September is Treestand Safety Awareness Month. It’s an annual reminder of the need to keep safety at the forefront of every climb into the tree. Unfortunately, there are tragic reminders of the need for treestand safety that surface each season as well. Such was the case in the story of a 58-year-old man that died recently after falling from a treestand while bowhunting.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office said the bowhunter appeared to have lost his footing from a treestand and fell 20-25 feet to his death on September 28, 2021. Reports say that Gordon Bartholomew had received permission from a landowner to hunt on private land.
When Bartholomew didn’t show back up after the hunt, the landowner checked the area, finding him unresponsive in the woods.
EMS arriving on the scene attempted resuscitate Bartholomew, but were unsuccessful.
Our thoughts and prayers got out to the Bartholomew family.
Hunters are reminded that a safety harness alone won’t save you. The safest means of ascending and descending the tree is to be properly anchored to a Lifeline from the first step from the ground.
Don’t make the climb without the proper treestand safety equipment this season. It can literally save your life.
