Hunters Urged to Remember Tree Stand Safety as Season Begins

With hunting season underway, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is reminding hunters to take safety seriously when using elevated stands. September is National Tree Stand Safety Awareness Month, and officials say the “ABCs” of safety can save lives.

The easy-to-remember checklist comes from the Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation:

• A: Always remove and inspect equipment, and practice at ground level.
• B: Buckle on a full-body safety harness every time.
• C: Connect to the tree before leaving the ground, and take it slow.
• D: Destination, share your stand location before each hunt.

The reminder comes after the 2024–2025 season saw 10 reported tree stand incidents, including one fatality. Investigators found that nine hunters involved were not wearing a safety harness, and the one who did failed to stay connected to the tree. Five of those involved had never taken a hunter education course.

DWR officials stress that many accidents are preventable. Hunters are urged to inspect stands for damage before each use, read instructions carefully, and secure stands only to healthy, straight trees. Other recommendations include leaving a map on the dashboard of your vehicle, carrying a charged phone or whistle, and using a haul line to raise or lower gear.

Hunters are also advised to wear blaze orange, even while in a stand, so others in the woods know their location. Extra caution should be used in bad weather, when stands and ladders become slick.

Beyond equipment, practice and preparation are key. DWR encourages hunters—especially those new to the sport—to complete a Hunter Education Course and practice climbing with their fall-arrest system before the season begins.

“Hunting is a tradition valued by generations of Virginians,” said Jimmy Mootz, Hunter Education and Outreach Team Lead for DWR. “By wearing a safety harness every time you hunt off the ground, you’re helping ensure those traditions continue safely.”

More details on hunter education, including classes, mentorships, and safety resources, are available at the Virginia DWR website.