Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a fatal fall from a tree stand that occurred yesterday in Starke County.

At approximately 3 p.m., officers and emergency personnel responded to the 3500 block of S. 700 E. in Knox for a report of a fatal tree stand fall.   

 

Once on scene, officers discovered Larry Sedwick, 53, of Cedar Lake, was deer hunting from an elevated tree stand when he fell from the stand. Sedwick was not wearing a full-body safety harness and was pronounced dead on the scene. 

 

The incident is still under investigation.

 

Conservation Officers remind all hunters to wear a full-body safety harness when hunting from an elevated hunting platform. 

 

Assisting agencies include the Starke County Sheriff’s Office, Starke County Coroner’s Office, Starke County EMS, and Knox Police Department.

Aweful. Sad. Preventable. 

Hunting equivalent of not wearing a PFD in the boating world.  Preventable incidents or one could say it is to prove darwin's theory

75% of all hunting-related accidents here are related to the use of an elevated tree stand.  The inherent risk of climbing into or out of a stand in the darkness creates added risk.  Use a harness and hoist your gear/gun/bow in with a rope for safety.  Never load your gun until you're in the stand.

 

I used to think I was invincible when I was younger too.  No harness, no hoist.  I'd climb up and down carrying my gun and pack, using one hand to shimmy up/down.  Looking back at those days, it was dumb and I was lucky to never have an accident.

Ugh, not good. Sadness. I have hunted out of a tree stand a few times when living in Missouri. Always scared the crap out of me. 

 

Since moving back to Nebraska...I hunt deer in the Sandhills...no tree issues : ) 

 

 

Stay safe out there people! Thanks for the reminder @Glenn

In case you hadn't heard, but a few weeks back, Hank Parker fell out of a tree stand when one of the straps broke.  He had to be airlifted to the hospital, but was back home several hours later.  He was banged up pretty good, but considering what could have happened, he came out relatively unscathed.

23 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said:

no tree issues

 

That's pretty much all the Dakotas, Iowa, and Nebraska.

 

Flat and barren 😂

@gimruis, yep, nothing to see here.....😉

 

My condolences to family and all those close.

My cousin’s husband got so excited after a kill, he unhooked and the just walked out of his stand.

Broke leg, back and arm… still had his bow in hand, took one his arrows through the muscle back side of arm. 
I guess everything we do can be considered dangerous if you don’t pay attention.