On September 25, 2014

Tree stands: easy does it

Tree stands get hunters out of sight and smell of wary deer, but they can also get hunters into trouble. Here are some tips from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department to help you stay safe and get the most out of your tree-stand hunting experience:

Choose a live, straight tree.

Buy smart. Use stands certified by the Treestand Manufacturers Association (TMA).

Inspect the stand each time you use it.

Know the rules. On state lands, it is illegal to place nails or other hardware into trees or to build permanent structures. On private lands, you must have landowner permission to erect a tree stand, cut or remove trees or other plants, or cut limbs. All stands, including ground blinds, must be marked with the owner’s name and address.

Always wear a full-body safety harness. Most falls occur going up and down the tree and getting in and out of the stand.

Don’t go too high. The higher you go, the vital zone on a deer decreases, while the likelihood of a serious injury increases.

Never carry firearms or bows up and down trees. Always use a haul line to raise and lower gear. Make sure firearms are unloaded.

Familiarize yourself with your gear in advance. Opening day is a bad time to try safety gear for the first time.

Be careful with long-term placement. Exposure can damage straps, ropes and attachment cords. Also, the stand’s stability can be compromised over time, as the tree grows.

Hunt smart. Hunt safe. Wear orange!

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Inventing a better ski day: the innovations that drew crowds to Killington

July 2, 2025
By Karen D. Lorentz Editors’ Note: This is part of a series on the factors that enabled Killington to become the Beast of the East. Quotations are from author interviews in the 1980s for the book Killington, A Story of Mountains and Men. “We’ve got a million dollars that says you’ll learn to ski at…

Cirque Series celebrates successful Killington debut

July 2, 2025
By Polly Mikula The Cirque Series broke trail in New England with two new races. On June 7, runners raced up Cannon Mountain in Franconia, New Hampshire and this past Saturday, June 28, they tackled “The Beast of the East,” Killington Mountain. Cirque is also adding Crystal Mountain, Washington, to its national lineup of eight…

Get a GRIP

June 27, 2025
Hold on, don’t lose traction — get a GRIP! It’s time to ride! With over 250 trails within 45 minutes of Killington this trail guide will show you all there is to discover — and enhance your experience with tips on where to go, what to do and where to go to refuel. (We can’t…

How to take the best flicks of your tricks

June 27, 2025
To take the best photos of mountain bike tricks, focus on the technique, composition, and timing. Tips compiled from experts can help you capture dynamic shots, accurately capturing (and even slightly enhancing) the extreme nature of the feat. By combining these techniques, you can create stunning, action-packed images that truly capture the excitement and skill…