The Real Danger for Michigan Hunters? It’s Not Bullets

When Michigan hunters take their dark stroll to their stands, their minds are filled with visions of delicious backstraps and racks. Most probably not thinking about their balance or the relentless pull of—gravity. While you might think the most significant dangers hunters face are bullets and arrows, think again. The most common and painful hunting accident isn't about weaponry. It's falling out of trees.

Treestand falls have become Michigan's most frequent hunting mishap, catching hunters off guard and off balance at alarming rates. Around half of all injuries sending hunters to the ER come from these unexpected tumbles for trees, proving that even the most seasoned hunter is no match for slippery stands and sketchy branches.

The Reality and Impact of Michigan's Most Common Hunting Injury

Spectrum Health of Michigan reports that falls from treestands frequently require extensive surgeries and long-term recoveries, with injuries often involving broken bones, internal damage, and neck and back injuries. You might think these types of accidents only happen to newbies, but you'd be wrong. Treestand can happen to anyone anytime, especially when safety checks are skipped and precautions aren't taken.

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The irony is that these accidents are nearly 100% preventable. With a solid, securely anchored safety harness, hunters could spare themselves from the terrifying experience of lying on the forest floor, hoping their hunting buddy or passerby finds them motionless at the base of a tree. This easy safety measure will also spare your family a panic-inducing phone call.

For Michigan Hunters, Pride Preceeds the Fall and ER Visit

Michigan hunters are an adventurous bunch, no doubt about it. They are also stubborn and set in their ways. Every year, the same stories hit the news: a hunter falls while reaching for gear, or the stand shifts as they adjust their position. It's a predictable pattern (just ask anyone who works in the ER) that is surprisingly easy to avoid. Still, some hunters prefer to keep the tradition of recklessness alive by being too tough and skilled for a safety harness.

1800LeeFree notes that nearly 300,000 Michigan hunters have used tree stands every year since elevated hunting was legalized in Michigan in 1997, yet far too many underestimate the importance of safety gear and the power of gravity. You can't beat gravity. So, Michigan hunters, take a moment, if not for you, for your family. A harness isn't flashy, but it's a whole lot more fashionable than a hospital gown.