Warnings
4
WARNING! Never rely on a tree branch for support while climbing. Failure to follow these instructions
may result in serious injury or death!
WARNING! You must always inform someone of your hunting location, where the treestand will be
located and the expected duration of the hunt. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious
injury or death!
WARNING! Inspect all safety devices each time before each use. DO NOT leave ground or use these
devices if they show signs of wear, damage, deterioration, vandalism, fraying or other damage. Factors
such as tree growth, vandals, weather and animals may affect the performance of an unattended
treestand or safety device. Do not store these devices outdoors when not in use. Failure to follow these
instructions may result in serious injury or death!
WARNING! Practice using your full-body fall arrest harness at ground-level in the presence of a responsible
adult to experience the feeling of hanging suspended before using in a hunting environment. Failure to
follow these instructions may result in serious injury or death!
WARNING! When hunting from a treestand falls can occur any time after leaving the ground causing injury
or death. Always wear your full-body fall arrest system (FAS) comprising a full-body harness, tether, tree
belt and Suspension Relief Device at all times after leaving the ground. When using a ladder stand, you
must connect to the tree as soon as possible and prior to stepping on the platform of the treestand. Please
read and review your full body harness instructions and the safety video for instruction of the safe use of
harnesses when using a ladder treestand. Single safety belts and chest harnesses are no longer allowed
and should never be used as they put the user at serious risk of injury or death. If you are not wearing your
full-body arrest harness properly attached to the tree that is protecting you from a fall, do not leave the
ground. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious injury or death!
WARNING! The length of the full-body fall arrest tether must be minimized at all times. It should be
adjusted so that it is above the head with no slack (snug) in the sitting position and you should have the
minimum amount of slack possible when climbing. Failure to follow these instructions may result in
serious injury or death!
WARNING! Never attempt to climb up or climb down with a weapon and/or gear period. ALWAYS unload
your weapon and pull it up to hunting height using pull up rope when raising or lowering firearms, the
chamber must be open and the barrel pointing toward the ground. ALWAYS lower your unloaded weapon
down to the ground prior to attempting to climb down. Use this same method when raising or lowering all
other gear. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious injury or death!
WARNING! Failure to follow harness instructions could result in not being able to return to the stand and
being suspended in a harness after a fall. If your hunting location is unknown by anyone and
communications efforts are unsuccessful, you must have a personal plan for self-recovery/escape should
you experience a fall. Prolonged suspension in a harness can be fatal. It is important to exercise the legs by
pushing against the tree or doing other forms of continuous leg exercise to avoid blood pooling while being
suspended. Varying degrees of physical fitness may require different plans for self-recovery/escape to avoid
the effects of prolonged suspension. Have a personal plan and practice it in the presence of a responsible
adult before leaving the ground. No one escape/rescue plan will work for every hunter, on every tree, in
every circumstance. Only you can determine the best self-recovery/escape plan for your hunting situation
and you must have a self-recovery/escape plan for your individual situation before leaving the ground.
There is time to make a correct decision on what action to take if a fall occurs while wearing a full-body fall
arrest harness. It is important to remember, “DO NOT PANIC.” You must only hunt from the ground when
self-recovery/escape ability is absent. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious injury or
death!
Several optional products/systems are available that offer self-recovery or self extraction from a fall when
suspended in a harness. Some systems automatically descend the user while others allow user control.
One of these products/systems can be considered for use as an additional safety precaution against
prolonged suspension and suspension trauma. Be sure to follow the manufacturers’ directions on the safe
use of these products/systems.
WARNING! A suspension relief device must be on your person and readily accessible while using your
full-body fall arrest harness. These devices allow the user to relieve the load on the lower extremities if
suspended in a harness and help maintain circulation in the legs, mitigate suspension trauma (blood
pooling) or allow descent to the ground. Be sure to follow the directions on the safe use of any suspension
relief device. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious injury or death!
