Be Safe

The first step toward treestand safety is good tree selection. A safe tree is healthy and fully alive. Dead or partially dead trees are dangerous. Straight trees are safest. A bend in the trunk can throw the load bearing geometry of a treestand dangerously out of kilter. Completely understand your stand. Know how it should be assembled, attached to the tree and how it should work. Read the instructions carefully.

Keep your hands free and pay attention only to climbing. Wear a climbing belt and tie off immediately when you get to the stand. Haul your hunting equipment up on a pull rope. Wear the safety belt at all times. Climb only as high as you need to go and no higher. There are few hunting situations that require the hunter to be more than 25 feet off the ground. Remember, tree trunks taper. Do not climb past the point where the trunk diameter is too small for completely secure stand attachment.