Five things for tree stand hunters.......

1. NEVER use a pull up line that can hold more than about 25% of your weight. You wouldn' t want to be found hung dead in the woods should you get tangled up in it accidentally.

2. My invention. Since I don' t bow from tree stands, just shotgun, and take my shots sitting. I have seat belts on my stands. Go to the boneyard and pull them out of (my favorites) pick ups, vans (especially conversion vans). Unbolt them and take the whole set up, D-rings and all. Bolt them to your stand seat and use them! You won' t stand a chance of forgetting them cause they are always there.

3. If you use a safety harness, only allow yourself the the minimum amount of slack you can get away with. If you should fall, the more distance you fall before STOPPING the more you' re gonna feel it.

4. If using a harness, try to use a " decellerator" type lanyard rated for your weight. If you do fall, you won' t have a sudden jolt when you come to a stop.

5. Never use a " around the waist type" belt. If you are left to hang from it for even a minute, your diaphragm cannot move and you basically suffocate. Use a proper size, full body harness only.

Two other things..........

1. Always assume there is atleast one broken off arrow shaft with broadhead in every animal when you go to gutting it out. Let the animal do the bleeding.

2. VERY IMPORTANT! NEVER travel afield in the dark without a light on your body. We like the newer carabeener type LED types. They attach to you about anywhere, can be bright, medium, low, fast blink or slow blink. They are available in multiple colors and individual guys can be easily identified by their perspective colors.

Uncle Matt (in IL)