A Hunter’s Biggest Threat – Tree Stands

Hunters wear bright orange to keep themselves safe while hunting. This helps reduce accidental shootings by other hunters. But orange can’t keep them safe from one of their biggest emerging threats. This hazard can result in broken backs, fractured bones, permanent disabilities, and even fatalities. And it’s not another animal or even another human—it’s tree stands, the elevated platforms hunters use for better vantage points. More specifically, it’s falls from defective tree stands.

According to a recent article from Safety Research & Strategies, Inc. (SRS), tree stands now kill and injure more hunters each year than guns. From 2005 to 2007, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety received 41 reports of tree stand-related deaths, and an estimated 19,000 injuries. The majority of these falls resulted in spinal injuries.

SRS points out in their article that much of the tree stand-related safety research available is available through groups that manufacture or sell tree stands, so it’s presented through a lens of hunter behavior. Many hunters don’t wear their safety harness correctly, or at all. However, although safety education is certainly necessary, reports from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) show there is growing concern about the safety of the actual tree stands themselves.

Tree stand safety and recalls

The SRS article calls attention to data from the Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation pointing out that over a quarter of the 27 most serious tree stand injuries—defined as “injuries that had medical bills in excess of $50,000, or partial disabilities, and/or fatalities”—involved mechanical issues or failures with the stand. Over the past two decades, there have been at least 14 tree stand recalls by the CPSC for various dangers with various brands, including:

• Cables and chains that snap
• Bad welds
• Pins that break
• Webbing problems
• Structural support issues
• Platform fractures
• Dangers with waist/safety belts

Defective tree stands often collapse while the hunter is in the tree or break as they are climbing up or down. A hunter could fall from four feet or twenty feet—falls that could result in catastrophic injury.

A tough issue with recalls is that many tree stands are manufactured in China and then sold in the U.S. under many different brand names. So, it’s possible that only one brand is recalled instead of all related brands.

Safety belt regulations for tree stands

One of the most tragic examples of the safety belt issue was a 15-year-old boy, a seasoned hunter, who received a new tree stand with a safety belt for Christmas. He went out hunting alone and was found hours later by his family. His tree stand was no longer attached to the tree and he was hanging from his safety belt, worn properly – but because all his body weight was supported by a single strap which constricted his chest and abdomen, the belt asphyxiated him.

The CPSC has investigated deaths resulting from safety belt use and prodded the Tree stand Manufacturers Association to come up with voluntary standards regarding self-rescue from safety harnesses. There are full-body harnesses available, but they don’t come with every tree stand.

So don’t just assume every tree stand is safe or any safety harness will do.  Treat every tree stand with the same caution you use for a firearm, and please be careful out there.

The Phoenix injury attorneys at Plattner Verderame, P.C. can help you when you’re hurt through no fault of your own. We investigate every detail of your accident, and hold the responsible parties accountable. We are on your side, and we work tirelessly to seek compensation for your injuries. Contact our reliable and trustworthy legal team by calling 602-266-2002 or filling out our contact form.