LITTLE ROCK – A colleague once received a pair of jumper cables from his father-in-law for Christmas. The only response he could give was, “Thanks, I hope I never need them.” They may not have had the charm of a new set of golf clubs, but those jumper cables have bailed him out of more serious trouble than any sand wedge. Treestand safety harnesses and inflatable life jackets fall into that category of fairly unexciting gifts, but they may be the only things under the tree that could save your loved one’s life.
The most common hunting and boating fatalities each year include falling from a treestand and drowning after a boating accident. Every death is tragic, but losing a loved one in an accident that could have been avoided by simply wearing a piece of safety gear is even more painful.
According to the AGFC’s annual Hunter Incident Report for July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024, 14 of the 19 reported hunting accidents were the result of a fall from a treestand. According to the National Bowhunter Education Foundation, three in 10 hunters who use treestands will have an accident at some point in their hunting career. The proper use of safety equipment can prevent those eventualities from being fatal or life-changing accidents.
Everyone at the AGFC hopes you’ll never have to truly “use” a safety harness, but much like those trusty jumper cables, it’s something you should never be without. Some safety harnesses, particularly those supplied with treestands, can be a confusing mess of straps and buckles. But many aftermarket safety systems are easy to wear, have pockets for gear and other features to benefit the hunter while in the stand.
Take the time to learn how the harness fits and works at home and on the ground before trying to use it in the field. Label the shoulders with “right” and “left” marks if it helps you put it on straight, and learn how the system secures to the tree so you’re not left wearing an unattached harness in the field.
“Make sure you have contact with that tree from the time you leave the ground until you get back down at the end of the hunt,” said Joe Huggins, AGFC Hunter Education Coordinator. “That moment making the transition from ladder or climbing steps to the stand is one of the riskiest times in hunting; it’s also the moment when many hunters unfasten their harness from the climbing lifeline to a different tether and are not securely attached to the tree.”
Just like safety harnesses, life jackets are the most often neglected accessory when anglers and boaters are on the water.
According to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s 2023 Year End Boating Accident Report, only 35 percent of boaters involved in accidents last year were wearing a life jacket. All nine victims of boating fatalities last year were not wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident.
By law, all children 12 and under must be wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket any time they are on a boat. The only exception to this is if the child is within the enclosed area of a houseboat or cruiser, or within the area enclosed by railings on a party barge, cruiser, or houseboat, and the vessel is not underway. For those above this age requirement, there must be a proper fitting U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket available and within easy reach for each person on board a boat on Arkansas waters.
When people think of life vests, images of those old bright-orange horse-collar vests may come to mind, but modern life jackets are built for comfort as well as safety. Inflatable life vests are hardly noticeable once you put them on, and most versions deploy automatically to inflate when submerged in water.
“If you’re buying an inflatable life jacket, spend the extra money for the ones that deploy automatically. They give you an added layer of protection over the ones you have to manually deploy, should you be in an accident that renders you unconscious and unable to do so. ” Sydney Grant, Boating Law Administrator for the AGFC, said.
Another thing to be sure of, according to Grant, is to read carefully about the life jacket’s intended purpose and ratings, and to make sure the personal flotation device you choose is U.S. Coast Guard approved.
“Inflatable life jackets are not allowed for use on personal watercraft like SeaDoos or Jetskis, and they’re not allowed for anyone being towed behind a boat,” Grant said. “There are also age, size and weight restrictions for each PFD and inflatable life jackets are often not intended for use with boaters under the age of 16.”
Adding a note to wear the vest when on the water might be a great addition to an accompanying Christmas card.
“It only works if you’re wearing it,” Grant said. “Unfortunately, many boating fatalities occurred with life jackets in the boat but the victim was not wearing it at the time of the accident. A little nudge from loved ones can go a long way to remind someone their safety is on your mind when they’re away.”
Duck hunters, too, should wear life jackets when on the water, and many well-designed float coats are available to add some insulation as well as flotation should a hunter take a tumble overboard.
“With tens of thousands of dollars spent on boats, electronics and other gear, safety equipment just isn’t something fun that some anglers and hunters want to spend money on, but you can tell someone you care about them and want them to return home from all their trips this season if you get these things for them,” Grant said.
Visit www.agfc.com/huntered for more information on hunting safety and to enroll in a Hunter Education course.
For more information on boating safety and to enroll in a Boater Education course, visit www.agfc.com/boatered.