Hauling Hunting Equipment Into a Stand

Never carry your hunting equipment up or down the tree with you as you climb. Always use a haul line.

• Before attaching the haul line to your hunting equipment:
  • If using a firearm, unload it, and open the action.
  • If using a bow, put the arrows in a covered quiver secured to the bow.
• Use a haul line of heavy cord attached to your stand to bring up your hunting equipment or to lower it prior to climbing down from your stand.
  • If using a firearm, attach the haul line to the firearm's sling so that the firearm hangs with the muzzle pointed down.
  • If using a bow, attach the haul line so that the arrow fletching points down when raising your equipment and points up when lowering it.
• Slip the end of the haul line through your belt—leave it untied so that it can pull free if you fall. Put on your FAS full-body harness, secure yourself to the tree, and climb to your stand.
• After you are in the stand and secure, haul up your hunting equipment, and untie the haul line.