HOW TO STAY SAFE IN A TREE STAND
Sep 15th 2023
Staying safe in a tree stand could be a matter of life and death. Here are 5 tips to help you stay safe.
Know Your Tree Stand
How do you get to know your tree stand best? To get started, read the directions/instructions. Most of us don't like to read instructions, so this might come as a surprise, but reading the instructions will familiarize you with your tree stand. You’re going to be pretty high up there in the tree, so you better get to know your stand inside out. It is necessary that you know the ins and outs of your tree stand before you are up there in the tree.
Know Your Tree
Choosing the right tree is a very important element of tree stand safety. You should choose your tree not only based on positioning, but also based on the structure of the tree. This one could be a surprise for some of you, but make sure the tree you are about to climb isn’t dead! You would be surprised at how many people try to climb dead trees just because they are positioned in that perfect hunting spot. This is downright stupid and dangerous. Many of you need to learn to take tree sturdiness into consideration or at least put it higher on your list.
Use a Harness
I’m not adding this in here as a suggestion. I am always amazed at how many hunters don’t use a harness. Tree stand safety harnesses allow you to safely enter and exit tree stands while staying secure as you hunt. You will find that some harnesses will install directly to the tree. Many have reflective tape on them to ensure your stand is easy to find in low-light conditions. Look at the packaging to make sure the system is rated for the height that you plan to place your tree stand up in the tree. Just imagine how much better your wife (or husband) will sleep knowing that you are guaranteed to stay attached to the tree from the ground to your stand and back again.
Use a Rope for Your Equipment
Instead of carrying your equipment, use a rope! This is one of those things that half of you are not going to listen to. I know for a very long time during my hunting career I didn’t use a rope and just carried my bow up the tree. Although you may be athletic enough to do this, I would suggest that you don’t. Instead, tie your equipment to a rope that is tied to your tree stand and once you are in the tree stand and have solid footing, pull your equipment up. This is a very simple procedure, and it takes a great deal of danger out of the tree stand experience.
Get a Better Grip
Your stand might have come with a bunch of grip tape, but you can always apply more. There is nothing manly about slipping while climbing up a tree stand. You know there will be dangerous weather like snow or dew that cause you to slip… why take the chance? Extra grip tape is not very expensive and can be a great asset to keep safe and reduce chances of slipping while climbing a tree stand.
Staying safe in your tree stand takes a few extra steps. Give yourself and your family peace of mind by following these simple steps.
Prepping for the upcoming hunting season? Check out these posts:
10 Helpful Items for Hanging Treestands
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Equipment Prep for Hunting Season
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Hunting Practice