KY: Tree stands and other hunting injuries

November 10, 2009

Tree stands improve hunting success, but demand safety

Tree stands can give deer hunters an edge. Fifteen feet off the ground, it's easier to see a deer and more difficult for them to see or smell you. But hunters need to take precautions whenever they use a tree stand.

“Tree stand falls are a substantial percentage of our hunting incidents every year,” said Will Connelly, a hunter-training officer with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

Eight hunting incidents have been reported to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife this year. Two involved falls from tree stands. Neither of the injured hunters was using a safety harness. Most falls can be avoided if hunters attach themselves to the stand with a harness, especially while they are climbing up and down.

Return to Hunting Accident Index

Fair Use Notice: This document may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owners. We believe that this not-for-profit, educational use on the Web constitutes a fair use of the copyrighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law). If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

C.A.S.H.
P.O. Box 13815, Las Cruces, NM 88013
Phone: 575-640-7372
E-mail:

C.A.S.H. is a committee of Wildlife Watch, Inc.
a 501(c)3 Not-for-Profit Corporation.
Contributions are tax-deductible.