Statistics prove hunting is much safer than most recreational team or individual sports. But if you're a deer hunter — archery season opened Saturday — you face the possibility of injury and even death every time you climb into a tree stand.
And most deer hunters climb into stands.
Here then, a review of how to place and hunt from stands correctly, or at least as correctly as possible, to minimize the chance of an accident.
The tips below are taken from my experiences, with advice mixed in from other sources. The information applies both to portable and permanent stands.
1. The golden rule: Never place a stand higher than you're willing to fall. I remind myself of this every time I place a stand. Not that it makes me hunt close to the ground. But it reminds me that 5 feet is the maximum distance I want to fall. Therefore, since I typically hunt 12 or more feet in the air, I better make sure I don't fall.
2. Your stand is only as good as the tree(s) that supports it. Trees age and rot, year to year. Therefore, a good supporting tree this year might not be next year. Inspection is necessary.
3. Hunting securely from a tree stand begins with a safety harness or vest. These are worn most commonly by hunters using portable, not permanent, stands. But even permanent stands require hunters to climb up a ladder or steps. And unless you're willing to fall from, say, 10 feet while doing so, you should consider wearing a harness while going up and down. Various types over a range of prices are available, typically $125 to $200.
4. Tree stands might present their greatest danger when being hung (portables) or, in the case of permanent stands, when they are being built or placed high in a tree. This is because many hunters — even those who typically wear safety vests or harnesses while hunting — don't secure themselves at these times. Fact: One Deer & Deer Hunting magazine study found that 13 percent of hunters who fell did so while installing stands.
