Hunt Safely When Using a Tree Stand

With an archery deer season that runs from September 27th through February 1, many of the hunters hoping to repeat last year’s harvest of close to 233,000 deer will be taking aim from treestands.  Now is a good time to review a few safety reminders for hunters planning to use a treestand.
•    When hunting from a tree stand only use one that has been tested and approved by the Treestand Manufacturer’s Association
•    Choose a healthy and straight tree
•    Verify that manufactured steps are in solid wood with thin bark
•    Always use a full body harness.  33% of hunters who use treestands will fall at some point in their lives
•    Single belt restraint systems are no longer approved because of the deadly circulation conditions that are created by them and because self rescue is so much more difficult
•    Attach the climber and the treestand together
•    Practice the use of the treestand and full body harness at ground level before ascending the tree
•    Treestands should not be any higher than 15 feet from the ground
•    When buying a treestand  make sure to send in the product registration information to learn about any future product recalls,
•    To learn more about tree stand safety, visit the Treestand Manufacturers Association and take a free online course at http://www.tmastands.com/
According to the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, approximately 10 hunters are killed nationally every year in falls from treestands with even more than that severely injured.  Taking a few precautions can help make sure that a successful hunt is the only excitement that happens when using a treestand.