Deer Stands

Falls from Tree Stands Have Become the Leading Cause of Deer Hunting Accidents in Pennsylvania

“…In this study, 92% of the injured hunters did not wear a safety restraint. Failure to wear one is a frequent finding in other studies as well 2,3,5,6,9,13,23–26 . Although Treestand Manufacturers Association members have included a full-body safety harness with each new tree stand purchased since 2004, failure to wear them is an ongoing problem.…”

“…Failure to wear one is a frequent finding in other studies as well. 2,3,5,6,9,13,[23][24][25][26] Although Treestand Manufacturers Association members have included a full-body safety harness with each new tree stand purchased since 2004, failure to wear them is an ongoing problem. From 2010 through 2018, 84% of victims of >1000 tree stand falls in 13 states that voluntarily report their data as part of an ongoing research study by the president of the Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation were not wearing a safety harness at the time of their fall (Dr Glen Mayhew, President, Tree Stand Safety Foundation, personal communication, March 11, 2020).…”

“…Others report that the majority of these falls occur when hunters are climbing into their stands in the morning or out of their stands in the late afternoon and early evening. [2][3][4]6,13,[23][24][25] Our finding could be a reporting or interpretation issue because most falls occurred at the times of day when hunters are transitioning into or out of their stands.…”

“…F alls from tree stands cause serious injuries and death to hunters, and are reported to be the leading cause of hunting accidents, surpassing accidental shootings. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Almost 6400 accidental tree stand falls occur annually in the United States. 11 Reported rates in the United States and central Wisconsin indicate that these falls remain a persistent cause of serious hunting injuries.…”

“…Falls from tree stands cause serious injuries and death to hunters, and are reported to be the leading cause of hunting accidents, surpassing accidental shootings 1–10 . Almost 6400 accidental tree stand falls occur annually in the United States 11 .…”