Hunting can be one of the most relaxing and rewarding hobbies a person can take part in.At the same time, the excitement and thrill of a successful hunt is unparalleled.The sheer number of things one must remember to do to make a hunt a success can be overwhelming and safety is often not the top priority on a hunters list.Tree stand safety is in my opinion, one of the most basic and yet important and overlooked, area of hunter safety.As a physician, I have personally cared for a number of stand related injuries and a good friend of mine who is a spine surgeon has confirmed that hunting season around Western Pennsylvania are some of the busiest months he has every year.Falls are obviously the number one accident when it comes to tree stand injuries.Commercial stands continue to improve as do harness devices to keep hunters safely in their stands.Your first order of business is to choose the right tree.Not only do you want the tree to be located in an area where you will have a chance at taking a deer, but the tree must be able to support your weight.To narrow a tree and it may not support your weight, but to wide of a tree, and connecting harnesses can be difficult.I personally like a ladder stand at this point in my life.Climbing stands are much harder to get up the tree and also much harder to do so safely.They do add the convenience of walking into the field and finding that perfect tree.I prefer to give up that portability and pre-scout my hunting area.I can then safely set up a ladder stand exactly where I want it and still have a good chance at taking a deer.Climbing stands also require much more physical fitness.I personally was hunting last season and learned of a 50-year-old man who had a heart attack and died about a mile or two from me.He used a climber and apparently could not handle the physical exertion.A ladder stand is much easier and certainly safer to get in to.A Treestand Manufacturers Association approved restraint system is also vital.Once in the stand and before doing anything at all, you should attach your restraint system to your harness system and the tree so you simply can not fall.I have heard stories of people falling out and hanging themselves with their harness system, but the newer ones are more like a vest/harness and this is highly unlikely and certainly less likely than serious injury if a fall takes place without a harness.One other thing to keep in mind is the actual process of getting in the stand.Any packs or bulky clothing should be removed and put back on once securely hooked into the harness system.Also never carry your weapon up the stand with you.A "tow cord" should be used to bring all your equipment up.Make sure the weapon is unloaded until in the stand as well as an accidental discharge can be life threatening.Following these rules of advice can keep you safe in the stand and allow for years of hunting excitement.
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