Gorilla Treestand Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Gorilla treestands, ladder stands, full body harnesses and climbing sticks hold hunters high off the ground. A failed strap, buckle or harness can mean a fall, and falls from treestands can kill or seriously injure hunters. No lawsuit, class action or MDL names Gorilla treestands. Four CPSC recall notices do name Gorilla products, and the newest recall was announced on November 18, 2009. The oldest dates from December 19, 2001. If you own a recalled Gorilla product, stop using it and contact Gorilla about the refund or replacement the notice offers.

Latest Gorilla Treestand Lawsuit Updates

November 18, 2009: EXO-Tech Safety Harness Recalled

CPSC and Gorilla Inc. announced the recall of about 90 EXO-Tech Safety Harnesses, model 45111, under Recall No. 10-042 [1]. Sporting goods stores sold them from May 2009 to August 2009. The waist belt webbing is not routed through the lineman’s loop. No incidents were reported. The notice tells owners to stop using the harness and contact Gorilla Inc. for a refund.

December 18, 2007: Full Body Safety Harnesses Recalled

Gorilla Inc. recalled about 60,000 Pullover Style Full Body Safety Harnesses, model SP40300, in a CPSC announcement under Recall No. 08-139 [2]. They were sold with 2007 Gorilla ladder stands from April 2007 to October 2007. The notice says the harnesses could fail during use, resulting in a hunter falling from the tree stand and suffering serious injuries or death. No incidents were reported. Gorilla offered a free replacement harness.

October 18, 2007: Kong Maxx Ladder Stands Recalled

The recall of about 6,000 Kong Maxx Ladder Stands, model 43032, was announced by CPSC and Gorilla Inc. under Recall No. 08-035 [3]. Gander Mountain sold them from July 2007 to September 2007. The ladder stands can become unstable while in use, causing the user to fall. Two consumers reported falls resulting in back and knee injuries. Gorilla Inc. offered a refund.

December 19, 2001: Climbing Sticks and Tree Steps Recalled

CPSC and Game Tracker Inc. announced the recall of 25,000 climbing sticks and tree steps under Release No. 02-070 [4]. They include Gorilla Ultralite Climbing Sticks. Hunting supply stores and catalogs sold them from February 1999 to September 2001. The buckles can fail. Game Tracker offered a free repair for the sticks and a free replacement for the steps.

Who May Be Affected?

People who bought or used a recalled Gorilla product and fell or were hurt may be affected. The recalled products are:

• EXO-Tech Safety Harness, model 45111, made April 22, 2009 or June 26, 2009
• Pullover Style Full Body Safety Harness, model SP40300, batch codes 020507, 030507 and 040507
• Kong Maxx Ladder Stand, model 43032, batch numbers G051507, G051507D, G061507D, G071507D and G081507D
• Gorilla Ultralite Climbing Sticks, model 3163, serial numbers 040501, 050501 and 060801

Matching circumstances include a fall from a Kong Maxx ladder stand, a harness that failed during use, or a climbing stick buckle that gave way. Compare the model and any batch or serial number on your equipment with the list. Whether a claim exists depends on your own facts, and only an individual legal review can say whether your fall may qualify.

Reported Injuries or Damages

Injuries tied to Gorilla products appear in CPSC recall notices, not in a court complaint. The notices are regulator hazard statements, not court findings or allegations. The Kong Maxx notice reports two falls with back and knee injuries. The climbing stick notice reports 16 buckle failures, including one partial finger amputation and five cuts, sprains or bruises. The CPSC publication Hunting Treestands and Harnesses reports 41 treestand-related deaths from 2005 through 2007 [5]. For the same three years, the agency’s staff put treestand-related injuries at about 19,000. In the CPSC 2004 petition review, staff estimated 6,000 injuries attributed to tree stand use were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 2001 [6].

Recall and Regulatory Background

The JPML has formed no MDL for hunting treestands, and no lawsuit or class action names Gorilla [7]. A recall does not establish liability.

Evidence to Preserve

Keep these items if you were hurt in a fall from a Gorilla stand, harness or climbing stick, and store them somewhere safe:

• The stand, harness, strap or climbing stick itself, and the box or manual that came with it
• The model number, batch code or serial number and date code printed on the equipment
• Receipts, order emails and the name of the store where you bought it
• Photographs of the equipment, the tree, the scene and your injuries
• Medical records and bills for your treatment
• Names of anyone who saw the fall or hunted with you
• Any recall notice, refund or replacement paperwork, and your messages with Gorilla

Filing Deadlines

State law sets the deadline for a fall injury claim. It differs by state and depends on when the fall happened. A missed deadline can end a fall injury claim even when the facts are strong, so speak with a lawyer promptly.

Potential Compensation

Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. If a claim succeeds, potential compensation may include medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering and, in a death case, funeral costs and loss of support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Gorilla Treestands Been Recalled?

Gorilla treestands have been recalled more than once. Game Tracker Inc. of Flushing, Michigan announced the 2001 climbing stick recall, and Gorilla Inc. of Flushing, Michigan announced the three later recalls of harnesses and Kong Maxx ladder stands.

How Much Did the Recalled Gorilla Products Cost?

The recalled Gorilla products cost different amounts, according to the CPSC notices. The climbing sticks and tree steps cost $7 to $100. The Kong Maxx ladder stands cost about $180, and the 2007 harnesses cost $80 to $300.

Who Do I Contact About a Recalled Gorilla Product?

To contact Gorilla about a recalled product, the 2007 harness and 2009 EXO-Tech notices list Gorilla Inc. at (877) 685-7817. The Kong Maxx notice lists (800) 914-4567, and the 2001 notice lists Game Tracker at (800) 241-4833. These numbers may be out of date.

What Does the Research Say About Treestand Falls?

Research from CPSC on treestand falls says many incidents occur while hunters are stepping onto or from the treestand’s platform. CPSC also advises using a harness during both ascent and descent of the treestand.

What Harness Does CPSC Advise for Treestand Hunters?

CPSC advises hunters to use a Treestand Manufacturers’ Association approved full-body harness. It advises against single-strap or waist-type harnesses because they can cause strangulation in the event of a fall. It says to inspect the stand and harness before each use and replace the harness after any fall.

References

1. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2009/gorilla-inc-recalls-exo-tech-safety-harness-due-to-fall-hazard
2. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2007/full-body-safety-harnesses-recalled-by-gorilla-due-to-fall-hazard
3. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2008/kong-maxx-ladder-stands-sold-at-gander-mountain-recalled-due-to-fall-hazard
4. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2002/CPSC-Game-Tracker-Announce-Recall-of-Climbing-Sticks-and-Tree-Steps
5. https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/pdfs/blk_pdf_5200.pdf
6. https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/Briefing_Package-Petition_CP_02-3;_Hunting_Tree_Stand_Petition-06.14.2004.pdf
7. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_MDL_Number-September-1-2026.pdf