MOUNT VERNON — Monday’s tree-stand accident near Fredericktown is a reminder of the dangers posing hunters this time of year. State Wildlife officers Mike Miller and Bill Bullard would like to remind residents of Knox and Licking counties to take the proper precautions.
“More hunters in Ohio are hurt each year by falling out of a tree stand than there are actual hunting incidents,” said Miller. “Right now, this is the peak time of year for bow hunters. We are approaching the middle of the rut, and a lot of guys are out in tree stands, especially with the good weather we are having.”
“In a bow hunting setting, the most dangerous time a hunter will see is getting in and getting out,” said Bullard. “It is a dangerous thing. Don’t detach your safety harness until you have three points of contact.”
Safety starts at home. According to Miller, hunters are encouraged to develop a plan before leaving their house. Let someone know where you will be and what time you plan to return. This way, if there is an accident, help will come looking.
It is also important to develop a plan for the hunt. Know how to safely get in and out of the tree, and be sure to use the proper safety equipment.
“You need to decide how you are going to get up into the tree, whether you are going to use climbing steps or if you are going to use screw-in steps,” Miller said. “You want to make sure they are attached properly, so that they are good, strong and stable. You want to make sure they can hold your weight. ... You should try and use equipment that is certified by the Treestand Manufacturers Association. That way, you know that it is good quality equipment.”
When getting in and out of the tree, it is important to use proper technique. It is also important to use a full-body safety harness. There are others out on the market, but none are as effective. Hunters should never use a single belt or rope tied around themselves as it could lead to suffocation if a fall occurs.
“Things to keep in mind when you are climbing into a tree stand are to make sure you have three points of contact when you are climbing,” said Miller. “You should always maintain three points of contact with your feet and hands. That gives you more stability. Also, when you get up into the tree, make sure you fix your harness. ... You should be wearing a full-body harness instead of a safety belt. That way you will be as safe as possible should you fall.”
“The full-body harness gives you support in your groin and crotch area, and comes up over your shoulders. This is the ideal scenario,” said Bullard.
“A full-body harness will distribute your weight across your entire body should you have a fall,” said Miller. “That’s what it is designed for; your entire body absorbs the energy. When you have an average hunter (about 200 pounds) and they fall, at the end of the rope there will be a tremendous amount of impact. This harness is designed to handle that.”
It is imperative that hunters take these safety precautions. In 2007 alone, more hunters died from falling than from firearms. When you are 20 feet in the air, these precautions may be the only thing to save your life.
“One out of three bow hunters fall out of trees. Chances are you are going to fall out of a tree at some point. Eighty-plus percent of all hunters at some point in time in their hunting career are going to fall out of a tree. Of those, the degree of injury varies. How seriously you are injured depends on how well-equipped you are to handle that fall.”
Miller said the majority of hunters spend more money on their bows and arrows than their safety equipment.
“The idea is to make sure you get home safely,” said Bullard. “Whatever it takes to do that is the most important thing.”
GOOD TO EAT?: In a story by the Associated Press, a study released Wednesday, done by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the North Dakota state health department, found that lead traces in wild game leads to high lead levels in the blood of game consumers. The elevated blood levels were not considered dangerous, but side effects could include learning problems and convulsions. In severe cases, lead poisoning can lead brain damage and death.
The results of the study are the first of their kind, even though it has been widely debated for some time. A separate study by Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources previously found that fragments from lead bullets spread as far as 18 inches away from the wound.
“There have been a lot of different articles dealing with lead in deer. That is mostly due to bullet fragmentation,” said Miller. “Some things to keep in mind is that, out west, people hunt with high-powered rifles. When those bullets hit, they fragment much more than a deer slug does or a muzzleloading rifle does. Usually the deer slugs and methods we use to hunt in Ohio don’t produce the same results as far as when the bullets hit a deer.”
North Dakota health department officials are advising pregnant women and children younger than 6 to avoid eating venison harvested using lead bullets. Miller said no such advice is needed in Ohio, though common sense should be used.
“If it is something anyone is concerned about, they can cut out that part of the meet which is affected,” Miller said. “Always look for exit wounds, and make sure the slug exited the deer. When you field dress the animal or if you butcher it yourself, make sure you recover the slug. You can always look at the slug to see if any pieces are missing, and you can back track through wound channels to be sure of it. You can also trim out that little bit of meat that’s there.
“Most of the things I’ve read say these are just precautions because they don’t know if it is going to affect anybody or not. If you are really concerned about it, maybe contact the state health department to see if they have any concerns. I have not been given anything to be concerned about. I’m not worried about eating any deer I’ve shot with a deer slug here in the county.”
