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Tree Stands
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here to see our selection of Deer Blinds.
 Tree
stands are popular among Wisconsin hunters — especially among
those who hunt with a bow, because they help improve the hunter’s
visibility and decrease the chance their scent will spook the deer.
However, the stands also can result in injuries or even fatalities
if they’re used incorrectly or carelessly.
We are all familiar with tree stands, especially the homemade permanent
types we see when we go through the wood on private lands. Some
of them are death traps, and not for the deer.
There is nothing wrong with an elevated deer stand — if we
follow all the safety rules. Falls can be caused by a variety of
factors, including a weakness in the stand’s structure, incorrect
installation, failure to use a safety harness and hunters dozing
off while on the stand. Who among us has not dozed off on a deer
hunt while on a stand?
Let’s not forget the dangers of getting the firearm into the
tree stand. Pulling it up properly after we are in the stand with
a cord may seem to be a hassle, especially if we are a bit late
getting to our stand.
According to Tim Lawhern, hunter safety education administrator,
research shows that one out of three hunters who hunt off the ground
in an elevated stand of some kind will fall from a tree stand sometime
during his or her hunting lifetime.
Precautions to avoid accidents:
Lawhern gives us a list of precautions that could save a life.
Check permanent tree stands every year before hunting from them,
replacing any worn or weak lumber before it breaks. When checking
these stands, always wear a fall restraint device like a safety
harness.
Read, understand and follow factory-recommended practices and procedures
when installing commercial stands.
Inspect portable stands for loose nuts and bolts each time the stand
is used.
Use either a safety belt or harness anytime you leave the ground
to hunt from a tree stand. Know what you should do if you slip while
using a safety device.
Use a haul line to raise or lower equipment, and keep firearms unloaded
and arrows in a covered quiver.
Select a tree large enough to support your weight before the season.
Some mishaps occur as hunters are hurrying to set up their stands
on opening day. Make sure someone else knows the location of your
tree stand and knows when you will be hunting there.
Stay awake, and make sure you use a short tether between you and
the tree when attaching your fall restraint device. The object is
to keep you in the stand should you slip or fall, not catch you
after you have fallen several feet.
http://www.dunnconnect.com/articles/2006/09/20/outdoors/outdoors03.txt
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