Make a Safety Plan

Making a safety plan before going saddle hunting is essential to your safety in case of an emergency.

• Know the weather and time of sunset before you go hunting. You should never use saddle hunting equipment during severe weather such as lightning, windstorms, or icy conditions. You should not saddle hunt in the dark without being prepared to use a hands-free light source to aid your ascent and descent.
• If your hunting location is not known by others and communication efforts are unsuccessful, you must have a personal plan for recovery or escape in the event of prolonged suspension in a harness, which can be fatal.
• While suspended, it is important to exercise the legs by pushing against the tree or doing other forms of continuous leg exercises to avoid blood pooling. Hunters with varying degrees of physical fitness may require different plans to recover or escape the effects of prolonged suspension. Make a personal plan and practice it in the presence of a responsible adult before leaving the ground. No recovery or escape plan will work for every hunter on every tree in every circumstance. Only you can determine the best recovery or escape plan for your hunting situation, and you must have one in place for your situation before leaving the ground.
• A suspension relief device must be readily accessible while using a full-body harness or saddle. If you are suspended in a harness, these devices help relieve the weight put on the lower extremities, maintain leg circulation, mitigate suspension trauma (blood pooling), and assist you in descending to the ground. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions on the proper use of any suspension relief device.
• Hunt from the ground if you do not have self-recovery ability or if you do not have all of the necessary components of your saddle and hunting platform.
• There is always time to make a correct decision on what action to take if an unforeseen accident takes place. It is important to remember, “Do not panic.” Remain calm and implement your practiced recovery or escape plan.