Hunter Safety System Treestand Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

CPSC announced a recall of about 16,000 Hunter Safety System carabiners on November 2, 2010, because the pins can detach and may let a climbing strap break free from the treestand harness. The Danville, Alabama company also makes treestand harnesses, lifelines, a lineman’s climbing rope and carabiners. Recall No. 11-029 is the one CPSC recall of the company’s products. No MDL covers Hunter Safety System as of September 2026. Each hunting season, CPSC reports, hunters are killed or seriously injured in falls related to treestands.

Latest Hunter Safety System Treestand Lawsuit Updates

November 2, 2010: CPSC Announces Hunter Safety System Carabiner Recall

CPSC and Hunter Safety System announced Recall No. 11-029 of about 16,000 carabiners supplied with the HSS-300 Ultra-Lite full body climbing safety harness [1]. The pins can detach, causing a climbing strap to break free. The company is aware of two reports of the pins detaching, and no falls or injuries were reported. Consumers should immediately stop using the carabiners and return them for a free replacement.

What Is a Treestand Safety Harness?

According to CPSC’s safety publication Hunting Treestands and Harnesses, a full-body harness has straps around the waist, legs and shoulders [2]. A single-strap chest or waist-type harness is dangerous and has caused death due to strangulation. CPSC advises hunters of all ages and experience levels to use a full-body harness when using a hunting treestand.

Who May Be Affected?

Hunters who fell while using one of these Hunter Safety System items may be affected:

• X-1 harness
• Pro-Series Realtree harness
• HSS-300 Ultra-Lite full body harness
• Reflective Lifeline, Original Non-Reflective Lifeline and 42′ Non-Reflective Lifeline
• Lineman’s Climbing Rope
• Recon Steel Carabiners

CPSC’s Hunting Treestands and Harnesses publication says many treestand incidents occur while hunters are stepping onto or from the platform. It also says prolonged suspension can result in trauma or death. Owners of the carabiners in the 2010 recall, supplied with the HSS-300 Ultra-Lite harness, may also be affected. A legal review of your own facts is the only way to know whether you have a claim.

Reported Injuries or Damages

The figures below describe treestand falls in general, not Hunter Safety System gear. CPSC’s Hunting Treestands and Harnesses publication says CPSC received reports of 41 treestand-related deaths from 2005 through 2007. CPSC staff estimates about 19,000 treestand-related injuries during the same period. CPSC states that most treestand-related incidents can be prevented with proper use of a full-body harness. A Spine Journal study by Fayssoux and colleagues reviewed 22 men treated after falls from hunting tree stands [3]. Eight had cervical spine injuries and 13 had thoracic or lumbar spine injuries. Neurologic deficits affected 5 of the 8 cervical patients and 10 of the 13 thoracic or lumbar patients. The authors concluded that prevention, with emphasis on safety harness use, is the best intervention. A University of Wisconsin review of a trauma database covered tree stand injuries from 1999 to 2013, according to Wisconsin Public Radio [4]. Of the tree stand injuries reviewed, 55 percent resulted in one or more spinal injuries, and only four of 117 patients reported any use of a safety harness.

Recall and Regulatory Background

CPSC Recall No. 11-029 covers black 2010 HSS Ultra-Lite carabiners with a pin sticking out of the gate. They have “CB20101” stamped on the side opposite the gate. They were sold at outdoor hunting retailers and directly from the company from June 2010 through September 2010 for about $100. The 2010 notice lists Hunter Safety System’s toll-free number as (877) 296-3528, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday. A recall notice states a hazard and does not establish liability.

Evidence to Preserve

Keep these items if a harness, lifeline, lineman’s climbing rope or carabiner failed in a fall:

• The failed harness, lifeline, lineman’s climbing rope or carabiner, kept as it is
• Any “CB20101” stamping or other markings on a carabiner
• Photographs of the gear, the tree, the stand and the setup
• Purchase records, manuals and warranty cards
• Medical records and bills
• Names and notes of anyone who saw the fall or the gear
• A written note of the date, the place and how the gear was set up, made while you remember them

Filing Deadlines

Filing deadlines come from state law. They depend on where you live and when the fall, the injury and any diagnosis happened. A claim can end once a deadline passes, even when the facts are strong. Check with a lawyer promptly to learn which deadline applies to you and how much time may remain.

Potential Compensation

Where a claim is supported, conditional categories of damages may include medical expenses, lost wages and rehabilitation costs. They may also include pain and suffering and, in a death case, funeral costs and loss of support. Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. The facts of each claim affect potential compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Replace a Hunter Safety System Harness After a Fall?

You should replace a Hunter Safety System harness after a fall, because CPSC Pub. 5200 says the harness should be replaced after a fall has occurred. Keep the failed harness as it is, since it may be evidence in a later claim.

What Does the Research Say About Treestand Falls?

Research on treestand falls finds they remain a significant cause of spinal injury and disability, say the Spine Journal authors. The average height of fall was 18 feet, and the Wisconsin review counted five hunters with paralysis.

Can I File a Hunter Safety System Harness Lawsuit?

Whether you can file a Hunter Safety System harness lawsuit depends on what failed and how you were hurt. CPSC’s harness guidance for treestand hunters, Pub. 5200, is dated December 2008.

What Does CPSC Advise Before Each Treestand Hunt?

Before each treestand hunt, CPSC advises inspecting the treestand and harness for signs of wear or damage. It also advises using a Treestand Manufacturers’ Association approved full-body harness, following the manufacturer’s instruction, and carrying a cell phone for emergencies.

References

1. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2010/Hunter-Safety-System-Recalls-Carabiners-Due-to-Fall-Hazard
2. https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/5200.pdf
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18023620/
4. https://www.wpr.org/environment/uw-study-falls-tree-stands-most-likely-result-spinal-injuries