How To Wear a Hunting Safety Harness
The first step in using tree stand harnesses includes learning how to put them on properly, which you should do before heading to the hunting grounds.
Begin by pulling the shoulder straps over your shoulders. Depending on the type of safety harness you have, you may need to buckle either a chest strap or waist strap.
When the upper portions of the treestand safety harness feel secure, take the leg straps and fasten them around both thighs. Take a moment to adjust all straps to ensure that they fit snuggly yet comfortably.
After you have your tree stand safety harness securely fastened to your body, attach it to the tree. To do so, wrap the tree strap around the tree’s trunk. Next, you should loop the strap’s loose end through your tether according to your safety harness’ instructions.
You’ll know your tether has the proper attachment if the rope has about eight inches of slack when you stand on the ground. With that amount of give, the rope should be slightly taut while you’re in your tree stand.
What To Do If You Fall
Even when taking the best precautions, tree stand accidents can still occur. Wearing full-body safety harnesses during every hunting trip can prevent major injuries.
If you fall from your platform, the hunting safety harness and its tether will prevent you from hitting the ground. If an incident occurs, you have two options to prevent pressure from building in your legs from the safety harness. Get back to your tree stand or descend to the ground.
The first thing that you should do is get out your suspension relief strap and attach it to the loops on the side of your harness. Adjust it so that you can stand on the suspension relief strap and take the pressure off of your legs straps.
The force from the tether and prussic knot stopping your fall could leave you with bruises, but you should generally be okay, if not a little frightened.
Still, you must act quickly because the straps from the harness could cause further injury if you don’t adjust your body correctly after a fall. If you dangle in mid-air for too long, the straps can prevent blood from circulating through your legs.
Remember these tips for what to do if you fall from your stand:
- Stay calm and pull out your suspension release strap.
- Attach the loose end of the strap to the loops on your harness and move into a standing position to relieve pressure on your legs.
- Use your cellphone to call for help. Be sure to describe your exact location and if you have injuries. Let them know to send help if you do not call them back within five minutes.
- If hunting with others nearby, have a whistle on hand to signal your team for assistance
Depending on the location of your tree stand and where you fall, you may be within reach of branches, tree steps, or nothing at all. Consider these steps you can use to reach your platform:
- If you fall within reachable climbing steps, reach for the lowest step and stand on it. Continue moving up until you get to your treestand.
- If you have nothing to grab onto, you can include a screw-in tree step from your pockets to help you get back in the tree stand.
- If you fall from a climbing tree stand, turn to face the tree, carefully lift the climber’s platform section, and lower it. Continue this action until you can put your feet on your platform and climb into the tree stand.
Once you are no longer hanging, make your second call. Let the person know your status and provide any other instructions you may have.
Related: Tree Stand Hunting Accident Statistics
Here is a video showing how to recover from a tree stand fall. Please watch this! It could save your life!
