Wearing a safety harness is one of a the most important steps in treestand safety.
Submitted photo
Treestands are elevated platforms used by hunters in pursuit of game. Usually deer, but sometimes for other species. Unfortunately, hunters lose their lives or are seriously injured each year because of falls from treestands. Most of these accidents are avoidable if a few simple rules are followed.
Treestand safety is a topic I cover every year because I know first-hand the devastation a family experiences when they lose a loved to a treestand fall. After waiting beyond a reasonable amount of time for his father to show up at their predetermined meeting place after an evening hunt, a friend of mine went to find out what was taking his dad so long. Sadly, he walked up on his father deceased at the base of his tree. He was not wearing fall protection.
The Treestand Manufactures Association (TMA) supplies information to combat treestand falls. They help guide rules and regulations set by state game agencies. Here are some tips the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department put together to help hunters stay safe by avoiding unnecessary falls.
· Choose a live, straight tree. Avoid trees in decline and be sure to use a tree large enough to support the weight of hunters. Avoid ash trees that may be in decline due to emerald ash borers.
· Buy smart. Only use stands certified by the Treestand Manufacturers Association (TMA).
· Inspect treestands each time you use them. Check your treestand for wear and tear each time you go out into the woods. If you are using straps, make sure they are in good order. Don’t not use straps left up from last year.
· Always wear a safety harness in the stand. Safety harnesses have become smaller and less intrusive. Wearing one is more comfortable than expected. There is no excuse to be in a treestand without a safety harness.
· Always wear a safety harness when climbing. Most falls occur going up and down the tree and getting in and out of the stand. Make sure your safety harness is in good condition. Especially, check the straps.
· Don’t go too high. The higher you go, the smaller the vital zone on a deer becomes, while the likelihood of a serious injury increases. Climb within your personal limit.
· Never carry firearms or bows up and down trees. Always use a haul line to raise and lower all gear. Make sure your firearm is unloaded.
· Familiarize yourself with your gear before you go. The morning of opening day is a poor time to put your safety belt on for the first time.
· Be careful with long-term placement. Exposure can damage straps, ropes and attachment cords. Also, the stand’s stability can be compromised over time, as the tree grows.
“Hunter education instructors want you to be safe this coming season,” said Nicole Meier, Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s Hunter Education Program Coordinator. “Falls from tree stands are a major cause of death and serious injury to hunters, but they are preventable by always wearing a full-body harness and staying connected to the tree.”
Aside from personal safety, you must know the rules about treestand use where you are hunting. On most public lands, it is illegal to damage a tree in any way. Meaning no nails, screw-in steps or claws that rip off bark may be used. You are also not to build permanent stands on public lands. On private lands, you must have landowner permission to set up a tree stand, cut or remove trees or other plants or to cut limbs. All stands, including ground blinds, must be marked with the owner’s name and address on most public lands.
Learn more about Tree Stand Safety here: https://www.tmastands.com/safety/
See you down the trail…
Brandon Butler writes an outdoors column for The Republic. Send comments to [email protected]. For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.
