Abstract
Almost 11 million people are estimated to be recreational deer hunters in the USA. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding tree stand injuries associated with deer hunting, a popular outdoor recreational activity in the USA. Injuries from falling from treestands now represent a greater threat to hunters than firearms injuries. Reported injury rates, when sufficient information was provided, varied from 0.002 to 0.053. One of the most commonly reported injuries was to the spinal cord. Contributory to the accidents were: mechanical failures, use of intoxicants, failure to use a fall arrest device, falling asleep, and carelessness. Ascending and descending from the stand were found to be particularly hazardous. Better record keeping and improved outdoor education might improve the safety of this outdoor activity.
Key Words: Hunter education, spinal cord injuries, suspension trauma
Recommended Citation
Bishop, P. A.,
Frischmann, N. A.,
& Jones, E. J.
(2013).
Recreational deer hunting tree stand injuries in the USA: A brief review.
Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 5(3), 258–270.
https://doi.org/10.7768/1948-5123.1173
