Iowa deer hunters are being warned about the risks associated with tree stands, which studies show are now the leading cause of injury for hunters, surpassing gunshot wounds.
With more than 100,000 deer hunters expected in Iowa this season, Megan Anderson, an injury prevention coordinator at Emplify Health by Gundersen, says many falls are caused by human error.
“We can have equipment or structural issues, so deterioration of the stand or equipment breaking can cause falls,” Anderson says. “Then environmental factors, like rain or morning dew. Oftentimes hunters are getting in and out of the stand when it’s dark, and stands can be slippery.”
Anderson says falls from tree stands can lead to serious injuries.
“When we’re talking about falls, we see broken bones, mostly arms, legs and hips,” Anderson says. “You can get head injuries from falls, and spinal injuries can happen too, which could cause paralysis from higher falls.”
She says hunters can reduce the risk by taking a few basic safety precautions.
“Always using a full-body harness is really important,” Anderson says. “Using a tow line so you’re not carrying your gear with you helps keep three points of contact at all times. And make sure someone knows where you’ll be and when you plan to return.”
Anderson also recommends checking for cell phone reception once in the stand and considering a two-way radio if there is no signal. She says keeping stands lower can also reduce the risk of serious injury.
“We often see falls with injuries at 15 to 20 feet, and it’s recommended to have your stand about 10 feet or less,” Anderson says. “The higher you get, the higher the fall, and the more likely you are to have a serious injury.”
Studies show more than 80 percent of firearm hunters and 90 percent of bow hunters use a tree stand or elevated position.
Emplify Health by Gundersen has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.
