When it comes to hunting equipment, it is not guns, but rather deer stands that are most common cause of injury to hunters. Deer stands can be set up off the grand anywhere from 2 feet to 30 plus feet, and when a hunter falls out of one, he or she faces anything from a few bruises to a broken leg to paralyzation to death.

There are a few ways in which the utilization of deer stands has injured hunters:

Oftentimes, a hunter goes back to the same deer stand, hunting season after hunting season. Over the years, a deer stand may start to deteriorate. Before you use a deer stand, be sure to check and double check the safety of it.

The hunter may decide to not wear his or her harness.

The harness may malfunction (check and make sure it is in complete working order before using it, even if it worked fine yesterday!)

A hunter may decide to take off the harness to provide a better angle for a shot. Do not do this! Instead, just be patient. There is a good chance that you will get the opportunity for a better shot if you simply wait.

The hunter may fall asleep.

Just one careless moment can cause a great injury!

There are things that hunters can do to prevent serious injury:

Inspect the fasteners that connect the stand to the tree. Replace all worn and missing parts before hunting season.

Where a safety harness.

Do not simply use rock climbing gear. Use a harness made specifically for the purpose of hunting from deer stands.

Wear the belt when climbing a climbing stand.

Check your harness system and other equipment and verify that everything is in working order.

Hunt in groups.

Let someone know where you are hunting and when you will return. Leave a note on your car to further detail your location.

Carry a walkie-talkie and/or cell phone (if you get reception) so that you can let people know if you get in trouble.

Do not attach your deer stand any higher than 20 feet off the ground (even at 20 feet, you risk death if you fall).

Do not simply carry your gun up with you into the tree. Rather, use a haul line to move both your gun and equipment up to the tree.

Leave your gun unloaded until up on the deer stand.

Do not fall asleep while up in the tree!