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Treestands: The Most Dangerous Thing In The Woods
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September 15, 2009
Treestands: The Most Dangerous Thing In The Woods
By Dave Hurteau
A lot of us will be putting up treestands this month. In fact, I’ll be hanging a couple myself this afternoon. So its apropos that I should come across this headline this morning:
“Improperly Installed Treestands Leading Cause of Hunting-Related Accidents.”
It’s a good reminder to be careful. This press release from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources via Buckmasters offers some valuable tips, and for what it’s worth, here are a few things I do to make hanging a treestand as safe and simple as possible:
--I wear my safety harness while installing tree steps or climbing sticks, sliding the tether up as I go. This is something a lot of hunters do not do, and I understand why: It’s a pain in the neck. But it’s not as big a pain as falling out of the tree.
--The first thing I do is install a Prussic-knot safety line.
--I put two steps in side-by-side and stand on both when hanging the stand, for better stability.
--I temporarily rest the stand on a strap-on step while I attaching it to the tree. This way, I don’t have to hold the weight of the stand in one hand while working the tightening strap with other.
How about you? Got any tips for your fellow treestand hunters that will help keep them safe this fall?
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Comments (15)
I try to set up my stand with a nearby branch. I know that in a fall it won't help me all that much, but I know it makes me feel a lot more secure. I also prefer climbing deer stands for the security of the rail around it.
Good advice. i always wear my safety harness...got too much to live for.
I usually take my climber out there, climb up a tree (if its a straight tree) to what height i want my stand to be, and hang it easily while standing in my climber, and put the steps in as i come down the tree... I can judge pretty well where i want my steps, sometimes i have to adjust the steps on the way up them, but its much easier than tryin to do it hangin on the tree.
Definitely use the safety harness while you are climbing. I set up a stand this past weekend, a telescopic ladder. I tightened the first strap and started to work my way up. I reached up and hung the loop on the highest rung I could reach. Went up another step and somehow caught the pin that released the first ladder section. The section hit the ground with the other end of the square tube in my scrotum. Luckily, the harness kept me from hitting full force. Still tender but it could have been very ugly.
Check the condition of straps, cables, and fasteners. Check them again each time out to make sure animals or antis haven't chewed or loosened anything. Re-tighten as needed.
Double check the strap between the upper and lower sections of climbing stands.
Cut off dead limbs so you aren't tempted to grab or step on them or use them to hang a firearm or bow.
Work your way down before you get too cold and stiff.
I typically dont take down hangon stands every year if I know they are in a productive location. It may sound like overkill, but I install a new strap each year (in addition to the ones still on the tree) for my own comfort. I have one treestand that has been in the same tree for three years and now has three nylon straps as well as a chain I recently added. I figure the more the better. If one goes, I'll still have several back ups. Also, wear a harness, it just makes sense.
Great advice. Three years ago I was tightening the ratchet strap holding my tree stand and on my last tighten, the ratchet mechanism broke. The force of pulling on it was enough to throw me off the tree after it failed. I fell almost 30 feet, and by the grace of God I landed on my back, missing any big logs on the ground. Other than being sore the next day, the only "injury" was to my hand and fingers. Apparently I was grabbing tree branches on the way down in an attempt to hold on, but the friction only ended up melting the skin on my hand. Take it from me, wear your safety harness when putting up a tree stand, because even if you do everything correct, equipment can (and will) occasionally fail.
I never did any of those things over the years. We were young, foolish and luckily I never fell. We switched from screw in steps to strap on climbing sticks in 20 ft lengths and then would strap a linesmans belt around the tree while hanging stands.
A few more years have past, and now we hunt almost exclusively out of ladder stands, tripods and ground blinds.
I would imagine it will stay that way until I decide that ground blinds are the only way I can continue to hunt (or we build some fancy shooting houses).
Always wearing the harness is my best form of safety. In other areas I'm not as careful as I should be. Definitely got a lot of good advice out of the posts though. Thanks a lot folks!
My top advice is this: Politely decline the offer from your 19-year-old nephew to hang your stand for you. Especially when your nephew likes to race cars, bungee jump and sky dive.
MLH nailed it,
The biggest danger beside not wearing your harness is getting so cold you can't function properly. Your muscles will cramp and then you have no ballance or mobility. I have had to get out of the stand early several times because I knew if I waited till dark I would be so cold I wouldn't have the strength to clime down safely and I am not a week person.
If you use a climber, make sure you always tie both parts together and tie the top to the treee once you are up the tree. This way your stand won't fall out from underneath you.
Don't drink and climb.
Pull all items up with a rope.
Don't climb dead or dying trees
Don't leave stands outside year around
Don't climb too high
Never climb a tree in the dark unless you've seen it in the day
Never climb leaning trees
Tie your cargo rope to the front of your stand and not the part that bites into the tree
My experience is with climbing stands only.
1. Pick a good straight tree.
2. Don't anchor the stand on a knot scsr, knob or any irregular surface.
3. Like Hjohn429 said, strap the two sections of the stand together.
4. Lock the stand onto the tree with a strap when you get to the hunting height.
5. I always sit facing the tree because
a. it is almost impossible to fall out of the stand that way and
b. you can use the tree to brace your weapon for a shot.
I check all my stands seats, dont want to be setting down and have a seat tear or rip, old seats cam be replaced for 15.00-60.00, not that much for staying safe. I attach my lock on stands at the bottom of the tree with my safety harness on, putting my weight on the left and then the right, making sure the stand will hold up to actual shooting positions before attaching at 15-30 feet up. I print out topo maps of my hunting location and circle my stand for the day and note where my secondary may be if I change loications. If something does happen, my family knows where to look.
With tree stands I believe that hanging the tree stand can be most dangerous. That is why it is best to have help if available or at least notify someone of your location incase of accident.
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I try to set up my stand with a nearby branch. I know that in a fall it won't help me all that much, but I know it makes me feel a lot more secure. I also prefer climbing deer stands for the security of the rail around it.
I typically dont take down hangon stands every year if I know they are in a productive location. It may sound like overkill, but I install a new strap each year (in addition to the ones still on the tree) for my own comfort. I have one treestand that has been in the same tree for three years and now has three nylon straps as well as a chain I recently added. I figure the more the better. If one goes, I'll still have several back ups. Also, wear a harness, it just makes sense.
Great advice. Three years ago I was tightening the ratchet strap holding my tree stand and on my last tighten, the ratchet mechanism broke. The force of pulling on it was enough to throw me off the tree after it failed. I fell almost 30 feet, and by the grace of God I landed on my back, missing any big logs on the ground. Other than being sore the next day, the only "injury" was to my hand and fingers. Apparently I was grabbing tree branches on the way down in an attempt to hold on, but the friction only ended up melting the skin on my hand. Take it from me, wear your safety harness when putting up a tree stand, because even if you do everything correct, equipment can (and will) occasionally fail.
Good advice. i always wear my safety harness...got too much to live for.
I usually take my climber out there, climb up a tree (if its a straight tree) to what height i want my stand to be, and hang it easily while standing in my climber, and put the steps in as i come down the tree... I can judge pretty well where i want my steps, sometimes i have to adjust the steps on the way up them, but its much easier than tryin to do it hangin on the tree.
Definitely use the safety harness while you are climbing. I set up a stand this past weekend, a telescopic ladder. I tightened the first strap and started to work my way up. I reached up and hung the loop on the highest rung I could reach. Went up another step and somehow caught the pin that released the first ladder section. The section hit the ground with the other end of the square tube in my scrotum. Luckily, the harness kept me from hitting full force. Still tender but it could have been very ugly.
Check the condition of straps, cables, and fasteners. Check them again each time out to make sure animals or antis haven't chewed or loosened anything. Re-tighten as needed.
Double check the strap between the upper and lower sections of climbing stands.
Cut off dead limbs so you aren't tempted to grab or step on them or use them to hang a firearm or bow.
Work your way down before you get too cold and stiff.
I never did any of those things over the years. We were young, foolish and luckily I never fell. We switched from screw in steps to strap on climbing sticks in 20 ft lengths and then would strap a linesmans belt around the tree while hanging stands.
A few more years have past, and now we hunt almost exclusively out of ladder stands, tripods and ground blinds.
I would imagine it will stay that way until I decide that ground blinds are the only way I can continue to hunt (or we build some fancy shooting houses).
MLH nailed it,
The biggest danger beside not wearing your harness is getting so cold you can't function properly. Your muscles will cramp and then you have no ballance or mobility. I have had to get out of the stand early several times because I knew if I waited till dark I would be so cold I wouldn't have the strength to clime down safely and I am not a week person.
If you use a climber, make sure you always tie both parts together and tie the top to the treee once you are up the tree. This way your stand won't fall out from underneath you.
My experience is with climbing stands only.
1. Pick a good straight tree.
2. Don't anchor the stand on a knot scsr, knob or any irregular surface.
3. Like Hjohn429 said, strap the two sections of the stand together.
4. Lock the stand onto the tree with a strap when you get to the hunting height.
5. I always sit facing the tree because
a. it is almost impossible to fall out of the stand that way and
b. you can use the tree to brace your weapon for a shot.
Always wearing the harness is my best form of safety. In other areas I'm not as careful as I should be. Definitely got a lot of good advice out of the posts though. Thanks a lot folks!
My top advice is this: Politely decline the offer from your 19-year-old nephew to hang your stand for you. Especially when your nephew likes to race cars, bungee jump and sky dive.
Don't drink and climb.
Pull all items up with a rope.
Don't climb dead or dying trees
Don't leave stands outside year around
Don't climb too high
Never climb a tree in the dark unless you've seen it in the day
Never climb leaning trees
Tie your cargo rope to the front of your stand and not the part that bites into the tree
I check all my stands seats, dont want to be setting down and have a seat tear or rip, old seats cam be replaced for 15.00-60.00, not that much for staying safe. I attach my lock on stands at the bottom of the tree with my safety harness on, putting my weight on the left and then the right, making sure the stand will hold up to actual shooting positions before attaching at 15-30 feet up. I print out topo maps of my hunting location and circle my stand for the day and note where my secondary may be if I change loications. If something does happen, my family knows where to look.
With tree stands I believe that hanging the tree stand can be most dangerous. That is why it is best to have help if available or at least notify someone of your location incase of accident.
Post a Comment