Indiana Conservation Officers are continuing to investigate this incident. Richard Dixon was not wearing a safety harness which may have prevented the fall. 2012 and 2013 had a total of 46 falls from tree stands resulting in serious injuries, two were fatal. There have been six falls from tree stands this month alone in Indiana. This makes falls from tree stands the number one cause of injury and death while hunting in our state. Indiana Conservation Officers would like you to please wear your safety harness while hunting from elevated positions

nobody wants their hunt to end like this, stay safe guys

My thoughts and prayers with Mr. Dixon for a full recovery.

Wear a harness or stay home. We had a youth hunt last week and one of the stations was presented by DNR Conservation Officers where they trained every kid to use a harness. Adults need the same training.

Amen!

It is so easy to be safe in a tree stand.

Prayers go out to Mr. Dixon. Fortunately, this did not have to happen to him. Wear your harness and use life lines. It is that simple.

I had a tough conversation with my bull headed brother in law about this tonight. He scoffs and rolls his eyes at the mention of using a harness. I offered him one for free, but he's not interested. I pray he doesn't learn this the hard way.

Todays harness are so comfortable you barely know they are on. Not sure as to why, people feel they are invincible. Then once they do fall and god forbid something catastrophic happens, they want all hands on deck to help them. Then they blame everybody else but themselves. I learned my lesson once when i was twenty something. Fell 12 feet backwards while trying to attach ladder stand. 25 yrs later, had to have a spinal decompression at L4, L5 and S1 vertebrae. All my stand sites have a life line up to the top. Had to spend a little extra on the climbing rope, but I am not about to give up the life I have right now.

+1

I just loaned out my HS vest and rope to a co-worker who I recently found out,,has never used one. :rolleyes:

C'mon fellas...Like Jack stated...use one, or stay home.

Love my lifelines and SOP harness......of course there are $$$$ involved.....but hey.....if something happens it sure beats the alternative!!!