By: Clay Green
It is a crisp autumn morning. The air around you feels sharp. Little puffs of clouds fill the air with each exhale. As quietly as possible, you and your young son move through the woods before the sun rises over the horizon. The crunch of the frost-bitten leaves beneath your feet echoes. You fear you won’t see anything because your child is louder than the squirrels that pretend to be bucks, but he has been looking forward to this day.
This is his first hunt, something that he wouldn’t stop talking about for weeks. A hunt that you promised him and something you looked forward to doing, just as your own father had done. You get to that tree stand, each step up that ladder drawing you further and further up into the air. You and your boy made it, past the creaking of the ladder steps, past the crunch of frozen leaves, and are quietly settled in. Your boy sits there with excitement, smiling ear to ear and having a hard time sitting still. He asks you, “How many deer do you think we will see today?” You smile, putting a gloved hand on his head as you whisper to him, “There is no guarantee we will see anything, but hunting is more about sitting and listening than doing.” You both smile and wait for dawn to break.
Fifteen feet off the ground, you look out to the world in front of you. The first rays of the morning sun light up the world around you. Pools of mist fill in the hollows, the distant caw of a crow, and the rustle of squirrels running around the falling leaves fills your ears. The excitement sets in even more as the woods come to life before you and your son’s eyes. You make a mental note, “Even if he does not get one today, I am not going to forget this day.”
You made sure to grab everything you needed last night. You both have your Hunter’s Safety Orange on, gloves, snack cakes, and water. You still worry that your son will get bored and not want to hunt with you anymore, even though he is wiggling with anticipation. You want the day to go perfectly for your hunting buddy; you both have waited so long for this moment.
As minutes turn into what feels like hours, the snap of a branch and a flicker of white catch both of your attention. Stepping into the clearing, moving ever so gracefully…calmly…a doe. She slows and starts to look around; she stands there, still, those eyes looking, ears darting around listening to the faintest of sounds. She’s perfect.
You help your young son get ready; you help steady his rifle and make sure he has a clean shot. You whisper to him, “Shoot.”
He slowly squeezes the trigger, just like he’s practised, and it’s a perfect shot! The doe is hit! She takes off towards the west. You look over to your son and say louder than you probably should, “You got her, bub!’ Your son cannot contain his excitement; he puts his rifle down, mirrors your voice level, “I got her!!” He cannot contain his excitement; he jumps up to give you the biggest hug…and he slips.
The woods turn dark and cold.
There is no sound.
The leaves do not rustle in the wind.
The squirrels don’t make a sound.
You don’t even hear the sound of your son’s scream as he falls.
Your vision is tunneled, and everything is in slow motion as you watch your son fall fifteen feet to the ground.
Your heart beats out of your chest, feeling like it’s going to explode.
The best day ever has now turned into a nightmare as the last thing you see is your boy hitting that cold, hard ground.
This story is exactly that, a story, but even stories can have truths to them. This nightmare of a story could happen to anyone. In fact, it has happened to people. There is one thing you can do to help avoid this situation: wear a safety harness while hunting from an elevated platform. These nightmare situations are too common an occurrence for those Indiana Conservation Officers who work these scenes; they are seeing more and more of them with the start of the Indiana Deer season. While writing this article, two more occurred in the first weeks of the Deer season.
Since the late 1990s, Indiana Conservation Officer Tony Mann has been preaching and teaching tree stand safety, and in 2007, he became certified in this area. He has also taken on the role of reporting the equipment failures and elevated hunting incidents. There were 22 reported elevated accidents in 2024. Of these 22 accidents, the ages ranged from 19 to 84 years old. It can happen to anyone.
The thing that most of these incidents had in common was two things: the lack of a full-body harness or they had on a full-body harness, but it was not attached. To quote Officer Mann when he does his safety demonstrations, “How much is your life worth?” A serious question to pose to anyone who chooses not to wear one. Is your life not worth the $100.00 investment in a full-body harness? Why even take that chance?
While we do not mandate or require any hunter to wear one, we strongly encourage everyone who is hunting in an elevated position to be tethered and safe.
I asked Offer Mann what is one thing he would stress to people about tree-stand safety. His answer, “Stay connected, Indiana, from the time you leave the ground and get back down to your families, stay connected.” It was a response that he says so frequently and so seriously. It’s a simple concept that truly means the difference between life and death. That trophy buck or freezer full of meat means nothing if you don’t make it home safe. Safety is the most important thing.
The Indiana Hunter Education manual states that “the number one cause of injury or death when hunting from a tree stand or other elevated platform is falls.”1 These falls are caused by incorrect use and placement of equipment, mistakes while climbing into or out of the stand, and damaged equipment from excessive wear or exposure to the elements.
So, what should you look for when placing a tree stand or an elevated platform?
- Place a stand no higher than necessary.
- Select only trees that are straight.
- Never place a stand in a dead tree, in trees with large overhanging dead limbs, or on or near utility poles.
It is vital to use your Fall-Arrest Systems (FASs) that are manufactured to industry standards and read the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use. If you should fall with your FAS on, do not panic, signal for help, and if possible, climb back onto your platform. After your fall, be sure to discard your FAS and purchase a new one. Also, if it is showing any wear or tear, such as a stitch popping or dry rot, it is time to discard it and buy a new one.
“Due to the risk of injuries or death, hunters who choose not to wear and use their FAS properly should stay on the ground to hunt.” These words are so important that Indiana Hunter Education has them printed and put in our safety manuals.
As Officer Mann told me when we were discussing this matter, “Attach your FAS to the tree while at ground level and keep it attached throughout your hunt. From the time you leave the ground until you get back down.”
Now, back to you as this fictional parent. Your “best day ever” with your son has now turned into a nightmare. Thousands of dollars in hospital expenses, at best, or purchasing a child-sized casket. All because they didn’t feel the need to spend a couple $100.00 on a full-body harness.
Don’t let these hypothetical nightmares become the living nightmares of your life.
Stay Connected Indiana.
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Additional Video Resources:
Tree Stand Safety | Indiana DNR
Tree Stand Safety: Installing a Climbing Tree Stand
Tree Stand Safety: Installing a Hang-On Tree Stand
Tree Stand Safety: Installing a Ladder Tree Stand
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1Today’s Hunter: Indiana’s Guide to Hunting Responsibly and Safely. Kalkomey Enterprises, LLC. 2013-2022.
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