How to Use a Tree Stand Safety Harness
Hunting from an elevated tree stand often offers the best opportunities to spot and take game, but it brings with it an element of risk. Thousands of hunters are injured each year in falls from tree stands and the majority of those incidents occur when climbing or descending the tree. A safety harness is one measure you can take to greatly reduce the risk of injury or death when hunting from an elevated perch, but care must be taken to use the harness correctly.
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Instructions
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1
Read all the instructions that came with your full-body safety harness. Make sure all parts are present and in working order.
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2
Put on your full-body harness, making sure every strap or buckle is securely fastened.
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3
Secure your climbing stand at the base of the tree. Reach above you as high as you can comfortably reach and secure the safety harness' strap to the tree tightly.
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4
Pull yourself and your climbing stand up the tree as high as you comfortably can.
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5
Make sure that your stand is again securely fixed to the tree. Loosen the safety harness strap around the tree and again slide it up as high as you can comfortably reach. Secure it tightly to the tree.
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6
Repeat Steps 3 through 5 until you have reached your desired height. Secure your climbing stand to the tree.
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7
Loosen your safety harness strap and again secure it to the tree high above your head. Be sure that this allows you a full range of movement in the stand. If you feel restricted, adjust the height of the strap until you are comfortable.
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8
To descend the tree, repeat the above steps, this time lowering the strap at each point as you slide your climbing stand down the tree.
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Tips & Warnings
Always use a full-body harness, never a harness that only goes around your waist.
Never attempt to carry your weapon while you are climbing or descending a tree. Use a rope to pull the unloaded weapon up once you've secured your stand at the desired height.
Always select a straight tree with bark that allows for the best grip.
Check to make sure your harness is in full working order before setting out on each hunting trip.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit whitetail buck image by Bruce MacQueen from Fotolia.com
