Forest Service officials on the Finger Lakes National Forest are reminding the public that tree stands and ground blinds on the National Forest should be removed by the end of hunting season.
Forest Service personnel plan to remove, impound and dispose of tree stands or ground blinds left on the Finger Lakes National Forest again in 2024. In 2023, Forest Service personnel began the process of impounding tree stands or ground blinds left on the National Forest. Stands were tagged with a warning letter and retained for the required 90 days before heading to auction. Over 140 stands were tagged, and many were promptly removed by their owners.
“I thank all those who saw the tags and removed the stands,” says District Ranger Jodie Vanselow. “Of the 140 tagged stands, a total of 53 went to auction, while a few wooden stands still need to be removed. The auctioned stands brought in $3,319 which will be used for the 2024 Youth Fishing Derby.”
“The Forest is a heavily hunted area, with many new people discovering it every year,” says Vanselow. “Everyone with a valid New York hunting license has the privilege of hunting the National Forest. To do so only requires hunters to abide by the rules and regulations of both the State and the Forest, so please take your stands home with you.”
Per State regulations, temporary tree stands and ground blinds must be removed at the end of the hunting season. Temporary tree stands and blinds should be identified with the owner’s name and address in legible English when permitted.
