Tips – Tree stand safety

As more and more deer and bear hunters enter the woods each season, especially bow hunters, tree stand accidents are becoming more common. In the very least, you’ll be embarrassed and bruised after a fall. In the worst case scenario you’ll be killed. Many hunters have gone half way and ended up in a wheelchair for the rest of their lives.

Two years ago, I did something stupid while doing some home renovations. I broke several basic safety rules and I ended up falling close to twenty feet off a ladder. The end result was a broken hip, broken ribs and a broken collar bone. I was in the hospital for a month and then I spent five months in a wheelchair, then another five months in physiotherapy. I have completely healed, so the bottom line is that I was very, very lucky. I am a lot more careful these days. Tree stand accidents are not much different from falling twenty feet off a ladder.

Many whitetail deer hunters place their stands twenty feet up, especially if they are hunting in a busy area where the deer are spooky and always on the lookout for hunters. First things first… when you are hanging your stand make sure you do it at time when you won’t be in a hurry. In other words, hang your stand at least a few days in advance if you can. This way, you won’t be in racing the clock and you’ll have the time to play it safe. Never hang a stand in the dark and never take one down in the dark either. You just can't see well enough, even with a headlamp.

First, whether you have a climbing stand or a hanging stand, pick a safe tree. It must be big enough to hold your weight and it must not be dead or beginning to rot. When you’re securing your stand to the tree, always use your five-way harness as a safety catch in case you fall. You'll also need a simple, one piece safety strap (sort of like linemen use while working on a power pole called a lanyard) that goes around your torso and around the tree. This way, you can have both hands free while you work on anchoring your stand. Don't rely on just the waist strap... if it ever let go you'd fall right on your back. You'd likely end up in a wheelchair for life. Next, make sure that the exact spot on the tree where you hang your stand is solid and straight as can be. The last thing you want is to be leaning forward or to the right or left when sitting fifteen or twenty feet up a tree. I know it's aggravating as hell, but if your stand is not sitting quite right, take an extra five minutes and fix it. Just in case you're really green at this, use a pull cord to raise your stand up to you once you have determined the exact spot where you'll hang it. Don't try to climb the tree with your stand in your hands or on your back. Once you have the stand installed, I recommend you use an additional ratchet strap or safety strap of some sort and tie that SOB down, good! Some stands are designed so that your weight will keep the bottom part anchored (in theory anyway) to the tree and prevent it from moving around. Trust me… tie the crap out of it! If you own the style of stand that uses a chain or cable to secure the stand to the tree, also use a ratchet strap around the bottom. When I hang a stand, it’s going no-where! Some manufacturers are including these straps as part of the package.

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As far as climbing the tree goes, most times we're either getting in or getting out of the stand in the dark. Even with a headlamp, this can be a little tough on the nerves. If you are using branches and or a combination of branches and tree steps, for example, it might be hard in the darkness to "remember" which branches to step on. So, take a little bit of bright orange paint and put a dab on the top of the branches you are supposed to step on. And, cut away any small, weaker branches that you could accidentally step on. I fell once, but only three feet to the ground, luckily. I stepped on the wrong branch and it broke. Oooops! Getting in your stand is simple, if you do so slowly and you are organized. Always have your five way safety harness on you (and adjusted properly) before you climb up the tree. If you have the harness (or safety system of whatever type) on and adjusted, you minimize the time you’re in the stand without being secured by your harness. It should take less than 20 seconds to hook the strap to the tree. And, MAKE SURE you have the strap fed thrugh the buckle properly (as per instructions ON the strap or system) otherwise, if you fall, it'll slide through and down you go. Tuck in any loose straps when you’re climbing so they don’t get snagged on a branch or tree step.

When making the “big step,” as I call it, from the last tree step, branch or from the ladder and you make a commitment to the stand… always do so in an upright or erect position. What I mean is never kneel or climb up onto the stand. It's too easy to lose your balance or upset the stand that way. The “big step” should be a simple step over onto the MIDDLE of the platform. So, I always install a couple of tree steps (unless there are handy branches available) at head level so I can grab onto to something solid while making that first step. The VERY first thing you should do when you’re in the stand is secure your strap to the tree. Give yourself only as much slack as you require to shoot your rifle or your bow with ease. That way, if you do fall, you won’t jolt yourself into the middle of the following week. Make sure you are able to sit comfortably and also stand to stretch. Then, raise your unloaded rifle or bow by a pull cord, hang up your accessories and settle in for the hunt. Don’t ever raise arrows unless they are safely stowed in a quiver. If you ever fell on one… ouch.

Here’s a quick tip regarding raising your firearm with a pull cord. Always put something over the muzzle to prevent any debris like a small piece of leaf, tiny branch or pine needle from entering the barrel. A small piece of electrical tape is perfect and in fact, you can shoot right through it anyway. Many veteran guides get their hunters to put a piece of tape over their muzzle to prevent something from entering the barrel while they’re walking around. It keeps rain out too. As you likely know, any (even a tiny) obstruction in the barrel could easily cause the barrel to rupture when fired causing injury or even death to the shooter or bystanders. And, never raise your rifle or shotgun if the breech is open for the same reason. You don't want any crap getting in your gun, whether through the muzzle or the action.

Many hunters have fallen asleep while in their stand and ended up hanging by their harness with a load of fresh shit in their underwear… or worse. The same common sense rule applies as it does to driving your vehicle. If you’re tired, get out of the tree and go home. And, if you’re up in your stand after drinking a few beers, you are an asshole and you need a good, swift kick to the junk! One of the most common times that tree stand accidents occur is immediately after a shot. At this time, you are excited, your heart is pounding and it’s easy for some people to temporarily stop using their brain. Each time I shoot a deer or bear from my tree stand, I always wait a while. Even if I know for certain that my shot was a good one and I know the animal is dead, I still wait. I take ten or twenty minutes to calm down, relax, take a deep breath and regain my senses. In other words, I need a few minutes to calm down so I don’t become an idiot and do something stupid. If your hands and fingers are cold, warm them up before you try to climb down. Cold hands – poor grip.

Always unload your firearm (and check it again!) or bow and lower it down with the same pull cord you raised it with. Here's one more tip and this concerns gun hunters. Always use a three or four length of cord (same kind of stuff that you use to raise your gun) and attach it to a branch or even the tree itself just slightly above you. Then, attach the other end to your rifle sling at the stock end. This way, if you ever dropped your firearm, for whatever reason, it's only going to go a couple feet and it won't hit the ground. And, since the cord is attached near the stock, the muzzle will be pointing downward anyway, if it falls and not right at up you. Obviously, having a loaded gun hitting the ground could result in it actually firing... but we also don't want any damage to the gun or scope. About twenty years ago, I dropped a loaded Marlin 336 from a tree and it landed on the ground. It didn't go off, but it scared the shit out of me. And, make sure the sling is on properly so it can't slide through the swivels. The gun will fall for sure then, safety rope or not.

Concerning cold weather hunters, be extra careful on cold days when there could be ice, a little bit of snow, or even frost on your stand. The platform can be super slick and so can the seat. Once, I went to sit down and I nearly went for a header when I lost my footing. It scared the crap out of me!

If you’re new to tree stand hunting, I recommend you practice installing, entering, exiting, sitting and shooting (especially gun hunters) in your stand at a height of two or three feet above ground. This way, if you fall, you’ll only be embarrassed… or a little bruised. Have fun, but BE SAFE… there are many people who can tell you from first hand experience that falling out of a tree can be a permanent, life-altering event. And, some can't tell you anything at because they are dead.