By Glen Wunderlich

In 1997, the Michigan DNR changed hunting rules to allow firearm hunters to hunt from raised platforms. Since that time, the accident rate from falls has climbed and is now the leading cause of injury to hunters every year.  Not unlike people that do not wear seat belts while operating vehicles, accidental falls while hunting are largely preventable.  Whether it’s laziness, a lack of safety-related education, or the cost of safety equipment, each excuse pales in comparison to a life-threatening, paralyzing – or worse yet – a life-ending fall.  

Here are some tips.

·         If you tend to use the same tree and stand year after year and just leave it up, understand that live trees continue to grow.  As a result, fasteners, chains, and straps can become stressed, even though they may appear to be in good order.  It’s a simple and inexpensive matter to add a fresh ratchet strap or two.

·         When setting up a stand initially, it’s important to use a lineman’s belt and lifeline with a proper knot when climbing or descending.  Because most accidents occur while climbing, or stepping onto a stand, or descending, the lineman’s belt and lifeline allow a person to remain in contact with a tree at all times.  Plus, the hands-free aspect of the system facilitates stand installation and takedown safely.

·         Learning how to tie and use a Prusik knot is crucial to safety when climbing.  It is a friction hitch commonly used in rope rescue, mountaineering, climbing, canyoneering, and more. Prusik loop material should be approximately 60 percent to 80 percent of the standing (or static) line diameter. If the hitch is too small, the hitch will be tight, making it difficult to free and then move the loop. If the diameter is too large, the hitch will not tighten up enough to grip and will slip.

·         Flexibility is important. A cord that is too stiff will not allow the hitch to tighten enough to grip the standing line. In life safety applications such as rescue and belays, many authorities recommend the use of two tandem triple wrap Prusik hitches. Many authorities suggest using 8mm cord for 1/2? rope and 7mm cord for 7/16? ropes.

§  Ensure you do not exceed the stand manufacturer’s maximum height or weight settings.

§  Select a healthy, straight tree for your tree stand.  There are still some standing ash trees in the woods that may topple at any time.  Make sure to be able to identify them and avoid them.

§  Set up the stand with another person.

§  Let someone know where you are setting up your stand ahead of time.

§  Bring an emergency signal device, such as a cell phone or a whistle.

§  Use a full-body safety harness at all times, and remain connected to the tree from the time you leave the ground to the time you return to the ground.

§  Consider using a padded universal shooting rail for added safety and for a reliable shooting rest for firearms or crossbows.

§  Use a haul line to raise and lower equipment.  Never carry anything as you climb and make sure firearms are unloaded.

§  Familiarize yourself with your gear before you go.  The morning of opening day is poor time to learn.

§  Only use stands certified by the Treestand Manufacturers Association (TMA).

If any of this is too much to be concerned with, just hunt from the ground.

Earlier this week, the National Park Service (NPS) issued a final rule that will now provide archery hunters with better access to public lands that surround the National Park System.

Prior to the rule change, hunters could only transport archery equipment through National Parks if their bow or crossbow remained in a motor vehicle or other form of mechanical transport. As a result, bowhunters have been limited in their ability to cross National Parks (where hunting is generally not allowed) on foot or horseback to gain access to adjacent lands where hunting is legal – such as those managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS).

Concerns about traversing NPS lands have been particularly relevant since Congress passed the law to allow individuals to carry firearms in National Parks in 2009. While these expanded allowances gave firearm hunters the opportunity to cross NPS properties to access adjacent huntable lands, the same privileges were not afforded to bowhunters. Due to the misguided interpretation of the law, access to certain parcels of BLM, USFS and even private land was made available to one type of hunter but not another.

In a press release announcing the rule change, NPS also noted that, “Some roads maintained by the National Park Service bisect private property, making it necessary to enter park land in order to cross the street from one section of private land to another. When other means of approach are otherwise impractical or impossible, those transporting bows and crossbows across national park lands will now have equal access.”

While the rule change provides much needed relief for archery hunters, those crossing NPS lands should remember that possessing bows and crossbows on Park Service property is subject to applicable state laws and is not allowed if the individual is otherwise prohibited by law from possessing a bow or crossbow. In addition, bows and crossbows carried across National Parks may not be “ready for immediate use.”

RALEIGH, N.C. – As deer season ramps up, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission reminds hunters to follow safety guidelines when hunting from a tree stand.

“Tree stand accidents are the leading cause of injury to hunters every year,” said Chet Clark, the Commission’s eastern outreach manager. “Most of these accidents are avoidable. Always remember to wear a fall-arrest system and use it properly. Also, follow your tree stand manufacturer’s recommended safety procedures. This little bit of precaution can mean all the difference when out in the field.”

The Commission’s hunter safety education campaign, Home From the Hunt, offers these tree stand safety recommendations: Read more

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Summit Stands today released a short film about Tim Crawford, an Alabama hunter who, in 2008, fell 25 feet from a treestand as a result of not using proper safety equipment. Crawford’s story serves as a cautionary tale as America’s hunters head back to the woods this month. September also happens to be Treestand Safety Awareness Month.

“At Summit, safety has always been our number-one priority,” said Martin Hill, director of marketing at PRADCO Outdoor Brands, Summit’s parent company. “With hunting seasons opening across the country, we wanted to take this opportunity to tell Tim’s powerful story with the hope that it might resonate with hunters as they climb back into their stands this month.”

After his fall, Crawford lay paralyzed at the base of his tree for eight hours before help arrived. He was told he’d never walk again. He defied the odds, however, and has regained full mobility, but it’s not lost on him just how fortunate he is. He wants as many people as possible to hear his story so that it might save even more lives. Read more

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Tree stands get hunters out of sight and smell of wary deer, but they can also get hunters into trouble. Here are some tips from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department to help stay safe and get the most out of your tree stand hunting experience:

• Choose a live, straight tree.
• Buy smart. Only use stands certified by the Treestand Manufacturers Association (TMA).
• Inspect them each time you use them.
• Know the rules. On state lands, it is illegal to place nails or other hardware into trees or to build permanent structures. On private lands, you must have landowner permission to erect 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.
• Always wear a full-body safety harness, even for climbing. Most falls occur going up and down the tree and getting in and out of the stand.
• Don’t go too high. The higher you go, the vital zone on a deer decreases, while the likelihood of a serious injury increases.
• 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.

Read more

Plano offers a number of excellent crossbow storage and transport solutions, including the versatile BowMax® Crossbow Case, the innovative Manta® Crossbow Case, and the impressive-looking SPIRE™ Crossbow Case.

Crossbows are accurate, powerful and a lot of fun. However, they can be awkward when it comes time to store or transport them. Plano offers a number of excellent crossbow storage and transport solutions, including the versatile BowMax® Crossbow Case, the innovative Manta® Crossbow Case, and the impressive-looking SPIRE™ Crossbow Case. Read more