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JEFFERSON CITY--Try to envision a deer hunting accident, and chances are you^ll picture someone with a gun. But bowhunters can have accidents, too. Hunter safety officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation say many of the factors that contribute to bowhunting accidents are different from those that lead to firearms-related hunting accidents.
Hunters who use archery gear have a much lower accident rate than those who hunt with guns. But Conservation Department Protection Programs Supervisor Bob Staton says this is partly due to how Missouri defines hunting accidents.
"A hunter who gets shot becomes a hunting accident statistic," says Staton. "But one who falls out of a tree stand and breaks his back doesn^t. Bowhunters have a well-deserved reputation for being less likely to hurt other people, but the way we keep records masks the fact that archers often hurt themselves."
Staton notes that bowhunters must get very close to their quarry. This drastically reduces the likelihood of making a mistake in target identification. And because arrows have such a short range, so-called "line-of-fire" accidents are much less likely than with guns.
On the other hand, archery season lasts for months, so bowhunters spend much more time afield. And because archers are more likely to hunt from tree stands, they are at greater risk from falls.
Bows and arrows are more complicated and bulky than guns, and this also creates unique opportunities for mishaps.
"The first thing every archer should do in preparation for the hunting season is go over their equipment with a fine-toothed comb," says Staton. "That means everything from arrows to tree stands."
Staton says to start with your bow, checking for frayed strings, worn moving parts or cracked limbs. Get any defects fixed immediately. Check arrows for flaws. Pay special attention to broadheads, arrow rests and overdraw mechanisms, which can catch arrows as they are released.
Give tree stands a thorough going-over, too. Make sure all nuts are tight on climbing and portable stands. Look for cracks in platforms and braces. On permanent stands, check the sturdiness of wooden steps, platforms and supports. Look for slick places where a hand or foot could slip and sandpaper them rough or cover them with material that provides a secure hand or foot hold.
Staton says archers must practice until they are proficient with their equipment. "Take your tree stand out and practice mounting it at ground level before trying to do it 10 feet up in a tree. Practice shooting your bow at least 20 minutes a day, so you can shoot effortlessly and accurately. This will also help you work out any bugs in your gear.
Other bowhunting safety tips include:
--Never hunt without giving a reliable person detailed information about where you will hunt and when you will return.
--Always wear a safety harness while climbing up to or down from a stand and while on the stand.
--Use a harness that distributes your weight around your torso. Single-strap belts can cause internal injury when the wearer^s weight suddenly jerks them tight. Furthermore, the pressure from a single strap on the abdomen or chest can cause rapid loss of consciousness.
--Keep yourself on a short leash. Eight inches to a foot usually is plenty. Never leave more than two feet of slack in your safety harness. Falling farther than this causes severe impact when the harness finally snaps taut.
--Choose the location for your stand carefully. Avoid trees with hollow trunks or rotten branches that could fall on you.
--Remove twigs and branches that make it difficult to get in and out of your stand.
--Check the sturdiness of your stand each time you climb into it. With your safety harness on, hold onto the tree trunk while slowly transferring your weight to the stand. Then bounce lightly up and down to check for secure mounting.
--Always use a safety chain with climbing-type stands.
--Climb down from your stand before you grow sleepy or the weather turns bad. Drowsiness, high wind, rain, sleet or snow can make tree stands treacherous.
--Never carry anything while climbing into or out of your stand. Use a rope to haul these items into the stand after you are securely positioned.
--Don^t leave equipment on the ground directly under you while climbing. You could fall on an arrow or other item, worsening injury from the fall.
--Carry survival gear, including food, water, a whistle to signal for help, a space blanket and matches. Some hunters even carry walkie-talkies, cell phones or emergency strobe lights to summon help in an emergency.
- Jim Low -
Uploaded: 9/19/2000
Uploaded: 9/19/2000