Safety first:The skinny on tree stands
By MATT WILLIAMS Outdoors Writer

Outdoors photo courtesy of NWTF TREE STAND HUNTERS should always wear a safety harness to prevent falling in case the platform shifts or gives way unexpectedly.

The smart hunter is the safe hunter. Unfortunately, many hunters get so caught up in the moment that they cast safety by the wayside. This can be risky business, especially when it comes to climbing tree stands.

Used correctly, "climbers," as many deer hunters refer to them, are great hunting tools. The stands are portable and lightweight, so they can be transported through the woods to out-of-the-way locations not frequented very often by other hunters.

The stands enable to the hunter to climb a tree within seconds, providing a birdseye view of the forest floor. It also reduces the odds of being detected by the whitetail's keen sense of smell by reducing the amount of human scent on the ground.

Use incorrectly, climbing stands can be dangerous. Each year, many archery and rifle hunters across America suffer broken arms, legs, backs and necks by falling from tree stands.

HUNTER SAFETY Safety Systems makes a high quality aftermarket harness that is easy on, easy off. Courtesy photo

Some recover. Others don't. Death or serious injuries are distinct possibilities when you come crashing down on your head from 30 feet above ground.

I know of two bowhunters who have fallen from their lofty perches and lived to tell about it. One of them is permanently paralyzed. The other broke the heel bones in both of his feet and years later still feels the pain.

Both were high skilled archers who, like most hunters, never dream such a tragedy would actually happen to them.

Dee Dee Garvin knows the feeling. Garvin was deer hunting in 1996 when he fell 30 feet from his deer stand and crushed several bones on the right side of his body. He had to crawl 1/4 mile through the woods to get help.

Garvin spent months in the hospital and rehabilitation, but he hasn't been the same since. Today he is a regional coordinator for the National Wild Turkey Federation's Wheelin' Sportsmen program. The program helps people with disabilities to get outside and participate in a more active lifestyle through local NWTF chapter events nationwide.

"Safety is something you should never take for granted," said Garvin. "It is something you put first in everything you do, whether it's driving a car or climbing a deer stand. In a matter of 35 minutes from the time I got out of the bed that morning, I came to the realization that hunting, fishing or anything else, for that matter, is not worth risking your life for."

Probably the No. 1 reason why tree-stand related accidents occur is because the hunter isn't wearing a quality safety harness. The harness is intended to prevent you from falling should the tree stand shift or give way beneath your feet. Be sure the harness is linked to safety strap that is attached securely to the tree.

The best safety harnesses are made from heavy-duty nylon straps that provide support for the entire upper body, not just the waist. The harness should have two shoulder straps, a chest strap and two leg straps that fasten together as a single unit to keep you hanging upright in the event of a fall.

Most new climbers have a safety harness and safety strap included in the box. Harnesses and safety straps also can be bought separately where hunting supplies are sold.

One of the best aftermarket harnesses I have seen is made by Hunter Safety Systems (www.huntersafetysystem. com). You wear the harness like a vest, which makes it simple to put on in total darkness.

Here are some more tips to help avoid injury when using climbing tree stands: t Buy Quality Stands: You get what you pay for in a climber. If you buy a stand second hand, make sure it is in good working order with all the parts included.

t Practice Low to Ground: Climbers take some getting used to, especially for the first-time user. Practice with the climber at home before you take it to the woods.

t Use a Tow Rope - Never attempt to carry a bow or gun at the same time you are climbing. Unloaded weapons and other gear should be hoisted using a tow rope, once the stand is secured and you are comfortably in position.

t Communicate: When hunting alone, always be sure to let someone at camp or at home know where you are going and when you will be back. It is also a good idea to carry a cell phone in case of emergency.