(WAND) - As firearm deer season gets underway, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is reminding hunters who use tree stands to keep safety a priority.

IDNR urges hunters to use safety harnesses when hunting in tree stands.

Tree stands are the number 1 source of hunting-related accidents and deaths in Illinois. In 2024, 70% of hunting incidents reported to IDNR were the result of tree stand-related accidents, including failure to use a fall arrest system. A hunter died after falling about 15 feet and suffering a broken pelvis, broken ribs and a punctured lung. “Above all else, the Illinois Conservation Police want to make sure every hunter makes it back home safely after each outing,” said Jed Whitchurch, director of IDNR’s Office of Law Enforcement. “While we encourage hu

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