Deer Hunting Safety Survey

[joeloni]

I want to start by thanking all of you who have taken the time to take my Deer Hunting Safety Survey. I have over 500 responses at this point, which is great. I would like to get well over 1000 responses to really maximize the studies potential.

If you have not taken the survey, please take about 5 minutes to complete the survey. Also, if you know other deer hunters that don't frequent this forum, please pass the link along to them by email or whatever way you can get them to take it.

This is the link...

www.surveymonkey.com/deerhuntingsafety

The initial survey thread is pinned at the top of this forum if you would like to see some additional information.

[Ultradog]

I took survey but am rather suspicious of it.

Like, how many ways and times can a fellow be chided about wearing his safety belt while in a tree stand? Or while climbing into or out of a stand?

Makes me wonder if he should wear one just thinking about getting into a stand??

My worry is that you'll use the results of your research to go lobby all the various state legislatures and have them mandate the use of safety belts while in a tree stand. Just like they did with seat belts in cars.

Don't get me wrong. I think it's a good idea to wear a safety harness in your stand or while climbing into or out of your stand. Just like it's a good idea to wear a seatbelt in your car.

But you know what?

I don't like being forced by threats of a hefty fine for not wearing them. ($125 plus points on your driving record here in Minnesota) And I would sure hate to see states make it mandatory that we use them in a treestand.

You want to educate hunters about safety? That is all well and good.

But when you start mandating personal safety is when I believe you have crossed the line.

That's when I begin to shout: "Keep your laws off my body."

I believe we in America have lost enough liberty to the nanny state do gooders.

Please keep that in mind as you process your data.

[jbeck]

took the survey, I'm from the old school. we hunted without these things for years, now everybody needs to wear a harness, every kid needs a helmet when riding bike, we need hand sanitizer in all bathrooms. JMO, but I don't always wear a helmet when riding my motorcycle, I'm not always going to wear a safety harness when hunting. Good luck all, but I'm to old to buy into the fear.

[Tony]

i took the test and found it be a pretty good. i used to not wear a safety harness at all. but then i fell one time from just 10 feet and landed in the snow. i just missed a fence post and felt lucky i was ok. that was about 9 years ago and i vowed to wear a harness all the time after that. also i know of many guys that have fallen and have never been able to hunt again. do you really want to put your family through that for just a hobby you love to do.

i now wear a safety harness all the time when going up, coming down, hanging stands and while in the stand. i figure a little prevention saves me a lot of pain, suffering and maybe my life. i cant figure out why some guys just wont wear one. they are so simple to use, easy to hook up. why not use a piece of safety equipment thats available. all it takes is 2 mins to put on one and using them just takes a little practice. heck we spend hundreds of hours shooting our bows, cant we all just spend a couple of hours learning to use a safety harness?

i hope and pray no one falls this year.

Tony

[Ultradog]

I don't think anyone is disagreeing with you about the value of safety a harness Tony.

But it seems you are using a similar emotional appeal that the auto seat belt advocates have used.

"Do you really want to put your family through that for just a hobby you love to do?"

My concern is about legislatures mandating safety harnesses and so I take a different approach. And ask a different question;

Is your concern for my safety so great that you are willing to take away my liberty to acheive it?