Hunters who fall from a Big Dog or any other tree stand can be hurt, and the CPSC tracks tree stand injuries and deaths. No lawsuit, MDL, recall or CPSC warning names Big Dog tree stands.
The CPSC has recalled tree stands from other brands, including Big Game, Ameristep and API Outdoors. None of those recalls involved Big Dog, so a recall of another brand does not show a problem with a Big Dog stand.
CPSC has counted treestand injuries treated in hospital emergency departments and treestand deaths since 1980. Below are the recalls on other brands, who may be affected and what evidence to keep.
- Case or litigation name: No filed case
- Defendants: None named
- Court and docket number, when available: No filed case
- MDL number, judge, and case count, when an MDL exists: No MDL
- Filing date: No filing yet
- Main allegations: None filed against Big Dog; general treestand hazards are collapse, strap or cable failure and falls
- Products or people involved: Big Dog hunting tree stands; hunters hurt in tree stand falls
Table Of Contents
Latest Big Dog Tree Stand Lawsuit Updates
October 20, 2015: CPSC Posts the Big Game Tree Stand Recall
The CPSC announced that Big Game recalled about 12,200 climbing tree stands, recall number 16-012. The cable assembly can release and cause a fall [1].
The recall covers the CL050 The Outlook, the CL100-A The Cobalt and the CL500-AP The Fusion. Big Game is another brand, and Big Dog is not part of this recall.
November 7, 2006: CPSC Posts Its Treestand Standards Page
CPSC posted its hunting treestands page on voluntary standards. The page reports treestand injury and death counts and describes harness-related hazards [2].
CPSC staff takes part in voluntary standards for treestands and fall arrest systems, including those from ASTM. The page covers treestands in general and does not name Big Dog.
May 18, 2006: CPSC Announces the Ameristep Hang-On Stand Recall
CPSC announced the recall of about 6,700 Ameristep Patriot and Outfitter hang-on tree stands, recall number 06-167. The j-hook on the tree strap could fail and collapse the stand [3].
The recall covers the Patriot, model 7300, and the Outfitter, model 7310. Big Dog stands are not covered by this recall, and Big Dog is a different brand.
October 30, 2002: CPSC and API Outdoors Announce a Treestand Recall
CPSC and API Outdoors announced the recall of about 9,000 treestands. It covers the Cable Cat, model CC501, and the Buckmaster Grand Slam, model GS3800BM [4]. A cable that secures the stand to the tree can break.
Who May Be Affected?
Hunters who fall from a hang-on, climbing or ladder-type tree stand may be affected. CPSC says, “The majority of injuries/deaths resulted from hunters falling out of treestands while not wearing a safety harness.”
Whether any claim exists depends on the facts of the fall, the stand and the injury. Qualification requires an individual legal review.
Reported Injuries or Damages
No complaint alleges injuries from a Big Dog tree stand. The figures below come from CPSC and from reports on other brands.
On its November 7, 2006 treestand page, CPSC estimates 5,686 treestand injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments in 2005. CPSC staff is aware of 63 deaths associated with treestands from 1980 to 2001.
Manufacturers also reported incidents to CPSC, and the reports are not findings of fault. Big Game received one report of the cable assembly releasing, with injuries to the knee, wrist and hip.
API Outdoors received two reports of the cable breaking, including one person who fell and suffered leg abrasions. Ameristep received three reports of j-hook failures and no injuries.
Recall and Regulatory Background
CPSC has recalled treestands from three other brands, and none of them is Big Dog. A recall does not establish liability.
Each recall came with a remedy. Big Game offered free replacement cables. Ameristep offered a free repair kit. API Outdoors offered a free repair.
Evidence to Preserve
If you were hurt in a tree stand fall, keep these items as they are:
- The tree stand itself, including straps, cables, hooks and seat
- The safety harness or fall-arrest system
- The model and the batch or serial number tag
- Receipts or order records
- Photographs of the stand, the tree, the scene and the injuries
- Any manual, warning labels and packaging
- Medical records and bills
- Names of anyone who was present
- Messages with the seller or maker
Filing Deadlines
Deadlines for filing an injury claim come from state law. They depend on where you live and when the fall and injury happened.
Waiting past the deadline can end a claim, even if the facts are strong. Talk to a lawyer promptly to learn which deadline applies to your fall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Tree Stand Is Considered Unsafe?
No single tree stand is named unsafe by CPSC. It has recalled Big Game climbing stands, Ameristep hang-on stands and API Outdoors treestands, and none of those recalls is for a Big Dog stand.
Are There Safety Standards for Tree Stands?
Tree stands have voluntary safety standards. CPSC staff takes part in ASTM F2125 for static stability, F2126 for static load capacity, F2127 for adherence, F2128 for repetitive loading and F2337 for fall arrest systems.
What Does the Research Say About Tree Stand Harnesses?
CPSC research on tree stand harnesses says some hunters wearing harnesses were seriously hurt or killed after becoming entangled or suspended without a means of self-rescue. It counts at least 4 reported cases of hunters killed, injured or left dangling.
Where Can I Report a Dangerous Tree Stand?
You can report a dangerous tree stand or a product-related injury on SaferProducts.gov, the CPSC reporting site. Reports are not proof that a stand caused every tree stand incident.
References
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2016/Big-Game-Recalls-Tree-Stands
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Regulations-Laws--Standards/Voluntary-Standards/Topics/Hunting-Treestands
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2006/hunting-tree-stands-recalled-for-collapse-hazard
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2002/cpsc-api-outdoors-announce-recall-of-hunting-treestands