9 Steps to Tree-Stand Safety

Tree-stand safety should always be on the minds of hunters before they hit the woods each season. Here are some tips to help you stay safe.

Tree stands may get hunters out of sight and smell of wary deer, but they can also get hunters into trouble.

The Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation said falls from tree stands is the No. 1 cause of injury and death while deer hunting.

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 many 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.

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Here's a video on tree-stand safety released by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources:

https://youtu.be/5yqaVV0heYE

€¢ 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.