You guys need to figure that there will be a problem if you climb into some-one else stand,(even if it's right) so you get this problem resovled before the hunt, Left a note (name address phone #) on his stand telling him that you intend to use his stand if he not in it.He can then move it or pack it in the day he intends to sit in it. You also get a hold of the GW and give him a heads up that there could be a problem with people putting up stands and claiming a waterhole. Must GW would like to deal with the problems ahead of time and not during the heat of a hunt when everyone is pissed.
The guy with 13 stands I would take a hike with FS or GW during the off-season(like right now) I'm sure some-one would like to remove them or tell him(the 13 standguy) that they are and can be used by any hunter that comes across them if that is the law for that state.
I wonder How each State Handles this problem.
I thought it was first hunter in first hunter has the use of that stand no matter who it belongs too. isn't it what's in the Rules and regulations.
ME if I had a stand in place and some-one beat me to it, I would just tell the guy to please come down because I was moving it(right now) so please get out and I would then take the stand down and move it somewhere else down the trail.
Ownership how do you mark you stand with a magic marker, a weld on tab, painted on name, I'm just saying how do you prove it your's, a piece of paper in a baggie blows away then what, Now it could be anybody stand.
As far as guides and stands I agree that if you set 30 stands up some of them will have people in them come opening day, and if it legal for you to set in said stand you need to hold your ground, get his name, guide number,hunters name,take a picture if you can, alot of hollering and chest pounding stops as it being record plus it shows who is right and who isn't.
So now is the time to resolve some of these problems.
"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".