getting even with tree stand thief

[BornAgainBullseye]

I had a tree stand stolen off a tree recently and they are now using it only 100 yards from where the took it from. This is Georgia wildlife management land and they are hunting over bait.... I have contacted the DNR rangers and they are looking into the issue. I believe they will get cited for hunting over bait, but I have a feeling that my stand is a goner. So here is my solution... I have some 12 Gage perimeter alarms and was thinking of making a tube of old chicken scraps in front of the 12 Gage blank on a trip wire. I'm sure he would be really pissed and smelly to boot. Not to mention having his life flash in front of his eyes because for a few seconds he would think he was a dead man......I'm sure ill get some heat from you guys but sometimes I like to express myself with thoughts like this.

 

[Rembrandt]

If anyone is harmed after posting your intentions on the internet, you'll need a good lawyer and a healthy bank account.

 

[Flintknapper]

Agreed! ^^^^^^^

It is a patently bad idea, foolish and vindictive, not to mention it reflects badly on the rest of the hunting community.

Please reconsider....and let Law Enforcement do their job.

 

[BornAgainBullseye]

Def.. Gonna let the DNR ranger do his job! If these guys are anything like I believe they are then they may land in jail after the ranger gets them. I more than likely will be content with their fines and or hunting license being taken... Just thinking about what I could do if the "right" way fails to yeild results. That may be a little excessive now that I think about it... Mabye just the blank alarms?? Chicken scraps may be considered a dirty bomb and or a biological device.?? I'm sure all fingers would point at me because the DNR ranger is a friend of mine... May not look good for either of us...

 

[wrs840]

Is the reason you can't get the stand back is because you can't "prove" it's yours? Seems like a stamp set, a hammer, and your driver's license number stamped in an inconspicuous spot on the next one could solve that. On the other hand... ahem... *cough* *cough* maybe you've forgotten that you had done that to the stolen one. Assuming you're certain it's really yours...

Les

 

[Rembrandt]

Best way to "get even", is to capture their actions on camera and use it legally against them.

 

[BornAgainBullseye]

Yea, but with my luck they would steal the camera also. I'm just snakebit! I fed are a 8 point on the drive home! And it made me really angry that I scouted found a tree with good visability mounted the stand. Threw a burlap over it. Came back to hunt it and found it gone. Footprints lead to my stand matched ones 100 yards away of a tree with bright eye trail and a corn pile. Just so angry that ill have to start over somewhere else because if I hunt there again and we cross paths I cannot guarentee I would be nice

 

[buck460XVR]

It is a patently bad idea, foolish and vindictive, not to mention it reflects badly on the rest of the hunting community.

Please reconsider....and let Law Enforcement do their job.

I gotta agree, and I understand your frustration. But what you are threatening to do is potentially dangerous and legally may be worse than stealing a tree stand. There are all kinds of azzhats out in the deer woods......don't make yourself one of them.



Just what are the regs on using tree stands on public land in Georgia? Are you legally allowed to leave them up permanently....and if you are, wouldn't padlocking them and putting some form of identification on them be common sense?

Here in Wisconsin, on public land, all stands must be removed at the end of the day. Any stand left unattended for more than a day becomes public property and any one removing it and using it, has the legal right to do so. If left in the tree unattended during daylight hours, the name and address of the owner must be attached to the stand and must be legible from the ground or else it too is available to anyone that wants it. The only exception is the day before the opening day of the regular gun deer season. This is to keep folk from "staking out" territory or putting permanent stands in good spots just to keep others from hunting there.

 

[dacavasi]

Is there anything stopping you from simply going and repossessing it (assuming you're positive it's yours)?

 

[chevyforlife21]

why dont you just grab the stand back?

 

[DRYHUMOR]

Skunk cover scent, a lot of it.

 

[BADUNAME37]

In my state, your stand must have your name and address clearly written somewhere on the stand, if the stand is not on your own property.

 

[Art Eatman]

While the desire for getting even is quite understandable, the world we live in--called reality (or unreality, if you prefer)--has it that such booby traps are illegal, and can be held to be felonies. Next problem? Civil liability.

Guns have serial numbers, right? The number can be used to verify ownership. Same for cars, TV sets amd many other items. Recording these is considered to be a Wise Thing. There's no real excuse for not having some sort of identifier on other portable property.

 

[BornAgainBullseye]

If the DNR cannot get it back, ill just tail him to walmart or the gas station or whererver he stops and ill re take it from his truck. Ill get it back 1 way or another

 

[Sav .250]

What`s your reason for not getting your stand back??

 

[qajaq59]

Just a thought, but what if someone besides him decides to use that stand and you have set a boobie trap. Not a good idea really.

 

[SkySlash]

I second Sav .250's question.

-SS

 

[bejay]

would also take it back its only 100 yards away in fact would of did it the first day you found it was moved, if your sure its yours, if he was in it at the time I would confront him about it.
id on the stand such as name,address is always a good idea plus a cable or chain lock may also help make it a little harder to take.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I second Sav .250's question.

-SS

I third that?

You're willing to take/steal it out of a truck at wal-mart in front hundreds of potentate witnesses.

But not 100yds from it's original location all alone in the forest?

Logic FAIL


Hunter philosophy 101
If someone repossess their treestand in the forest with on one else around, was it ever stolen?

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

One element of theft is intent to deprive permanently. If it's only 100 yards away, AND if not well-hidden, the "thief" is probably just guilty of "unauthorized use of a treestand".

I too do not understand why you can't just go get it. It's not stealing if it's YOURS.

 

[rcmodel]

Booby-Trap guns, even one firing rotton chicken, are against the law anywhere in the U.S.A.

If it uses powder, and goes bang, and something flys through the air, it is a firearm in the eyes of the law.

Losing a tree-stand will be the least of your worries if someone trips it.

rc

 

[CoRoMo]

ill just tail him to walmart or the gas station or whererver he stops and ill re take it from his truck.

So you're going to break into his vehicle? Steal it out of his truck bed? Good luck with that. If someone sees you doing this, you deserve the cuffs that will be placed on your wrists.

Ill get it back 1 way or another

1 way = legally and civilly

another = forcibly and illegally



Don't do anything stupid.

 

[rondog]

I don't understand why you'd leave it in a tree to begin with.....

 

[rcmodel]

It is quite common for people to leave tree stands in trees all season.

But they must be stamped with the owners name & address, and you must be prepaired to lose one to theft occasionally. Chains & padlocks help but not if the thief has a bolt-cutter.

Here in Kansas, a tree-stand on public hunting land is fair game for anyone to use if you aren't in it when the sun comes up.

Georgia law, where the OP lives, seems to require them to be placed on public land the day prior to the hunt, and removed by noon the next day following the hunt.

rc

 

[61chalk]

Are you 100% sure it was your treestand an not one that looked just like it..seems if someone stole it, why would they put it up just 100 yds away??? Put marks or something on your next one to confirm an take DNR straight there to identify, also padlock an if you are allowed to use screw in foot pegs, take them out, at least the bottom ones until you go hunting, this helps keep others from getting up there.