The Daily Home published an article on January 29th, that I just ran across and I thought I would pass it along. There have been four fatalities in the State of Alabama this year from falls involving tree stands. There are several tips and strategies to avoid such accidents contained in the article. If you are a tree-stand hunter, or know someone who is, read this article and put those safety tips into practice.

http://www.dailyhome.com/view/full_story/11177792/article-Hunter-safety-issues-increase-in-Alabama?instance=home_lead_story

Improper Tree Stand

Here is an example of what NOT to do.  In my times in the forests of Alabama, I have ran across some interesting things.  This one takes the cake.  If you will look closely at the photo, you will notice a common folding chair affixed to a tree.  What you cannot tell in the photo is that it is 20+  feet from the ground and affixed by nails through the back of the chair.   My friend, Ray Clifton with the Alabama Forestry Association, and I were out looking at timberland property for sale when we ran across this take on a tree stand.  I’m hoping it was done as a joke, and that no one is actually hunting from a stand such as this…but you never know.  Kids, don’t try this at home!