Pennsylvania Game News - November 2015 - 58

area beneath the protective outer layer
of bark.
Now that doesn't mean you are limited to commercially made, portable tree
stands. Nor should it be interpreted that
commercial portables won't damage a
tree. Almost any situation can be different,
depending on your stand and the tree you
want to climb.
Another rule you can count on is you
can't cut limbs to make a spot for your
stand. You've got to work with whatever
the tree presents.
Aside from these two fairly universal
rules, all sorts of tree-stand restrictions
might apply.
The Game Commission, for example,
has enacted two fairly new restrictions
regarding tree stands on state game lands.
The newest, which took effect this year,
requires hunters to put identification tags
on stands they leave behind, particularly
ladder stands and hang-ons.
You can simply put your name and
address on the stand, or you can use your
CID number. You also can go to The Outdoor Shop on the Game Commission's
website to get a unique tree-stand number
to put on your stand.
Tree stands placed on private lands enrolled in the Game Commission's publicaccess programs also must be tagged.
Another fairly new rule regarding treestand use on state game lands stipulates
you can't leave your stands out all year
long. Stands cannot be hung earlier than
two weeks before the start of any deer
season, and they must be removed no
later than two weeks after the last deer
season closes.
Stands left in place beyond that can be
removed by land managers and wildlife
conservation officers.
58

The simplest way to ensure the security
of your tree stands is to haul them in and
out of the woods every time you hunt.
If you leave nothing out there, then
there's nothing for anyone to steal.
But if you choose to hang your tree
stands, and leave them in place for an
extended period, then theft is a real possibility whether you're hunting private or
public property. Thieves can show up anywhere at any time and take what belongs
to you. It's unfortunate. But it's a fact.
Making it difficult for others to take
your stands might help protect them.
Cable locks are simple, inexpensive
theft deterrents. Use them to secure your
stands and ladders to the trees they're in.
You can further protect a hang-on stand
by removing the lower section or two of
your ladder. Or, if you use strap-on steps,
take the lower three or four. If it's difficult
for a thief to reach your gear from the
ground, they might keep walking.
Don't place your stands in plain sight
of major trails. The more people who can
see your stand, the greater the chance of
theft. Also, don't make it easy for people
to find your stands. If you run a steady
line of surveyor's tape or reflective tacks
out to your stand, you're basically giving
anyone and everyone a roadmap right to it.
Plot your stand locations on a GPS device,
or learn how to get to them without any
markers or with very few.
Speaking of steering clear of major
paths, that's probably wise for hunting
success anyway.
Rest assured the resident deer know all
the places people frequent on public lands.
Those places typically aren't going
to be good for hunting. You need to find
holes in the human traffic for your stands.
That's where the deer will be.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - November 2015
