5 Bow Hunting Safety Tips for Your 2024-25 Season From a Hunter/Lawyer
Soon it will be the best time of the year for many hunters in Pennsylvania: Bow Season! I am sure most of us have some solid bucks on camera and are already hanging or trimming stands. As an injury attorney, I thought it wise to write an article on the five most common causes of injuries we hunters suffer due to our negligence, or sometimes even the negligence of others via poor manufacturing of products or the downright stupidity of fellow sportsmen.
1. Always Carry and Use a Safety Harness
When hunting from a tree stand, whether it is a climber or ladder stand using a safety harness is non-negotiable. Falls from tree stands are a leading cause of hunting-related injuries, and a harness can be the difference between a close call and a serious, life-changing accident. Often it is due to hunters not doing what they know they are supposed to. Other times it is a faulty product. Either way, we can only do as much as we can to prevent injury. Ensure that your harness is properly fitted, in good condition, and securely attached to the tree at all times. If you are climbing, shimmy up the tree with the harness attached, loosening it and tightening it with each rep as you climb. If you have a ladder stand, tie-off as soon as you get up in the tree. If you can, use a lifeline system so you are attached to the tree the entire time you climb a ladder or your climbing sticks (link in footnote).[1] Also as you kind of have to with climbers, use a string to pull your bow up and never climb a ladder/climbing sticks with your bow. Doing so only prevents you from focusing on tying yourself to the tree as soon as possible. Even the most experienced bowhunters fall every year. You aren’t immune!
2. Check and Maintain Your Equipment Regularly
Your bow, arrows, and other gear should be in top condition before every hunt. Inspect your bow for any signs of wear and tear, such as frayed strings (wax them), loose screws (tighten them), or cracks in the limbs (probably buy a new bow). Carbon arrows carry a severe, although rare risk. If using carbon, as most do nowadays, a damaged arrow can cause the arrow to splinter or snap while under pressure when you release, causing multiple daggers of carbon to shoot through your arm/hand:
Sometimes this is due to something you did to the arrow to damage it, or it can be a manufacturing defect giving rise to products liability. In sum, regular maintenance not only extends the life of your equipment but also ensures that everything functions properly when you need it most. What most may not think about, is checking for recalls. I’ve seen some recalls on certain compounds over the years, and a buddy of mine got his thumb severed due to a faulty safety on his crossbow. Checking for recalls are just one more thing you can do to ensure you will be safe this season.
3. Know Your Target and Beyond, and Be Smart About Movement
You’d think this would only be a concern in rifle season, but we have to talk about it here, too. One of the most fundamental rules of any type of hunting is to identify your target and what lies beyond it. Never shoot at movement or noise; always positively identify your target before drawing your bow. Be aware of the surroundings beyond your target to avoid accidentally hitting another animal, person, or property. A quick Google search unfortunately shows that people do, somehow, get shot with bows every year while hunting. A more prevalent risk is getting shot by hunters with guns while bowhunting. For example, last year a Pennsylvania guy was convicted for accidentally killing a bowhunter in Colorado with a muzzleloader https://www.themeateater.com/hunt/big-game/bowhunter-accidentally-killed-by-fellow-elk-hunter-in-colorado. (This is scary, as I am going back to Utah this September to see if we can get another elk in bow season and I think it will also be muzzleloader season!) Just as I explained in my turkey hunting safety video, if you see another hunter, don’t waive. Yell if you feel you are at risk instead. Dumb people will, unfortunately, shoot at movement.
4. Communicate and Follow Hunting Etiquette
Whether you’re hunting alone or with a group, clear communication is vital. Let someone know where you’ll be hunting and when you expect to return. Keep your group aware of each other's locations at all times. Respect other hunters' space and avoid encroaching on their hunting area. Following basic hunting etiquette not only enhances safety but also ensures a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
5. Use Safe Knife Handling Techniques When Gutting
When you finally drill that big one you had one camera or you are zippin’ does and filling the freezer (super fun in my opinion), make sure you are being smart about your blade usage while gutting. Always strike and cut away from you and your hand/fingers. When you are in the guts, I always put my non-knife hand in first and follow my arm with my knife hand with the blade facing away to avoid getting cut. This is most useful when you have to reach in and cut the esophagus and pull out the respiratory system. If you don’t keep you hearts, give them to me! If this is all foreign to you, here is a video I made 5 years ago on gutting deer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn7-byIs0Lk
CONCLUSION
Some of these have probably been told you your whole life, or they may be new advice. Either way, it’s always a good idea to review bow hunting safety. Use safety harnesses, check your gear, shoot at deer, not people, let people know where you are, and don’t cut yourself. Simple stuff. Good luck this season!
If you happen to know anyone that was unfortunate enough to be injured in a hunting accident, call my office (The Skeen Firm) at 724-249-2439 for a free consultation.
Brian P. McLaughlin (pictured left, bow season 2021)
*Disclaimer: the advice provided is for informational purposes and is not intended as legal advice. It should not be relied on, nor construed as creating an attorney-client relationship.