Fall From Tree Stand

[blake]

From the Iowa DNR:
Mt. Pleasant Man Seriously Injured After Fall From Tree Stand

MOUNT PLEASANT – A Mount Pleasant man received serious injuries after falling from a deer stand on Nov. 4th.

John W. “Willy” Amos, 37, was hunting deer when he fell from the elevated stand he was hunting from shortly after 10 a.m. The stand was approximately 26 to 28 feet from the ground. He was airlifted by helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. The incident was reported to emergency personnel by Steven L. Witthoft, 32, of Mount Pleasant who was hunting with Amos at the time.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating what caused the fall and has been assisted by Officer Mark McConnell of the Mount Pleasant Police Department who was the first investigating officer at the scene.

DNR Conservation Officer Les Nieland reminds hunters to use every safety device they have available to them when hunting from an elevated stand.

“Hunters need to be exceptionally careful when moving in or out of a stand,” Nieland said.

TURN IN POACHERS!

TIP

 

[JakeWym]

Scarey stuff.

 

[Iowa1]

26-28 feet... wow.

 

[kam582]

That is a long ways off the ground. Mine are about 15 to 20 feet. I firmly believe in the system that I use. A safety vest/harness with the rope from the ground to the top of the stand, with the knot that slips up and down the rope. I am always tied in, from the first step to the top, and back down again. Keep a couple of screw in steps in my vest pocket so if I fall I can screw them into the tree and relieve the pressure.

Way too old to be falling out of a tree.

 

[Typical250]

We go about 20-25ft but I can't have a stand without a tree right next to it or good branches under me.. I HATE hights

 

[kam582]

I have used hang on stands for years. It's funny, when I hung the first one and climbed onto it, I immediately climbed down, went to town, and bought a safety harness. Something about standing on a 3 foot square piece of metal with only a nylon strap holding the stand to the tree sobered me up. They don't bother me now and I really like the mobility, but I am always tied in.