THE HUNTERS STORY
Missouri Sportsmen's Information Network
Tree Stands Top The List
Of Deer Hunting Hazards
| The leading cause of injuries sustained by
deer hunters is falling from a tree stand. Wearing a snug-fitting safety
harness prevents hunters from falling. Wearing a safety harness is
the best protection against falls. |
MDC photo
|
JEFFERSON CITY -- While no deer hunter would go afield with a firearm
or bow that he or she had not tested for safety, a surprisingly large number
of hunters never check the safety of the elevated tree stands from which
they hunt. Failure to check or properly use tree stands can cause accidents
with injuries ranging from minor scrapes and bruises to paralysis and death.
A recent study conducted by the International Hunter Education Association
found that 7 percent of the hunters using elevated tree stands had experienced
an accident in the past 10 years. Twenty-two percent of the accident victims
required medical treatment. A 1993 survey conducted by Deer and Deer Hunting
magazine found that more than a third of tree stand hunters will at some
time fall from a stand, and that about 3 percent of them will suffer crippling
injuries. Both surveys found the majority of falls occurred when hunters
were maneuvering in or out of a stand.
Tree stand accidents are not inevitable, according to Missouri Department
of Conservation Protection Programs Supervisor Bob Staton.
"Improper installation and use of tree stands and safety belts are
among the major causes of tree stand accidents, said Staton. "If you're
using a permanent stand, make it a part of your pre-season scouting to
check the stand and the steps that lead up to it. Also practice using your
safety equipment in conditions similar to what you'll experience during
the hunting season."
Following the safety rules below can reduce a hunter's risks of serious
injury or death from a tree stand accident.
--Use only equipment that has been certified as safe by the Treestand
Manufacturers Association. Certification is given only to stands that have
been tested by independent labs and found to be structurally sound.
--Inspect your stand before each use. On portable stands, look for
loose bolts or nuts, slick gripping surfaces, cracked or bent metal and
worn chains, cables or straps. Check permanent stands for loose steps,
rotten wood and exposed nails or screws.
--Follow the manufacturer's instructions for installing and using
your stand.
--Practice setting up the stand at ground level until you are skilled
at using it. Also practice during low-light conditions similar to those
you'll experience during the early morning hours of the hunting.
--Choose the location of your stand carefully. Avoid trees that
are leaning, dead or dying, have excessive leaves, vines, icy, wet or loose
bark, or other features that will prevent proper use of your stand.
--Always wear a safety harness while climbing up to or down from
a stand and while on the stand. Choose a harness that distributes your
weight around your torso. Single-strap belts can cause internal injury
by tightening with sudden or jerking movements by the wearer. Furthermore,
the pressure from a single strap on the abdomen or chest can cause rapid
loss of consciousness or internal injuries.
--Keep yourself on a short leash. A foot or two of slack in your
tether is plenty. The wrenching stop that occurs when a hunter falls as
little as three feet before reaching the end of a safety strap can break
bones or cause internal injury. Some harnesses have devices that slow the
wearer's fall gradually, reducing the chance of injury.
--Leave your belts on when stepping onto a tree stand. Hold on to
the tree trunk while slowly transferring your weight to the stand. Then
bounce lightly up and down to check for secure mounting.
--Always use a safety chain with portable stands.
--Never carry a bow, arrow or other gear while climbing. Use a rope
to haul these items into the stand after you are securely positioned. Putting
a piece of tape over the muzzle of your firearm can help prevent dirt or
other materials from plugging the barrel.
--Don't leave equipment on the ground directly under you while climbing
up or down. You could fall on an arrow or other item, worsening your injuries.
--Never hunt without telling someone where you will hunt and when
you will return.
--Carry survival gear, including food, water, a whistle or air horn
to signal for help, a blanket and matches. Some hunter even carry walkie-talkies
or emergency strobe lights to summon help.
Hunters should review local regulations before installing tree stands
on public lands. Use of portable stands is allowed on Conservation lands
between September 15 and Jan. 31. The stand must be identified with the
full name and address of the owner and must be removed by Feb. 1 following
the hunting season. Use of nails or any material that would damage the
tree is prohibited.
- Arleasha Mays -
Conditioning Yourself For
The Fall Hunting Season
Shaping up before
hunting season offers a variety of benefits, from reduced risk of injuries
to improved chances of taking game. Injuries related to being out
of shape probably are the most under-reported hunting accidents. Last year,
the Missouri Department of Conservation recorded six firearms-related accidents
during the November firearms deer season. Considering that the Conservation
Department sells about half a million firearms deer hunting permits each
year, this represents a relatively small risk to hunters. Much greater
is the risk of an injury resulting from poor physical conditioning. Injuries
related to being out of shape probably are the most under-reported hunting
accidents.
The Conservation
Department only records hunting accidents involving firearms, so Staton
has no statistics about other types of accidents. However, he said he hears
stories every year about hunters who have heart attacks while dragging
deer out of the woods. More common are reports of back and joint injuries
that occur when once-a-year hunters push themselves to the limits of their
endurance.
It stands to reason
that these kinds of injuries would outnumber all others. Hiking up steep
hills with heavy backpacks, loading and unloading camping gear, hanging
tree stands and other outdoor activities can be extremely strenuous. Launching
into them without some physical training is like running a marathon without
any preparation.At the very least, out-of-shape outdoors people are likely
to find themselves seriously fatigued, with blistered feet and unable to
enjoy their time outdoors to the fullest. Many a hunter has discovered
that aiming a rifle effectively at a deer is impossible while panting for
air and trying to calm a racing pulse. At worst, being out of shape can
contribute to falls, broken bones and other serious problems.
If you are worried
about your ability to take on challenging activities, start with a visit
to your doctor. Ask for the same kind of check-over your mechanic gives
your automobile before an extended trip. Physicians can point out potential
trouble spots and help you prepare for them.
It's best to start
conditioning six to eight weeks before anticipated outdoor activities,
but don't neglect training just because it's late. Even a few days or weeks
of exercise can help ward off the fatigue, blisters, aches and pains that
can ruin a trip.
Tailor your conditioning
to the activities you plan. You use different muscles when going up and
down steep hills than you do on flat terrain. Day-hikers can build stamina
with daily runs or treadmill workouts. If you plan to hike in rugged terrain,
choose hilly areas for training or use step aerobics exercises to prepare
properly.
Is backpacking
in your future? Then you will need to carry a loaded pack during training
sessions to ensure that your back and shoulders are as ready as your legs.
This is also the time to break in boots. Starting a trip with new footwear
is inviting blisters or more serious foot problems. Oiling or moistening
boots with water before workouts to soften the leather can speed up the
breaking-in process.
Look for opportunities
for workouts throughout the day. If you have to take a file from the first
to the third floor of your office, use the stairs. Use lunch hours to walk,
run or hit the gym. Instead of walking the dog, give him - and yourself
- a run. Now also might be a good time to tackle those physically taxing
home repair and landscaping projects you've been putting off.
Whenever possible,
perform your workouts in the footwear you will be using outdoors. You may
think you are in terrific shape when training in featherweight running
shoes, only to discover that the dynamics of performing in heavy hiking
boots is completely different.
You may not realize
how much you are accomplishing until you are afield and notice how much
trouble less-fit friends have keeping up. That's the payoff for pre-season
preparation.
- Jim Low -
TESTIMONIALS FROM FELLOW
HUNTERS
If you don’t believe me, or you think I am preaching, these
thoughts come from the message boards of United Sportsmen of America, National
Wild Turkey Federation, Bill Jordan’s Realtree, and the Missouri Department
of Conservation
MISSOURI
Horntagger
- let me know if you want to use my story. I guess guys don't want to tell
about how careless or stupid they were and then for someone else to talk
about them. I get your point... it may help someone out in the future.
:)
Just
a safety tip for you here.
Only
by the grace of god I didn't. Here's the story in Readers Digest form.
Iowa O' dark thirty bow hunting. I was standing on the top rung of my new
stick ladder ready to step DOWN to my stand. Normally I would be stepping
up but couldn't seat the stand properly higher in the tree. I had just
moved one foot off the ladder towards the stand when my other foot slipped
on the frosty rung. I completely lost it and started to fall. Luckily I
fell towards my stand and when I hit it was able to grab the seat and wrap
one leg around the stand and pull myself up.
Here's
the tip I have. After I finished hunting that morning I went straight to
town and got a roll of industrial strength non-slip tape and went back
and put it on every step of the ladder.
You know what the scary part is?? That I was hunting
by myself and not even my wife knew exactly where. Not even which farm
I was going to.
Hope
this helps.:)
MISSOURI
horntagger,
I fell from a stand built in the tree in 1991. It was in September, I was
making repairs to the stand so my wife could hunt from it during deer season.
I was about 5 ft. off the ground when one of the steps broke loose from
the tree. I think the nails had rusted thru. I ended up breaking my right
arm at the elbow. Took 8 weeks to heal up. That was the last time either
of us used a stand built in the tree. We now use climbers and ladder type
stands, and I never climb up or down without a safety belt, if I forget
the belt I hunt off the ground. We have safety belts in every ladder stand
so as not to forget them. Don’t know if this will be helpful or not but
thought I would tell you about it anyway.
MISSOURI
horntagger, I fell once, about 25 years ago, while
climbing into a cedar tree. I had a string in my mouth that was attached
to my portable that I was going to pull up, and after I'd gotten up a ways
I slipped and started falling. The good part is that cedars have so many
limbs that after bouncing off a few I was able to grab on and stop my rapid
descent. I then climbed down and moved on to a better tree where I used
my screw-in steps.
I've had close calls a few other times, and then got a climber,
which I found to be easier and safer. My back is bad enough now that I
can't carry much, so I sold it and bought a Summit Trophy Seat, which I
just walk up to a tree and strap it on. Works for me.
WEST VIRGINIA
horntagger, Yes and it was my stupidity, It was
several years ago and my son was very young around 9 or 10, I had a permanent
stand built on some private land, I had this stand built in a perfect area
in a crab apple thicket in three poplar trees that had grown up together
with wooden steps going up in it, well I had some problems with some hunters
sneaking in my stand and hunting it so I tore out the steps and carried
in screw in pegs when I hunted there I hunted there several times during
the season with good results but noticed the stand needed some work so
the following summer my son and I went to do some repairs and I carried
my pegs and some nails and a few boards and went to work......I was climbing
the tree putting the screw in pegs in and was about 10 ft high when I was
trying to start a peg and saw a hole that I used last season, well dummy
me put the peg in and made my step the peg pulled out and I lost my footing
and fell hitting a peg and ripped into my side and chest, my son was really
tore up crying and trying to talk to me as I was on the ground trying to
get my breath and check myself to see if I gutted myself.....well with
a lot of luck and the good lord looking out after me I had a small gash
on my side and a small cut on my chest and bruised up but other than that
I was OK just feel a little dumb after what happened, I never repeat NEVER
hunt out of that type of stand and NEVER leave the ground without a safety
belt.......and if you ever use screw in pegs to get in a stand and take
them out to keep people out of your stand please don't use the same holes
because you could end up like I did injured or worse.
NORTH DAKOTA
My only close call came when using screw in steps
as well. I was only about 5 feet up when a screw in step (freshly installed)
let loose, and the only thing I got out of the deal was a twisted ankle.
But I lost complete faith in those screw-ins since then, and I'll only
use climbing sticks now.
IOWA
I fell once but I was only about 8 foot up when
I fell and I landed on my feet. It was the first year I bow hunted and
thought I could climb any tree that looked good. Well I found a good looking
spot and started to climb the branches to get up it. I wasn’t using a rope
to pull my bow up and only had one hand to climb with. I stopped to adjust
my bow and had both feet on the same branch, which snapped, and down I
went. I guessed if I had to tell people something it would be to use a
rope, situate a stand ahead of time and always, I mean always keep both
hands and feet on the tree. Don't let go for a second cause that’s all
it takes to fall.
WEST VIRGINIA
Horntagger, yes I have fallen. My story goes like
this. I had built a wooden stand about 25 ft off the ground, but it was
really visible. So about a week after I had built it, I went back to camouflage
it. As I was climbing up the steps, and reached the top step, I was setting
my equipment on the platform and lost my grip I fell backwards, but I had
use to install T.V. cable and I knew that when I hit the ground, that I
had to roll. I did this, but I had hit the ground so hard, that I was numb
from the waist down. All I could think of was that I was out here in the
woods, and I hadn't told anyone where I was going. Big mistake! Finally
about 1/2 hr later I got the feeling back in my legs and I was able to
make it home. Later that night after I had gone to bed and was asleep for
a few hours, I awoke out of a dead sleep and I was not able to breathe.
Finally after about one hour of this I drove myself to the hospital and
they put me on some IVs. After they had run some tests they told me that
I had jarred a kidney stone loose and I would have to pass it. The next
six hours were unbearable, but it finally passed. Thank God! I am just
glad that it didn't turn out to be any worse than that. If you want to
use this be my guest, as long as someone else may learn something and maybe
save a live.
IOWA
horntagger , this is a good time for me to come
clean. I fell 1 time from about 15 feet. I made a homemade stand and was
sure that it was well constructed. I welded it myself and copied it from
another stand. I hunted out of it for 1 season and it worked very well.
The second season about half way through it I was climbing into
it and while putting my safety belt on when 1 of the welds gave way. I
found myself falling backwards and some how managed to turn on my right
side.
I then landed on a flexible tree limb and it catapulted me into the
air about 15 ft away from the tree. Thank goodness that there was 10 inches
of snow on the ground because I landed face first. I laid there for a few
seconds and making sure that I was ok.
Luckily I was ok but with a few sore ribs. If I hadn’t hit that limb
I would have landed on a barbed wire fence or maybe the fence post! I have
always bought commercial stands after that and I attach my safety belt
before I get onto my stand now. This is why I have a bad taste in my mouth
for people building their own stands. Please be safe.
WISCONSIN
It was a late December day between X-mas and the
new year and I was hunting in Adams county and I was trying out a new ladder
stand that I had bought when I saw a couple of does working the oak ridge
to my left, I stood up and the ladder bucked where I had made some extensions
for it, I wanted to be higher than 10 feet this was my fault since I had
no stabilizer bar from the ladder to the tree and I was not wearing a safety
belt even with snow on the ground a fall from 25 feet did not feel the
best it took several minutes to get my wind back and to thank god the worst
did not happen, and now I will not alter any tree stand and always wear
my safety belt, once was enough for me.
MISSISSIPPI
YES, I BUSTED MY FANNY LAST YEAR ABOUT SEVEN FEET OFF
THE GROUND. HERES WHAT HAPPENED. I HAD ONE OF THE FIRST OL' MAN TREE STANDS
MADE THAT WAS ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD. IF YOUR FAMILIAR WITH THIS STAND IT IS
A GREAT STAND. WELL THE FIRST OL' MAN'S THEY MADE USED THREADED BOLTS TO
HOLD THE CABLE ON THE FIXED END OF THE CABLE. WELL I DON'T BELIEVE IN LEAVING
A STAND OUT IN THE WEATHER THAT'S ASKING FOR TROUBLE. OVER THE YEARS OF
USE, THE THREADS OF THE BOLT CUT THROUGH THE CABLE. I HAD JUST CLIMBED
DOWN FROM ABOUT 40 FT. UP. I WAS SEVEN FEET OR SO OFF THE GROUND WHEN IT
BROKE. I WAS ABOUT TO GET OUT OF THE STAND SO I SAT DOWN ON THE FRONT BAR
OF THE STAND FACING THE TREE. THE CABLE BROKE AND I WENT BACKWARDS AND
DOWN ABOUT SEVEN FEET. NOT A GOOD DAY IN THE WOODS. TORE MY NEW COVERALLS
AND CUT MY LEG. I WAS LUCKY I DIDN'T BREAK MY NECK SINCE THAT IS WHAT HIT
FIRST.
I TOOK THE STAND TO THE OL'MAN PLANT IN HATTIESBURG MISSISSIPPI AND SHOWED
IT TO THEM. THEY ASKED ME IF I WAS ALL RIGHT AND WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT
I GAVE THE STAND OVER THE YEARS. WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT THE BOLT
CUT THE CABLE THEY STOPPED PRODUCTION OF THE STANDS UNTIL THEY GOT NEW
BOLTS THAT WOULD NOT EXPOSE THE CABLES TO THREADS. THEY TOLD ME I WAS THE
FIRST TO BRING IN A STAND THAT THE CABLES BROKE ON. WELL, THEY GAVE ME
A NEW STAND AND I BOUGHT ANOTHER WHILE I WAS THERE. THOSE PEOPLE AT OL'MAN
TREESTAND ARE GOOD CHRISTIAN PEOPLE. I MET THE OWNER 10 YEARS AGO AND SHOT
IN A TOURNAMENT WITH HIM BACK THEN. WELL HIS EMPLOYEES ARE JUST AS GOOD
A PEOPLE THAT HE IS. I HAVE NO REASON TO BLAME THEM FOR THE ACCIDENT I
HAD. ANY HUNTER SHOULD CHECK HIS STAND BEFORE EACH SEASON. I ASSUMED THAT
THE FIXED END OF THE CABLE WOULD BE JUST AS GOOD AS THE LOOSE END SO I
NEVER CHECKED IT. YEARS OF GETTING CAUGHT IN THE RAIN AND COLD AND STORAGE
TOOK Its TOLL ON THAT BOLT AND CABLE. MY FAULT FOR NOT CHECKING IT MYSELF.
SO THE GOOD LORD DOES LOOK OUT FOR OLD FOOLS AND DRUNKS.
CHECK YOUR STAND WELL!!!! I WAS LUCKY, DON'T BE A FOOL.
KENTUCKY
I fell while standing on a limb from about 7 ft.
I was putting a loc-on stand on and needed to break a limb out. I thought
I'd stand on a limb instead of my screw in tree steps for better leverage
and the limb I was standing on snapped and broke. I was OK but might not
have been. That was 6 years ago and I haven't done it again. Strictly climbers
for me now!
Hey Horn anything for a fellow board member! I live
in KY and my dad once fell asleep in his stand 30 ft. and had on only the
old style safety belt. He's a big guy and it broke! Now we both wear harness
belts! Dad lives in WV
MISSOURI
Yes, I have fallen and was extremely lucky. I was
climbing into a homemade (yes, I know... but I did buy a brand new ladder
stand yesterday!) tree stand that had been in the tree year round for about
3 years. No climbing harness, either (I know, I know!). Just as I stepped
onto the platform, it broke completely apart. I just happened to be holding
a branch with my left hand and was able to hang on long enough to get my
feet onto another branch. Went ahead and pulled my bow up (at least I wasn't
carrying my bow, too!!!) and hunted from the limb.
MISSOURI
I had just moved my tree stand to a new tree in
the creek bottom that I hunt and have hunted for 8 yrs. now, the tree stand
was a lock-on with the T-screw that goes in and the stand has a notch that
slides over it. Well I got it all set up and decided to hunt it the next
morning, the next morning there was a heavy frost on and I climbed into
my tree and was beginning to attach my safety belt to the tree in preparation
for sitting down. I was facing the tree and just started to reach around
and grab my belt when the stand shifted HARD to the left and dumped me
right out into open air, I hit 3 branches on the way down, broke 3 ribs,
dislocated my right shoulder and a mild concussion from the egg sized knot
on my head. Luckily for me my hunting partner was close enough to hear
my calls for him and came and helped me back to the truck and to the local
ER where I was treated and released, with no permanent injury. The moral
here is if you use a lock-on or any tree stand make double sure that it
is LOCKED ON! I am lucky to be alive and walking but have never and will
never forget the day my stand dumped me out. WEAR YOUR SAFETY BELT AT ALL
TIMES!
OHIO
My dad and I were putting up a stand and I was putting
in steps. I put one in that was slightly slanted downward, only slightly.
The next day we came back to finish putting the stand in and it was muddy.
He got up to the stand ok and I came up to hand him some tools. As soon
as I put my foot on that step my boots were to slick and I slid right off.
Luckily I was only about 7 feet high and the stand was about 12-15 feet
high. When I fell I caught my stomach on a step. After I hit the step it
spun me around and I fell on my stomach. I got up and thought that I was
all right cause my ankle only hurt a little bit and I was able to stand.
My dad kept on asking me if I was alright cause he was worried out of his
mind and then he told me to check my stomach and there was blood where
I got caught on the step. Luckily it was a wide step or it probably would
have gutted me however a lot of the wide steps like the ones I were using
don’t have any traction to them. I went to the doctors to make sure I didn’t
hurt any organs and it turned out I was fine. Now I have a 2X4 inch scar
to remind me that safety comes first!
Springfield Missouri
This story could be of use to fellow tree stand hunters who use Lineman
Climbers. Climbers are a great tool for hunting new areas. They allow you
to move your stand quickly, as well as you don’t have to worry about someone
using or taking your stand.
Back in November of 1999, I was afternoon bow hunting from one of my
stands and started to loose my shooting light. I lowered my bow and pack
down with a rope, preparing to climb down the tree. I usually step off
the stand, then re-attach my safety strap to a lower limb, moving the strap
as I work my way down the tree. This is where I made my mistake.
I should have left my strap attached as I stepped off the stand.
I stepped off the stand, locking my climber into the tree, then swung
my other leg around the stand. As my weight shifted to the one climber,
the bark broke off the tree (which is common with climbers) pitching me
about 20 feet to the ground. After landing on my rear end and rolling about
3 times, I found myself tangled up in my bow/pack rope, hanging with my
feet in the air and my shoulders on the ground. I checked myself over and
realized I wasn’t dead, I cut myself down, gathered my pack, and then used
my cell phone to call for help. (Another useful tool to carry with you)
I ended up having to walk out about 300 yards to meet the owner of the
land.
After two and half days in the hospital, ten stitches in my hand, and
a compression fracture of the number one lumbar vertebrae, I felt it was
a good idea to throw the climbers away. Today, I don’t have any problems
from the injuries of the fall and continue to stand hunt.
The lesson to be learned: If you choose to hunt with climbers, ALWAYS
have your safety strap attached to something other than yourself.
I would like to thank everyone for you stories
to learn by. I also hope it may save a life and that yours was spared to
save someone else's.horntagger
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