Owen County Almanac: Tree Stand Safety

Written By: Josh Rodamer, Sweet Owen Contributor

Kentucky is among the top 10 states for deer hunting, with Owen County offering some of the best opportunities in Northern Kentucky. Unfortunately, the county has also experienced

multiple deer hunting accidents in recent years. According to a study by Ammo.com, between 3,000 and 4,000 injuries occur each year due to tree stands.

A legacy of risky hunting stands still dots the landscape on public land in the county. Rotting

boards and rusty nails betray the honey holes of years gone by, while the occasional lawn chair or other improvised seat still watches silently from above.

Tree stand safety education has improved significantly since those times and is now part of

Kentucky’s standard hunter safety course. The use of a tree stand harness is common among

most hunters today. However, accidents still happen. Many hunters connect their harness only after they’ve reached the stand, leaving a dangerous gap in safety during the climb and

transition.

A quick search on YouTube reveals video after video of hunters sharing fall stories, hard-earned lessons, and the changes they’ve made as a result.

Several commercial products are available that allow hunters to remain connected to safety

gear from the moment they leave the ground until they return. Correct use of these products is critical, and equipment must be inspected regularly to ensure it provides true protection — not just the illusion of safety.

The rise in saddle hunting has introduced both new safety challenges and new tools for

protection. Some hunters prefer traditional tree stands, others use saddles, and some combine both methods. Regardless of style, every elevated hunt requires climbing to reach the desired height.

Popular climbing methods include ladders, sticks and ropes. In my own experience, I’ve used

nearly every approach available. Ladders are the easiest to climb, but transporting and setting them up can be a hassle. Climbing sticks come in a wide variety of types, weights and features. Many hunters modify their sticks to reduce the number needed to reach height.

The risk with climbing sticks is that they can kick out from the tree, break or cause the hunter to slip. While stick climbers typically wear a lineman’s belt, it does not provide complete

protection. A fall can leave a hunter lodged in a dangerous position, potentially injured by the very sticks they climbed.

Even a popular method like one-sticking comes with its own set of risks. One of the most

dangerous scenarios in any stick climbing situation is being attached to the tree with significant slack in the safety system.

When a hunter falls, the force generated can be immense. Force equals mass times

acceleration. The more a person weighs — and the farther the fall — the greater the force

created. As the saying goes: It’s not the fall that hurts, it’s the sudden stop.

In tree climbing, static or low-stretch rope is typically used because it improves climbing

stability. By contrast, rock climbers use dynamic rope, which stretches to absorb fall forces. If a hunter falls while attached to a static rope, that force is transferred directly to the body and

equipment.

This is important to understand because climbing above the attachment point or allowing the lineman’s rope to hang below can dramatically increase the fall distance. For example, if a hunter climbs 2 feet above the rope connection, then falls, they will drop 2 feet before reaching the connection and potentially another 2 feet before the rope catches. A 200-pound hunter falling 4 feet and stopped within 1 foot would generate roughly 1,000 pounds of force.

After a fall, another risk arises: self-rescue. Hunters hanging in a typical tree stand harness,

climbing harness or saddle have a limited amount of time before they risk suspension trauma

— a condition caused by blood pooling in the legs, leading to reduced cardiac output and loss of consciousness.

Studies show that unconsciousness can occur in less than seven minutes. If not resolved, this

can result in death. Fortunately, many safety products include documentation on self-rescue

techniques. These should be reviewed and practiced before climbing a tree this fall.

While this is a serious subject, it should not discourage hunters from using elevated stands. The risks can be managed with forethought, training and awareness. Just as ethical hunters practice their shot and woodsmanship, climbing and safety are essential skills to master.

Visit tmastands.com/safety for information about staying safe while hunting from above.

I hope you all find time this fall to safely enjoy the woods and waters of Owen County.