10 Best Tree Climbers For Hunting

Best Tree Climbers For Hunting in 2023

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Avoid Hunting Accidents with Tree Stand Safety Harnesses

Hunting is a dangerous pastime. Wearing a safety harness when using a tree stand can save your life.

Tree-Stand Safety -- Harnesses Save Lives

All tree stand falls are preventable with no exceptions. The arrival of the autumnal months generates an air of excitement as your chance comes to harvest your first white-tail. It is a time to introduce new blood to the sport with your children who may have reached an age where they can be actively involved. It could also be your final rut season! Too many families and hunters are affected by preventable accidents in tree-stands. Every year hunters are needlessly crippled, injured or killed from hunting platforms in trees. These tree-stand accidents, in the majority of cases, are avoidable.

These troubling statistics.

Statistics are collected from a cross section of hospitals that are statistically representative of hospital emergency rooms nationwide. These hospitals make up 'The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Covering hundreds of product categories data is gather on a broad range of injury related issues.

Between 1998 and 2005 the CPSC reported an average of six thousand tree-stand related accidents occurring in the United States. 82 percent of these accidents involved hunters who were not wearing any form of protection. The CPSC estimated some eight thousand hunters would be injured in the year 2020 and these figures will continue to rise. What is equally disturbing is that research shows that 75 percent of those injured will be between the ages of 30 and 60 with an average age of 44.

45 percent of tree-stand related accidents are due to hang-on and ladder style stands whereas the other 55 percent results from accidents while climbing tree stands.

Throw away those belts.

First used in the commercial construction industry, these belts are single-safety straps or safety belts. These types of belts were band from commercial construction by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1998. There are three potentially fatal hazards with these straps and belts.

Firstly these belts are worn around the waist and abdominal region. Should a wearer fall, when he reaches the end of the lanyard the abdominal region takes the entire weight of the wearer. This causes the abdomen to compress, a force of some 900 pounds per square inch, causing damage to the liver, spleen and diaphragm. The range of results from such injuries can vary between severe breathing difficulties to complete respiratory failure and death.

The second hazard with safety belts results from the body being suspended. There is only so long the victim can cope with his body weight being focused on his abdomen. When the diaphragm is injured from the fall and this leads to the hunter, who ends up hanging upside down, to suffocate and he is unable to breathe.

Finally, the fall most often fatal is called 'fallout'. The lower extremities of the human torso are lighter than the human torso. As a body falls the torso rotates over the feet. At the end of the fall the torso forces the body through the belt leaving the individual diving straight into the ground head first.

Short Tethers

There are still hazards with full body harnesses but these are better than no protection at all. Using this type of harness when you fall you may, and probably will, end up hanging upright. Blood will begin to pool in your legs depriving the brain of oxygen and this leads to suspension drama known as orthostatic intolerance.

Because the legs are not moving enough to pump blood back to the heart and brain it pools in the legs causes unconsciousness, which can lead to lasting effects and can even cause death. The initial symptoms of suspension drama include a narrowing of vision, paleness, sweating, dizziness, nausea and faintness. You must make yourself aware of these symptoms.

You need to exercise your leg muscles if you find yourself hanging following a fall. Keep tensing and relaxing them and you can also try to straighten them and then pull them up to a sitting position. This keeps blood flowing and will minimize the health hazards whilst suspended.

By keeping your tether as short as possible you are limiting the distance you can fall and this in turn is the easiest way to eliminate or reduce the possibility of suspension trauma. Always have a short tether so you can re-enter the tree stand should you fall.

Wear a Harness

The core group of manufacturers who in 1995 realized these types of accidents were on the rise and they discussed ways to eliminate or minimize them formed the Treestand Manufacturing Association (TMA). The TMA is an association open to membership to any corporation promoting hunting sports and supports product safety improvements, supports hunting ethics, safe hunting practices and wildlife conservation,.

The TMA realized, early on, that a number of hunters believed themselves to be immune from falling and therefore didn't wear fall protection. The average age, demographically, of hunters is shown to be getting older. The median age being around 54 years of age. They will probably all admit to getting older, in less than perfect physical shape and with eyesight not as sharp. Their knees probably ache and they are a bit overweight. These are all dangerous when combined with tree stands. Build in some other factors like inclement weather an lack of light and you have a recipe for disaster if you climb unprotected. To prevent injury should experience a fall from a tree is quite simple, wear your full body, fall arrest harness. The odds for survival are greatly increased in your favor by wearing this harness. You must, of course, understand how to use it properly and how it operates.

Stay in your stand.

A full body fall arrest harness is required to be installed in each stand by the tree-stand manufacturers. These work fine but more manageable and less bulky aftermarket systems are available which can improve comfort and accuracy. The Summit Seat-O-Pants Fastback Deluxe is one such aftermarket harness. This harness can be worn under or over your hunting clothes. The buckles for the leg and waist allow quick and positive hook-up and the D-rings and legs buckles reduce noise by being rubber-coated. Air is kept circulating by a mesh back for early season comfort and to keep you cool. It includes a safety rope in the linesman-style with a prussic knot.

Tree Stand Accident CSI

User error accounts for 95% of accidents. The injury is most often due to the user not reading and/or following the manufacturer's instructions or the user wasn't wearing a full body harness and nearly ways was in a hurry. 85% of accidents occur during ascent or descent and the majority could be avoided if the hunter used a harness when climbing.

Accidents in hang-on-style tree stands accidents are the result of hunters leaving their tree stands up in their favorite hunting location for long periods of time. The chain or nylon strap attaching the stand becomes compromised as the tree grows. As soon as weight is placed on the stand it falls.

Most accidents with ladder stands are the result of not install the tree brace and criss-cross safety straps correctly. It is surprising how many hunters climb unsupported ladders when installing them.

TMA Safety Guidelines

There is a list of safety guidelines issued by the TMA that should be followed when hunting from elevated platforms. These are just a few lifesaving tips.

When using a tree stand wear a full-body fall-arrest harness that meets TMA standards at all times and NEVER use a chest harness or single safety belts.

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS until you understand fully the manufacturer's warnings and instructions before using a tree stand.

Check the weight limits for a particular tree stand and NEVER exceed it.