The state Department of Environmental Conservation this week released its first-ever summary of treestand related accidents during the fall hunting season.
State Environmental Conservation officers looked into a total of 12 accidents – 6 that resulted in deaths of hunters.
(In above 2010 photo, deer hunter Chris Nutter of Cicero sits in one of the tree stands he used for hunting that year. Nutter has been a hunter safety instructor for years and preaches about safely using tree stands.)
DEC does not have data on tree stand injuries or deaths from previous years. The DEC also noted that figures cited below are from preliminary reports and may not have captured all tree stand incidents that occurred.
*5 fatal accidents involved no full body harness
*1 fatal accident involved an unattached harness
*3 non-fatal accidents involved no full body harness
*3 non-fatal accidents involved an unattached body harness
*Climbing tree stand (2)
*Hang-on tree stand (4)
*Ladder stand (2)
*Home-made tree stand (4)
*10/20 – Oswego County. Fatality. No harness. Hang-on tree stand. Hunter fell from stand when ratchet strap securing stand to tree broke. Stand condition poor.
* 10/27 – Monroe County. Fatality. No harness. Hang-on tree stand. Hunter was entering or exiting stand. Age 35.
*11/8 – Monroe County. No harness. Ladder Stand. While sitting in stand, one of the nylon straps for the suspended seat failed, causing the individual to list to one side and fall approximately 20 feet to the ground. Age 58.
*11/17 – Delaware County. No harness. Home-made tree stand. Victim was in stand when the entire stand broke away from the tree and collapsed. Age 68.
*11/17 – Schoharie County. Harness used. Hang-on tree stand. Victim lost his balance and fell from stand, possibly while trying to attach his safety harness. Age 53.
* 11/18 – Cayuga County. Fatality. No harness. Climbing stand. Hunter was climbing tree when top tree loop broke at 16 feet. Stand was old and rusted. Age 54.
* 11/20 – Washington County. Fatality. Harness used. Homemade tree stand. Hunter was attempting to attach his safety harness when the wooden platform collapsed. Age 73.
*11/25 – Broome County. Harness used. Ladder stand. Hunter was climbing down from his stand when he slipped and fell. He was wearing his harness while in the stand. Age 45.
*11/29 – Niagara. Fatality. No harness. Homemade tree stand. Hunter was found at base of stand. Coroner reported heart attack and fell from stand. Age 69.
*12/3 – Orleans County. Fatality. No harness. Homemade tree stand. Coroner reported heart attack and fell from stand. Age 80.
*12/3 – Cortland County. No harness. Climbing tree stand. Victim fell from 15-20 feet while climbing with his tree stand due to an unsecured safety latch pin and lack of an attached safety harness. Age 42.
*12/3 – Oneida County. Harness used. Victim fell out of his stand when the hanging strap holding the platform broke and he fell approximately 14 feet. Age 32.
Exposing the Big Game 
Reblogged this on The Extinction Chronicles.
Maybe these Knuckleheads should start wearing parachutes…☂