not there!! That really got me. As far as Im concerned , anybody who puts up a stand on public ground for 3 months and only hunts it a couple of times is the one being unethical. He sure as hell isnt concerned about me or anybody else but himself and thats whats hurting hunting and hunters in general. Whats so difficult about just using portables? We do it in Montezuma, and the Fingerlakes National forest, never had an issue. Personally Im not going to hunt where there is already a stand up, person in it or not. and Im sure as hell not hunting out of someone elses stand.

Thats not being realistic........ so I like this spot, no one is in the ladder stand. I put my stand up 20 yards from the ladder stand like you say.. The guy who put the ladder stand shows up a couple hours later...........If everyone was using portables, its not an issue. The johnny come lately just moves on when he sees Im hunting there. but because he has a stand already up he has claimed the whole area for himself and wants me to leave because Im violating HIS space....now we have a problem..........you see what Im saying?.

I'd call leaving a stand there from sept to january permanent for the entire season. Maybe its just me but it seems hunters have gotten alot lazier through the years, or the powers that be want to try to make things easier so people will hunt, I dont know. All I know is if there is only 1000 acres to hunt its pretty discouraging to see stands all over the place on public ground.

It just seems odd to me that the state lands wouldnt follow the same rules as federal lands, whereby you cant leave a stand overnite, or damage a tree by using screw in steps. Public land, whether it be a wildlife refuge, National forest, or State Park, is for everyone to use, not just hunters. Ive encountered non hunters hiking during hunting season on public property and most of them are very uncomfortable with us being there in the first place. I dont see how having permanent tree stands everywhere helps our image with the general public who want to use the same land.

Just went to the site, created an account with no problem at all. they already had most of my info, just had to update a few things.

Lol! no. I use portables, either climbers or hangons. I dont own a ladder stand. I believe in being a "leave no trace" hunter.

I recently hunted Sampson State Park for the first time in a bout 20 years and was amazed to see that the park allowed ladder stands to be put up and left in the park all season. There were over 50 stands set up throughout the park. I never hunted a public area where this was allowed. Personally I think this is wrong as it takes away spots from everyone else. I hunted there for 2 weeks and never saw anyone in any of the stands. I must say here I dont hunt weekends so I assume thats when the stands were being used. I asked a park official about this and he said he didnt like climbers and the stands were allowed on a first come first served basis and had to be registered with the park. He said to me that "you cant expect people to set up a stand everytime they come to hunt". Really? Ive been doing that for 40 years Ive been bowhunting. Id like to here what the rest of you guys think about this.