Is Your Tree Stand Safe?

Cumming Patch reported last week on the death of a 44-year-old man and the injury of his son after they fell about 15 to 20 from a tree stand while hunting in a remote area in south Forsyth County.

The coroner in Forsyth County said the son told someone at the scene that the father spotted a deer and wanted to give his son the opportunity to shoot the animal. As they were in the process of switching stands, that were next to each other, one of the stands may have possibly collapsed.

According to Walter Lane, Hunter Development Program Manager at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, tree stands comprise almost half of Georgia's hunting-related incidents. Though tree stands are generally safe, they can be improperly installed. Lane said many hunters also fail to wear and use a Fall-Arrest System/Full Body Safety Harness.

"Whenever our rangers investigate a tree stand incident, they are asked: What could have been done to avoid or prevent the incident?" Lane said in a press release. "The response is the same every time: Wearing and properly using a Fall-Arrest System/Full Body Safety Harness. Every fall from a tree stand is preventable if hunters would adhere to this safety rule."

Lane said every stand is different and encouraged hunters to make sure they are familiar with their model's features, to inspect the stand before hunting, replace any old or worn parts and always wear a safety harness.

Visit the links below for more tips before heading to the woods.

• Tree stand safety course
• Hunter safety tips from Georgia DNR

You might also be interested in reading:

Cumming Man Dies After Falling from Tree Stand