A fall from a Cougar Claw climbing treestand can cause serious injury. Cougar Claw USA of Foley, Alabama makes these all-welded aluminum stands. A claim over such a fall would allege that a part of the stand failed.
As of October 2026, no recall, MDL or federal court case names Cougar Claw. The matter is an attorney review of individual injury claims.
Any claim would be an allegation only. No regulator, court or company has made a finding about Cougar Claw. CPSC reports that treestand falls cause deaths and serious injuries every hunting season.
- Case or litigation name: None named
- Defendants: None named
- Court and docket number, when available: None named
- MDL number, judge, and case count, when an MDL exists: No MDL
- Filing date: None named
- Main allegations: None named; CPSC staff counted 54 of 137 tree stand incidents from 1980 through 2001 that mention tree stand failures
- Products or people involved: Cougar Claw climbing tree stands made by Cougar Claw USA of Foley, Alabama, and hunters hurt in a fall from one
Table Of Contents
Latest Cougar Claw Treestand Lawsuit Updates
No MDL covers treestand injuries [1]. Neither of the two entries below, a Canadian recall of another brand and a CPSC review of treestands in general, involves Cougar Claw.
November 30, 2020: Health Canada Posts Alliance Outdoor Treestand Recall
Health Canada posted the Alliance Outdoor Products recall of 2017 model year X-Stand models. They are the Silent Adrenaline XSCT334 and Apache XSCT355 [2]. The cable assemblies can separate due to corrosion. That poses a fall hazard.
Alliance Outdoor Products had received no reports of incidents or injuries in Canada as of November 23, 2020. The remedy is a replacement cable assembly or a gift card to buy another tree stand.
June 14, 2004: CPSC Staff Sends Hunting Tree Stand Petition Briefing
CPSC staff sent its briefing package on Petition CP 02-3, the hunting tree stand petition [3]. In 2001, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 6,000 injuries attributed to tree stand use, staff said.
Staff found the voluntary standards of the Treestand Manufacturers’ Association and ASTM International adequate under a rated load. Staff saw areas needing improvement for no load or reduced load conditions, such as entering or exiting a stand.
Who May Be Affected?
Hunters who climb with a Cougar Claw stand and fell after a cable, pin, strap, weld or another component failed may be affected. So may a hunter who fell while stepping onto or from a Cougar Claw platform.
Whether a hunter may have a claim depends on the facts of that fall, so a legal review is individual.
Reported Injuries or Damages
CPSC’s safety publication, Hunting Treestands and Harnesses, states that hunters are killed or seriously injured in falls every hunting season [4]. Reports to CPSC counted 41 treestand-related deaths from 2005 through 2007.
CPSC staff estimates about 19,000 treestand-related injuries for the same period. Many incidents occur while hunters step onto or from the platform.
In its June 2004 briefing on tree stands, CPSC staff counted 137 incidents from 1980 through 2001, including 62 deaths and 55 injuries.
Of the 137 incidents, 54 mention tree stand failures. These figures cover all tree stands and do not name Cougar Claw.
Evidence to Preserve
Keep these items after a treestand fall, because they can show what failed and what the fall cost:
- The stand itself, kept as it is after the fall and not repaired or thrown away.
- The cable, pins, straps, tether and any harness that were in use at the time of the fall.
- The model and batch markings on the stand and the owner’s manual that came with it.
- The receipt or other proof of purchase, showing where and when the stand was bought.
- Photographs of the stand, the tree and the site where the fall happened.
- The names of anyone who saw the fall, so they can be reached later if needed.
- Medical records and bills that show the injuries and the treatment received.
- Records of any work you missed because of the injuries from the fall.
Filing Deadlines
Filing deadlines come from state law, and they depend on where the hunter lives. The clock may also depend on when the injury happened or was discovered.
Missing a deadline can end a claim even when the facts are strong, so a hunter should check with a lawyer promptly.
Potential Compensation
A claim may involve medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Any potential compensation would reflect the injuries and costs a hunter can document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Makes Cougar Claw Treestands?
Cougar Claw USA, based in Foley, Alabama, makes Cougar Claw treestands. The company makes climbing stands with an all-welded aluminum frame, and it says they are made in the U.S.A.
Has Cougar Claw Recalled Any Treestands?
Cougar Claw has not recalled any treestands through CPSC. The Health Canada recall above involves a different brand, Alliance Outdoor Products, and covers 30 units sold in Canada from May, 2017 to Fall 2018.
What Does the Research Say About Treestand Injuries?
CPSC research on treestand injuries counted 6 deaths and 40 injuries among the incidents in its petition review that mention stand failures. Staff said the data lacked sufficient detail to conclude that most injuries are due to some mechanical failure that a safety standard could address.
Should a Treestand Harness Be Replaced After a Fall?
A treestand harness should be replaced after a fall has occurred, according to CPSC guidance. CPSC advises an industry-approved full-body harness, used during ascent and descent. It says not to use single-strap or waist-type harnesses, which can cause strangulation in a fall.
References
- https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_MDL_Number-September-1-2026.pdf
- https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/alliance-outdoor-products-x-stand-treestands-recalled-due-fall-hazard
- https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/Briefing_Package-Petition_CP_02-3;_Hunting_Tree_Stand_Petition-06.14.2004.pdf
- https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/pdfs/blk_pdf_5200.pdf