East Aurora Advertiser

Column: Hunter Safety from the Eagle’s Nest



With the seasonal shift now in progress, it’s becoming a colorful time of year and a likable time of year for most everyone that loves the outdoors. 

For deer hunters, the archery season is now open (Oct. 1) and it has been too warm for the usual natural deer behavior of bucks seeking does so early. It was 83 degrees on opening day this past Tuesday! The rut, the typical time for bucks to mark their territory and leave a scent trail to be followed by members of the opposite sex – a mating ritual, is predicted to be about the second week in November. If you are an archery hunter and are out there anyway, I understand. It’s fun to be in the woods in a tree stand well above the ground, safely tethered to your favorite tree, out of any danger that might befall you should you render yourself asleep up there. 

I must confess, I fall asleep just about every hunt. It’s OK and, honestly, I’m not sure there is any other place I would rather be, it’s that beautiful and satisfying to be in the woods just observing nature from above the forest floor. 

Is it dangerous to be up 20 feet or more in a tree? Yes. All risk can be safely minimized if you are safely tethered to the tree. That’s what I do as I ascend in my trusty Summit Viper climbing tree stand. This stand fastens around the tree with a strong, flexible, wire hoop and this stand also acts as an “easy chair” once “up there.” This is the safest and most comfortable way to hunt from above ground – tethered to the tree every foot of the way that you climb upward, sit to hunt, then descend at the end of the day. I am in full confidence that no danger or injury will occur with this setup and I feel totally safe, yet I do always stay aware of issues, worn parts and all that.

Another advantage is that I can be in a new tree for every hunt. There is no over-scent left by my presence in the same tree each time out. Deer have super-sensitive smell, sight and hearing. Find a fresh scrape, get downwind, go up, you have the hunting advantage. It all works to help you be successful as a hunter and based on the number of deer here (very high), vehicle drivers heading to work and school during early hours need deer hunter help about now.

A “Lifeline” for tree stand hunters and wildlife observers is a relatively new safety device to help prevent injury from the tree-tops if you slip or fall asleep while high above. Photo Provided by Forrest Fisher

Many big game hunters that hunt from above use a fixed ladder stand. Most are using modern, metal stands that will not rot with exposure to rain or snow, that’s a big plus. The old style, build-it-yourself tree stands from wood are mostly history today, but if you hunt from one of those be very careful. If you hunt from either one of these stand types, old or new, wood or metal, there is one common protection method that will work for both stand types. To be just as safe as if you were in a climbing tree stand and tethered to the tree from start to finish, check out the Hunter Safety System (HSS) Lifeline and don’t wait to get one, do it now (huntersafetysystem.com), the season is upon us.

Anyone that hunts above ground should always be wearing a full body harness, of course, that is rule number one. Your family and friends are way too important to be taking care of you with a broken back or broken neck, since these are among the most common injuries from a tree stand fall, if you live. Lots of guys think they are the big, strong, macho brutes of the woods and don’t need a harness for their 10-foot tree stand (hunter women not so much, they follow the safety rules). Everyone that hunts above ground needs a full body harness, period. Injury can happen from much lower heights, too. Protect yourself.

To hunt with the harness and Lifeline, just clip the full-body harness carabiner (the uppermost clip on your harness) to the moveable HSS Lifeline Prussic loop knot (part of the Lifeline unit), it slides up with you as you go up – one foot at a time. If you slip off the ladder as you are climbing up, or from the top as you sit in your stand for hours on end – way up there, or coming back down, you are protected by the Lifeline. For $40, it’s worth it. Total protection from the ground to the top of the stand and back down – your medical insurance options will appreciate no changes. The full body harness cost runs $60 to $200, there are lots of choices (I’m a simple guy, my $60 model works great), you can search at Cabela’s where they offer many brands, but the same HSS website also has harness details.

Yes, the full body harness takes some time to become familiar with, but once mastered, you can put it on and take it off in about 20-30 seconds, even in the dark. I’ve used mine for about 20 years, it gets to be that simple to draw your bow and aim your arrow, or point your firearm, from 20 or 30 feet up, in full confidence. The deer, choice of shot and your well-being is now totally yours – no safety worries. 

With the warm weather early in the season, or when it turns brutally cold during firearm and blackpowder season, you can hunt with the confidence that you will return. Your children, your family and your friends might like that if you explain to them how it all works. You are safe. Share this good news. Get a full body harness, get a Lifeline and get some safe sleep when you hunt. After all, we get up so doggone early!

Outdoors Calendar

Oct. 1 – Nov. 15: NYS Southern Zone Early Big Game Bowhunting Season

Oct. 5: Southtowns Walleye Meat Raffle Nite, 6-10PM, free beer/pop/food, 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg, open to public

Oct. 5-6: Youth Waterfowl Weekend (NYS), Western Zone, w/mentor

Oct. 7: West Falls Conservation Association, monthly meeting night, 8PM, free dinner, 55 Bridge St., West Falls, guests are welcome

Oct. 12-13: Youth Pheasant Hunting Weekend (NYS), w/mentor

Oct. 12-14: Youth Big Game Hunting Weekend w/firearm (NYS), w/mentor

Oct. 15: NYS Inland trout season ends (see regulations guide)

Oct. 19-Nov.1: NYS Southern Zone fall turkey hunting season

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Share life with others, make new friends in the outdoors, lead by example. Send comments to nugdor@yahoo.com.

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