1. Be more careful than you think you should be.
2. Don’t forget where you are, and how far you are from the ground.
3. Don’t use a stand that makes you uncomfortable or nervous in the least.
4. Don’t lean much when you’re in the stand.
5. Don’t climb higher than you’re comfortable being, even if you think you’re too low; hunting is about enjoyment, so why force it?
6. Always wear a safety harness connected to a lifeline while climbing up and down the tree.
7. After you are in your stand, make sure the harness is connected to the tree properly. You should only be able to barely sit down wit the tether snug. This will allow you to only fall about 6 to 8 inches.
8. Make sure you use a tow rope or hauling string to pull your equipment up to your stand. Don’t try and carry equipment up the tree with you.
9. Never take a firearm up the tree loaded. Pull it up on a haul line empty and load it after you are completely situated.
10. Make sure your last two steps are even. This allows you to hang your stand and take your stand down with both legs receiving the same amount of pressure.
11. And here’s my final safety tip: Never, ever, ever, fall out of a tree; always make sure you control all body-to-ground contact.

Hunt Safe, Jim

http://safetreehunt.com/