By Brandon Butler | Treestands have come a long way since I began deer hunting in the early 1990s. Back then, a fancy treestand was one made out of pressure-treated lumber. Lesser stands were slapped
together with whatever scrap wood my friends and I could salvage from scrap piles on
construction sites. Such stands were used season after season until they eventually rotted away.
Thankfully, those days are behind us.
Today’s treestands are engineered pieces of hunting equipment. Ladder stands, climbing stands,
hang-on stands and elevated platforms have become safer, lighter and more comfortable. If
properly cared for, a quality metal stand can last for years. That does not mean a treestand is
maintenance free or that accidents, some serious enough to cause death, still occur each year.
Every time you climb into a treestand, you are trusting your life to straps, cables, bolts, welds
and other pieces of equipment. If left out all year, those potential failure points are exposed to
rain, snow, ice, heat and cold. They will deteriorate. A little maintenance may prevent a serious
problem later.
I used to compare treestand maintenance to changing the oil in your truck. You wouldn’t expect
an engine to run forever without maintenance, and you shouldn’t expect a treestand to either. At
least once each year, every stand should receive a thorough inspection. With Archery seasons
open or opening soon in your state, if you haven’t worked on your stands yet, you’re late. But
better now than not at all.
Start with the straps or chains securing the stand to the tree. Fabric straps spend months getting
wet, drying out and being exposed to sunlight. Look closely for fraying, cuts, deterioration or
weakened stitching. Check ratchets and buckles to make sure they still operate and lock properly.
Chains should be inspected for corrosion or damage.
Then move to the stand itself. Inspect bolts, locking pins, cables, platforms and welded joints.
Pay particular attention to cables supporting the platform and places where metal pieces join
together. If you find cracks, significant corrosion or questionable hardware, don’t gamble with it.
Replace the damaged component according to the manufacturer’s instructions or contact the
manufacturer. The same inspection needs to include whatever you use to get into the stand.
Years ago, we climbed wooden steps nailed into trees, screw in spikes, or simply used whatever
branches were available. Eventually nails loosen, wood rots and branches break. We were
fortunate more of us weren’t hurt. Climbing sticks and properly designed ladder systems are
much better options, but they also require inspection. Check straps, cables, connections, bolts
and welded areas. Ladder rungs deserve special attention where they connect to the side rails.
Remember, getting into and out of a stand is the most dangerous part of hunting from a tree.
The Treestand Manufacturers Association continues to emphasize using a full-body fall-arrest
harness whenever your feet leave the ground, including while ascending and descending. The
organization also recommends reading the manufacturer’s instructions before each season and
practicing with your stand and harness at ground level before taking them into the woods.
A lot has changed from my early bowhunting days. My uncle used to wrap an old ironworker’s
belt around my waist, and that was pretty much the extent of our safety system. We didn’t have
any better options. Today we do. A full-body harness should be connected according to the
manufacturer’s instructions, and hunters need a plan for what happens if they fall. Hanging safely
in a harness is certainly better than hitting the ground, but suspension creates its own dangers.
Keep a phone or other signaling device where you can reach it, even if you’re hanging in your
harness, and have a plan for recovering or calling for help.
Good treestand safety also means telling someone where you’re hunting and when you expect to
return. Choose a healthy, straight tree that meets the stand manufacturer’s specifications. Know
the weight limitations of your equipment and never modify a commercial stand in ways the
manufacturer doesn’t approve.
Once you’re safely positioned, use a haul line to bring up your bow, unloaded firearm, pack and
other equipment. Don’t try to climb while carrying gear. Raise equipment only after reaching
hunting height and lower it before descending.
Treestand technology has improved tremendously since those homemade wooden platforms of
my youth. So has our understanding of safety. Yet all the engineering in the world can’t protect a
hunter who ignores worn equipment or refuses to use a harness. Most importantly, know your
limitations. Being tired, sick, or impaired are all reasons to stay on the ground. No deer is worth
taking an unnecessary chance.
We spend a lot of time worrying about where the bucks are going to be this fall. Spend a little
time making sure you’ll be around to hunt them for many falls to come. Before deer season
arrives, spend an afternoon inspecting your stands, climbing systems and safety equipment.
Replace anything questionable. Practice with your harness. Make sure someone knows where
you’ll be hunting. Moist of all, use good judgement. Your family and friends are counting on you.
See you down the trail…
Pic: Deer hunters must perform proper maintenance and adhere to safety protocols for a safe
treestand hunting experience.
For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or
anywhere podcasts are streamed.
