Between 2005 and 2015, Ameristep-brand hunting tree stands and tree-climbing steps were the subject of five separate voluntary recalls. Each was coordinated with CPSC and a responsible firm, Primal Vantage Co., Inc. or Tahsin Industrial Corp. USA.
Each recall involved a load-bearing part that could fail during use – a bent bracket, a broken j-hook strap, a cracked plastic step, or a broken aluminum platform – causing a fall.
Anyone who still owns an affected model should stop using it and contact Ameristep for 2005 or 2006 models, or Primal Vantage for 2010 or 2015 models. All five recalls are now closed, with none since January 2015.
- Action type: Five voluntary recalls with CPSC (05-201, 06-167, 10-101, 10-236/11-024, 15-063)
- Announcement and initiation dates: June 21, 2005; May 18, 2006; Jan. 7, 2010; May 2010, expanded Oct. 27, 2010; Jan. 22, 2015
- Company and responsible agency: Ameristep Inc., Primal Vantage Co., and Tahsin Industrial Corp. USA, with CPSC
- Recall or campaign number: 05-201, 06-167, 10-101, 10-236/11-024, 15-063
- Affected models, lots, UPCs, serial numbers, or VINs: Models 9203, 7300/7310, 105/155, Hyde Cliff Hanger, and Sky Walker
- Number of affected units: About 480, 6,700, 16,000, 40,000, and 1,000
- Sold at and sale period: Hunting/outdoor retailers and catalogs nationwide, 2004-2014, about $36-$250
- Hazard: A bracket, j-hook, plastic step, or aluminum platform failing, causing a fall
- Reported incidents, injuries, illnesses, and deaths: One to six complaints per recall; no deaths in any
- Remedy: Instructions, a repair kit, or a refund – contact Ameristep or Primal Vantage
Table Of Contents
- Latest Ameristep Treestand Recall Updates
- August 24, 2015: Appeals Court Revives Ameristep Treestand Injury Lawsuit
- January 22, 2015: CPSC Recalls Ameristep Hyde Cliff Hanger and Sky Walker Stands
- October 27, 2010: Primal Vantage Expands Ameristep Tree Step Recall to 40,000 Units
- January 7, 2010: CPSC Recalls 16,000 Ameristep Plastic Strap-On Tree Steps
- May 18, 2006: CPSC Recalls 6,700 Ameristep Patriot and Outfitter Tree Stands
- June 21, 2005: CPSC Recalls 480 Ameristep Hang-On Treestands
- Which Ameristep Treestands Are Affected?
- Why Were the Ameristep Treestands Recalled?
- Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
- What Should Consumers Do?
- Legal Options
- Filing Deadlines
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What Is the Docket Number for the Ameristep Treestand Lawsuit?
- What Evidence Should I Keep If an Ameristep Treestand or Tree Step Failed?
- What Is the Difference Between the Ameristep Treestand and Tree Step Recalls?
- Were the Recalled Ameristep Treestands Sold Outside the United States?
- Does the Ameristep Recall Cover Every Model of Ameristep Treestand?
- Where Were the Recalled Ameristep Treestands Manufactured?
- References
Latest Ameristep Treestand Recall Updates
August 24, 2015: Appeals Court Revives Ameristep Treestand Injury Lawsuit
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversed a lower court’s summary judgment for Ameristep, Inc. and Primal Vantage Co., Inc. in Bradley v. Ameristep, Inc., over an allegedly defective replacement strap [1].
The panel ruled the district court abused its discretion by treating the plaintiffs’ materials-failure expert’s experience as limited to metallurgy alone, then excluding his testimony on that basis. The case returned to the Western District of Tennessee for trial.
January 22, 2015: CPSC Recalls Ameristep Hyde Cliff Hanger and Sky Walker Stands
CPSC and Primal Vantage Co., Inc. announced a recall of about 1,000 Ameristep Hyde Cliff Hanger and Sky Walker tree stands, models 2RX1H008C and 2RX1H009C, after six reports of the platform breaking [2].
No injuries were reported. Primal Vantage offered affected owners a full refund and asked them not to return the recalled stands to retail stores for the exchange.
October 27, 2010: Primal Vantage Expands Ameristep Tree Step Recall to 40,000 Units
Primal Vantage Co., Inc. expanded its January 2010 recall of Ameristep Plastic Strap-On Tree Steps twice in 2010. A May action, recall 10-236, first grew the total to about 17,800 units [3].
The October 27 expansion, renumbered 11-024, added every remaining “08” date-coded step and brought the total to about 40,000 units, after six complaints of step breakage, including two reports of bruising and cuts.
January 7, 2010: CPSC Recalls 16,000 Ameristep Plastic Strap-On Tree Steps
Primal Vantage Co., Inc. and CPSC recalled about 16,000 Ameristep Plastic Strap-On Tree Steps, models 105 and 155, after five complaints that the plastic portion could break, including two reports of consumers bruised and cut [4].
Primal Vantage offered a full refund for the recalled steps and asked consumers not to return them to retail stores, since only the company could process the refund.
May 18, 2006: CPSC Recalls 6,700 Ameristep Patriot and Outfitter Tree Stands
CPSC, Primal Vantage Co., Inc., and Ameristep Inc. recalled about 6,700 Patriot (model 7300) and Outfitter (model 7310) Hang-On Tree Stands after three reports that the j-hook tree-strap attachment could fail [5].
No injuries were reported. Ameristep offered a free repair kit with a bracket system and a double-hook tree strap so the stand could no longer collapse. The recall, numbered 06-167, offered the kit to any owner who requested it.
June 21, 2005: CPSC Recalls 480 Ameristep Hang-On Treestands
CPSC and Tahsin Industrial Corp. USA recalled about 480 Ameristep Model 9203 Hang-On Treestands after one report of a hunter falling from an unknown elevation [6].
A bent bracket could disengage the attachment chain and separate the stand from the tree during use. Ameristep issued new setup instructions for the stand rather than offering a refund, under recall number 05-201.
Which Ameristep Treestands Are Affected?
Ameristep-brand tree stands and tree steps were recalled in five CPSC actions between 2005 and 2015, identified by these model numbers, UPCs, and date codes:
- Model 9203 Hang-On Treestand (2005) – a steel fixed-position stand with a steel chain and camouflage seat. The model number appears on the packaging.
- Patriot Hang-On Tree Stand (model 7300) and Outfitter Hang-On Tree Stand (model 7310) (2006) – UPC 769524703001 and UPC 769524703100. Both codes are printed on the packaging rather than the stand.
- Plastic Strap-On Tree Step, models 105 and 155 (2010) – any unit with an “08” date code, including 12/08 or 10/08, stamped on the plastic step.
- Hyde Cliff Hanger, model 2RX1H008C, and Sky Walker, model 2RX1H009C (2015) – date code JH-2014-3-6 on the aluminum seat frame. “Hyde” is printed in red on the vertical bar.
Anyone unsure which model they own can compare the packaging, instruction manual, or the stand’s printed markings against these identifiers.
Why Were the Ameristep Treestands Recalled?
The Ameristep treestands and tree steps were recalled because a load-bearing part could fail during use. A failure could let the stand or step separate from the tree or break apart, causing a fall.
Each recall traced to a different part. On the 2005 model, a bracket could bend if not secured properly, letting the attachment chain disengage.
On the 2006 models, the j-hook that connected the tree strap to the stand could fail outright. The 2010 tree steps had a plastic portion that could crack under a hunter’s weight.
The 2015 stands had a cast-aluminum platform that could break underfoot. In every case, the failure point was where the hunter’s full weight rested – climbing onto the step or standing on the platform.
Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
Each recall followed a small number of reports to the manufacturer. The 2005 recall followed a single report of a fall from the stand at an unknown height.
The 2006 recall followed three reports that the j-hook had failed during use, though no injuries were reported to the firm at that time.
The 2010 tree step recall followed five complaints of step breakage, two of them describing a bruise or a cut. The October 2010 expansion raised the total to six complaints.
The 2015 stand recall followed six reports of the aluminum platform breaking, with no injuries reported. A low injury count does not mean the hazard was minor.
What Should Consumers Do?
Anyone who owns one of the recalled Ameristep stands or steps should take the following steps:
- Stop using the stand or step immediately, and do not set it up again until the remedy is complete.
- Check the model number, UPC, or date code against the list above. Use the packaging or manual if the stand has no marking.
- For the 2005 or 2006 models, contact Ameristep Customer Service at (800) 374-7837 or ameristep.com for repair instructions or a free repair kit.
- For 2010 or 2015 models, contact Primal Vantage toll-free at (866) 972-6168 to arrange a refund. The 2010 notice’s site, treestandcustomerservice.com, still works, but the 2015 notice’s primalvantage.com link is dead.
- Do not return it to the retail store. Only the manufacturer can process the remedy.
- Report a fall, near-collapse, or equipment failure to the company and to CPSC at SaferProducts.gov.
- If a fall or injury already happened, keep the stand, strap, or packaging, plus any photos or records.
Legal Options
A recall does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation. No consolidated litigation covers Ameristep treestands. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation‘s pending-docket report lists no treestand matter [7].
A separate lawsuit over Ameristep and Primal Vantage gear has moved forward on its own: Bradley v. Ameristep, Inc., revived on appeal in 2015. Schmidt & Clark offers a free review for anyone hurt by a defective Ameristep product.
Filing Deadlines
Deadlines for a product-injury claim are set by state law, not by the recall. How long someone has to file depends on where they live and when the fall or equipment failure happened.
Some states count the deadline from the injury date. Others start the clock when the defect was discovered. Missing it can end a claim even when the facts are strong.
Anyone hurt by an Ameristep stand or step should speak with a lawyer promptly, since deadlines differ by state and the clock may already be running.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Docket Number for the Ameristep Treestand Lawsuit?
The docket number for the Ameristep treestand lawsuit, Bradley v. Ameristep, Inc., is appeal No. 14-6087 at the Sixth Circuit, remanded to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, case No. 1:12-cv-01196, before Chief Judge J. Daniel Breen.
What Evidence Should I Keep If an Ameristep Treestand or Tree Step Failed?
The evidence to keep if an Ameristep treestand or tree step failed starts with medical records and any purchase receipt, plus photos of the failure. Keep the stand, strap, or buckle itself too, along with the packaging or manual showing the model number or date code.
What Is the Difference Between the Ameristep Treestand and Tree Step Recalls?
The difference between the Ameristep treestand and tree step recalls is how the product is used. The stands are the platform a hunter sits or stands on. The steps are separate climbing aids strapped to the trunk to reach the stand.
Were the Recalled Ameristep Treestands Sold Outside the United States?
The stands and steps recalled under the Ameristep brand were sold at hunting and outdoor retailers nationwide within the United States. None of the five CPSC notices reports a separate unit count sold outside the country.
Does the Ameristep Recall Cover Every Model of Ameristep Treestand?
The Ameristep recalls do not cover every model the company has sold. Only the specific models named above, identified by their model numbers, UPCs, or date codes, were recalled. Other Ameristep stands and steps are not affected.
Where Were the Recalled Ameristep Treestands Manufactured?
The recalled Ameristep treestands and steps were made in China, according to all five CPSC recall notices, which list “Manufactured In: China” for each recalled model. Primal Vantage Co., Inc. and Tahsin Industrial Corp. USA served as the U.S. distributors named in the recalls.
References
- https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ca6-14-06087/pdf/USCOURTS-ca6-14-06087-0.pdf
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2015/Hunters-Tree-Stands-Recalled-by-Primal-Vantage
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2010/primal-vantage-expands-recall-of-plastic-tree-steps-due-to-fall-hazard
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2010/primal-vantage-recalls-plastic-tree-steps-due-to-fall-hazard
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2006/hunting-tree-stands-recalled-for-collapse-hazard
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2005/cpsc-tahsin-industrial-corp-announce-recall-of-treestands
- https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_MDL_Number-September-1-2026.pdf