Vandalism

sc outdoorsman · October 17, 2011, 09:53 AM

I am really peeved (can't really use the proper language to express myself) this morning. My dad and son went hunting yesterday afternoon. My son walked into to his favorite stand and found someone had loosened the wires that were holding the stand to the tiedown stakes and turned over the stand. The stand is 4'x4'x12' tall and made of pressure treated lumber so it took some effort to do it. We have had the stand in that location for about 10 years and it has never been bothered.
We hunted Friday afternoon so it was probably done Saturday. The stand can't be seen from the road so someone had to come in the area either poaching or some kids may have done it for kicks.
The site is in a fairly remote area. We are surrounded by two other hunt clubs, so I would hate to think that someone from those would have done it trying to steal the stand. We have never had trouble from them before.

I have figured out a way to keep them from tipping the stand over again short of lopping off a leg, but it makes me mad to need to go through all that trouble. I just hope the stand is still there when I go back to repair it.

graysmoke · October 17, 2011, 10:08 AM

Is the stand on Private Owned or State Owned Property?.

sc outdoorsman · October 17, 2011, 10:13 AM

Private propertythat we have had the right to hunt and have been hunting since the early 90's. If it happens again I will call the local authorities, but I am hoping this is an isolated incident since we have never had trouble before.
Here in SC you cant erect permanant stands on state land.

graysmoke · October 17, 2011, 10:30 AM

It seems it may just be some folk that were kust playing around with it, or trying to take it, but had second thoughts.
Because, If it were on State owned property, it would have been removed and gone.

Edhem · October 17, 2011, 03:34 PM

It may be "going out" of some local kids that have stolen their dads Jeep or something. Just call the police, and theyll find out what happened.
Check for some trails around too.

sc outdoorsman · October 17, 2011, 05:39 PM

Thanks for the suggestion. There are really only two ways to get to the stand and one is basically a foot path we cleared that goes to to the edge of our property that is adjoining the one of the hunt clubs. I hope nobody used this because I am going to have to assume they did it. There is no access except from their property from that direction. We are surrounded by them and they have all of the access roads gated and locked and lease about 3500 acres in that area.
The other is from a paved road and is much easier.

Like I said I am hoping this was an isolated incident I will repair the stand and make it so that it can't be tipped over without being partially destroyed. If that happens I will have enough for a case with for the local LEA to take seriously.

egor20 · October 17, 2011, 06:05 PM

If you have one or have a friend you can borrow one from, a strategically placed "Critter Cam" could help the LEO's if it happens again.

Edhem · October 17, 2011, 06:12 PM

Is it in a field or in the hills? I ask this just to get perspective how it looks alike.
It may be young vandals, id say.

sc outdoorsman · October 17, 2011, 09:02 PM

It is shaped like a slice of pie. 70 or so acres of 10 year old planted pine.
It is a thick and gnarly mass of briars and pines. The stand site is about 3 acres of 100 year old oak and elm trees that was once the homesite of the family that is gracious enough to let us hunt it. It sits like an island in athe center of a sea of brush. Deer are drawn to it like a magnet, especially when the oaks are dropping acorns. A paved road run the length the round edge of the slice the other 2 side are bordered by the hunt club I mentioned. They have 3500 acres that extends to the next paved road about a mile away.
Across the paved road we have 10 acres that is bordered by the 2nd hunt club.
The planted pine is so thick the only two possible accesss points are the 2 I mentioned earlier.

Egor that thought has crossed my mind. I really hope it doesn't get that far.

Edhem · October 17, 2011, 09:17 PM

To whom belongs those 3500 acres youre mentioned that bordering you guys?
Is it private p.?
If the damage is as large, then you definitley should call the police, then you (as a company) can put the charge to that person(s). If damage is more than 500$, i think that it would be serious felony and DA is gonna do it officially.

shortwave · October 17, 2011, 09:32 PM

Even though you are not going to call the authorities this time, I'd still take pics of the damage so if in fact it happens again you can show authorities this is the second time.

October 17, 2011, 09:53 AM	#1
sc outdoorsman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Location: Western SC Posts: 208	Vandalism I am really peeved (can't really use the proper language to express myself) this morning. My dad and son went hunting yesterday afternoon. My son walked into to his favorite stand and found someone had loosened the wires that were holding the stand to the tiedown stakes and turned over the stand. The stand is 4'x4'x12' tall and made of pressure treated lumber so it took some effort to do it. We have had the stand in that location for about 10 years and it has never been bothered. We hunted Friday afternoon so it was probably done Saturday. The stand can't be seen from the road so someone had to come in the area either poaching or some kids may have done it for kicks. The site is in a fairly remote area. We are surrounded by two other hunt clubs, so I would hate to think that someone from those would have done it trying to steal the stand. We have never had trouble from them before. I have figured out a way to keep them from tipping the stand over again short of lopping off a leg, but it makes me mad to need to go through all that trouble. I just hope the stand is still there when I go back to repair it.

October 17, 2011, 10:08 AM	#2
graysmoke Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 378	Is the stand on Private Owned or State Owned Property?. __________________ "Keep your powder dry, and eyes on the target". -R. Lee Ermey

October 17, 2011, 10:30 AM	#4
graysmoke Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 378	It seems it may just be some folk that were kust playing around with it, or trying to take it, but had second thoughts. Because, If it were on State owned property, it would have been removed and gone. __________________ "Keep your powder dry, and eyes on the target". -R. Lee Ermey

October 17, 2011, 06:05 PM	#7
egor20 Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2010 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,824	If you have one or have a friend you can borrow one from, a strategically placed "Critter Cam" could help the LEO's if it happens again. __________________ Chief stall mucker and grain chef Country don't mean dumb. Steven King. The Stand

October 17, 2011, 09:02 PM	#9
sc outdoorsman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Location: Western SC Posts: 208	It is shaped like a slice of pie. 70 or so acres of 10 year old planted pine. It is a thick and gnarly mass of briars and pines. The stand site is about 3 acres of 100 year old oak and elm trees that was once the homesite of the family that is gracious enough to let us hunt it. It sits like an island in athe center of a sea of brush. Deer are drawn to it like a magnet, especially when the oaks are dropping acorns. A paved road run the length the round edge of the slice the other 2 side are bordered by the hunt club I mentioned. They have 3500 acres that extends to the next paved road about a mile away. Across the paved road we have 10 acres that is bordered by the 2nd hunt club. The planted pine is so thick the only two possible accesss points are the 2 I mentioned earlier. Egor that thought has crossed my mind. I really hope it doesn't get that far. Last edited by sc outdoorsman; October 17, 2011 at 09:09 PM.

October 17, 2011, 10:13 AM	#3
sc outdoorsman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Location: Western SC Posts: 208	Private propertythat we have had the right to hunt and have been hunting since the early 90's. If it happens again I will call the local authorities, but I am hoping this is an isolated incident since we have never had trouble before. Here in SC you cant erect permanant stands on state land.

October 17, 2011, 03:34 PM	#5
Edhem Member Join Date: October 12, 2011 Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia Posts: 62	It may be "going out" of some local kids that have stolen their dads Jeep or something. Just call the police, and theyll find out what happened. Check for some trails around too.

October 17, 2011, 05:39 PM	#6
sc outdoorsman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Location: Western SC Posts: 208	Thanks for the suggestion. There are really only two ways to get to the stand and one is basically a foot path we cleared that goes to to the edge of our property that is adjoining the one of the hunt clubs. I hope nobody used this because I am going to have to assume they did it. There is no access except from their property from that direction. We are surrounded by them and they have all of the access roads gated and locked and lease about 3500 acres in that area. The other is from a paved road and is much easier. Like I said I am hoping this was an isolated incident I will repair the stand and make it so that it can't be tipped over without being partially destroyed. If that happens I will have enough for a case with for the local LEA to take seriously.

October 17, 2011, 06:12 PM	#8
Edhem Member Join Date: October 12, 2011 Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia Posts: 62	Is it in a field or in the hills? I ask this just to get perspective how it looks alike. It may be young vandals, id say.

October 17, 2011, 09:17 PM	#10
Edhem Member Join Date: October 12, 2011 Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia Posts: 62	To whom belongs those 3500 acres youre mentioned that bordering you guys? Is it private p.? If the damage is as large, then you definitley should call the police, then you (as a company) can put the charge to that person(s). If damage is more than 500$, i think that it would be serious felony and DA is gonna do it officially.

October 17, 2011, 09:32 PM	#11
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,970	Even though you are not going to call the authorities this time, I'd still take pics of the damage so if in fact it happens again you can show authorities this is the second time.