Hunter Education Course

Chapter 9: Know your Treestands

While in the woods, have you ever watched a red-tailed hawk hunt? You'll notice that it perches high in the branches of trees, scanning the woods below for mice and small game. When it spots one, it takes flight, flaring its wings and landing safely on the ground where it seeks out its target. Using a treestand, a hunter can gain the same bird's-eye-view advantage enjoyed by a hawk in its treetop perch. But doing so requires great care. Unlike the hawk, hunters don't have wings or tail feathers to control their descent if they slip. And a falling hunter in the woods is anything but graceful.

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of using a treestand:

Advantages

• Gives a hunter a longer range of visibility, which allows more time to prepare for a safe shot.
• A hunter's scent remains in the canopy of the trees, instead of on the ground where it can give away a position to nearby animals.
• Game animals can detect even slight movements. In a treestand, the hunter can move without being easily detected.
• Blaze orange can be seen at greater distances in a treestand than on the ground, where the hunter's color(s) might be blocked by brush and debris.
• Shots taken by a hunter from a treestand are at a downward angle, so the bullet will go into the ground. This is especially important when hunting near homes and farms buildings.

Disadvantages

• A hunter has no protection from the wind unless the treestand has a skirt around its platform.
• Some treestands are quite heavy to carry into or out of the woods.
• In rainy or snowy weather, a hunter might lose his or her footing when climbing up to or getting out of the treestand.
• A hunter might fall asleep in the treestand, and this could result in an incident.
• Many hunting incidents occur when a hunter is getting into or out of a treestand.

Using a Fall Arrest System / Full Body Harness

The majority of hunting-related incidents involving treestands occur because a hunter either wasn't using a Fall Arrest System (FAS) / Full Body Harness (FBH) or used it in an unsafe manner. If every hunter wore a FAS/FBH and used it properly, the incident and injury rate would be reduced dramatically. The Fall Arrest System consists of a strap that is attached to the tree and a Full Body Harness that is worn by the hunter.

Parachute or Full-Body Harness

This is the safest, most effective harness a hunter can use. Unlike the simple belt or chest harness, it is strapped around the shoulders, waist and legs so that in the event of an accidental fall from a treestand, pressure is distributed across a larger area of the hunter's body, helping to ensure a quick recovery with less chance of injury.

Single Strap Harness

Single strap harnesses should not be considered as a safe harness. These kind of harnesses cause severe restriction in the chest area, making it difficult to breathe or move. ALWAYS use a Full Body Harness when using a treestand!

Chest Harness

Chest harnesses are no longer the preferred harnesses either. These harnesses cause severe restriction in the chest area, making it difficult to breathe or move. ALWAYS use a Full Body Harness when using a treestand!

Tether (Safety) Strap for Tree

The second component to the Fall Arrest System (FAS) is the tether strap that attaches to the tree. This is the anchor point for the safety harness. When the hunter is standing on the platform this safety strap should be attached to the tree at eye level or above. There should be NO slack in the tether when sitting. Having no slack in the tether will prevent the hunter from falling more than a few inches. It is much better to fall a few inches than several feet.

Types of Treestands

Homemade or Permanent Treestand

Homemade or permanent treestands made of wood are NOT recommended because over time they can deteriorate and become unsafe. Rain, snow and ice can collect on the stand, and moss can collect in spots, making the platform slick. Also, a permanent stand can damage the tree to which it's attached and the nails you use to fasten it can cause serious damage to equipment or people later on, when the tree is harvested.

Fixed or Hang-on Treestand

A fixed or hang-on type stand can be attached to a tree at any height. It consists of a seat and a platform, along with straps and/or chains to attach the stand. A hunter's movement in this stand is very limited, and it requires a ladder or steps for access. Make sure the attaching straps or chains are tight and secure or the stand could slip when weight is applied to the platform.

Safety Tips for Fixed / Hang-on Stands:

• ALWAYS use a climbing / lineman's belt when installing or removing a fixed position stand and also while ascending or descending the tree.
• NEVER support your weight with a tree limb. Tree limbs can break causing you to fall.
• Never use wood steps attached to the tree with nails or spikes.

Avoid using screw-in steps, as they can be more dangerous than other climbing aides. They are also illegal in some states. Know the law!

Self-Climbing Stand

The self-climbing stand is highly portable and is available in many styles. It can be carried like a backpack into the woods on the day of the hunt and used in different locations, depending on the hunting conditions. To install it in a tree, a hunter uses a push-down, pull-up method. It requires practice to become proficient with how this stand operates, so it's wise to practice at ground level before hunting season begins. A safety strap is required when climbing with this stand, so select a tree that does not have loose or peeling bark.

The hunter stands on the bottom platform and pulls the seat section up to waist level. He or she then sits on the seat and raises the bottom platform up to the bottom of the seat section. The hunter then stands on the bottom platform and pulls the seat section up to waist level. This action is repeated until the hunter reaches the desired height.

Safety Tips for Self-Climbing Stands:

• Attach your FAS/FBH to the tree before leaving the ground.
• Attach the seating and standing platforms in a slightly upward direction to compensate for the narrowing of the tree trunk as you go up.
• Connect both the seating and standing platforms together to prevent the platforms from separating, leaving you stranded.
• As you ascend or descend, move the tree belt & anchorage with you. Never hurry. Take short, distinct bites.

Ladder Stand

This stand is safer to enter and exit thanks to the ladder, but it requires three people to install and secure it properly to a tree. Ranging between 12 and 16 feet in height, it is ideal when hunting on well-established game trails. Some ladder stands have a small seat and platform for one hunter. Others feature a larger seat and platform for two hunters. A skirt can also be purchased, which will conceal the hunter's movements. Some ladder stands feature a bar that can be used as a gun rest.

Safety Tips for Ladder Stands:

• Ladder stands should include criss-cross straps, standoff brackets or other means of securing the ladder to the tree before climbing to the platform.
• Ladder sections must be securely held together with retainer pins, clips, or some other device to prevent the ladder sections from coming apart unexpectedly.
• Ladder stands require 3 persons to install or remove correctly. Don't risk your safety or the safety of others by attempting to install or remove it yourself.
• ALWAYS lean forward and maintain three points of contact while climbing the ladder. Example: Two hands, one foot.
• As you approach the top of the ladder, attach the FAS/FBH tether to the tree as soon as possible.

Tower Stand

This is a freestanding stand, featuring either three or four legs, depending on the manufacturer. A ladder is included with this stand to access the top platform, where the seat is attached. The tower stand is best suited for the edge of a field or in open country. It requires a strong, level, firm base and needs to be secured to the ground.

Safety Tips for Tower Stands:

• ALWAYS lean forward and maintain three points of contact while climbing the ladder. Example: Two hands, one foot.
• As you approach the top of the ladder, attach the FAS/FBH tether to the stand as soon as possible.

Using a Haul Line

A hunter should never carry hunting equipment (firearms and other gear) when climbing a treestand. The added weight could cause a loss of balance and even result in a fall from the tree. Instead, retrieve all equipment using a haul line (a strong rope, strap or commercially made line) and always adhere to the following safety tips:

• Before climbing into the treestand, secure hunting equipment to the haulline. Tuck - do not tie - one end into a pocket or belt.
• Climb into the treestand, securing your FAS/FBH to the tree before beginning to retrieve the haul line.
• Unload firearms. Leave the action open. Attach to haul line.
• If pulling a bow or crossbow with a haul line, keep all arrows or bolts in a quiver.
• Once you're raised your firearm up to your treestand, check for obstructions in the barrel and action.
• Take your time, do not hurry.

If You Fall

If you fall from a treestand and you are properly using a FAS/FBH, you have two options. The first option is to recover from the fall by getting yourself back into the treestand. How you do this will depend on the type of stand you are using. Try your best to get yourself back into the stand safely.

If you cannot recover from the fall yourself, the second option is to be rescued. You should always carry an emergency signal device on your person at all times in case of emergency. Emergency Signal Devices can be any of the following:

• Two-Way Radio
• Cell phone
• Personal locator device
• Whistle
• Signal Flare

Optimally, you should hunt with a buddy so they can help you in an emergency situation. If you are hunting alone and need to be rescued, someone will need to know where you are and how to find you. Before you go into the woods, you should always let others know your exact hunting location, where your treestand is located, when you plan to return, and who is with you.

If you fall, don't panic. Stay calm and think out the situation. Be prepared ahead of time for such an emergency.

Summary

• Hunting from a treestand can be a lot of fun when all safety steps are followed. Let's review those steps now:
• Always wear a Fall Arrest System/Full Body Harness.
• Inspect your treestand and FAS/FBH before each use.
• When selecting a location, find a straight, live tree that will support your treestand.
• Make sure that there are no dead branches that might break off and damage the treestand or hit the hunter.
• Always use a haul line to retrieve firearms and hunting gear.
• Avoid excessive heights. The higher you go, the greater the danger.
• NEVER exceed the weight limit specified by the manufacturer. This includes the weight of you AND your equipment.
• When using a treestand on private property, always first obtain permission from the landowner.
• Check local and state laws regarding the use of treestands in your hunting area.
• NEVER hurry! Take your time and be safe!

Hunter Education Course