Pennsylvania Hunter Ed Course Unit 6: Basic Hunting Techniques

Scents

Chemicals released from an animal's glands or waste give off scents that communicate to other animals. These scents are used to: Mark territory. Attract others for mating purposes. Non-game scents can be used to mask human odor or attract game animals. Pine or earth scents cover body odor and allow hunters to get close to game animals without frightening them. Odors that smell like preferred foods attract animals to an area to feed.

Shot Angles—Head-On

Shot angle head-on An animal will certainly detect your movements with a head-on shot angle. The head-on shot should not be taken by hunters using firearms or bows.

Shot Angles—Quartering-Away

The quartering-away shot angle is when your target is facing away from you, but at an angle. The animal is usually looking away from you. Shot angle quartering-away Firearm: For firearm hunters, the quartering-away position offers several aiming spots on all big game. The area just behind the shoulder is the best aiming spot for direct penetration of the vital organs. Focus on hitting the chest area above the opposite front leg. Bow: The quartering-away shot angle offers a good opportunity for a clean kill on antelope, white-tailed deer, mule deer, black bear, and other big game of similar size or smaller. This is not a good shot for bowhunters on larger game because their massive stomachs and intestines will block a clean shot to the lungs or heart. The opposite front leg is a good reference point for aiming.

Still Hunting

walking stealthily through an animal's habitat, stopping frequently—sometimes for long periods—to scan and listen for game. Typically, big-game hunters use this method in unfamiliar terrain or where stands are impractical or forbidden. As a general rule, spend at least ten times longer being still and observing than walking. Keep a low profile; a human silhouette will spook many game species. Use binoculars in open terrain to identify movement properly.

Field Dressing Deer

To reduce your risk of exposure to disease, wear disposable plastic gloves while handling animals. Wash hands and arms thoroughly with soap and water before and after dressing. Step 1: Start your cut at the bottom of the breastbone. Using a clean, sharp knife, make a shallow cut by lifting the skin and muscle together. field dressing Step 2 Step 2: Open the body cavity. Position the knife within the cut with the blade facing upwards. Insert two fingers (one on each side of the knife blade in the shape of a "V") in the slit next to the breastbone, and push the entrails away from the blade. Do not pierce the entrails. Make an incision following the midline from the breastbone to the pelvis. Step 3: Remove the reproductive organs. Use a smaller incision to prevent contamination when dragging or carrying the deer. Step 4: Cut the skin and muscle from the bottom of the breastbone to the brisket. Hold the knife with blade facing upward. Step 5: Split the rib cage at the breastbone. Cut through the breastbone with a knife, or use a small saw on older or large animals. Step 6: Follow the previous incision from the pelvis to the anus. Split the pelvic bone with a saw. Carefully cut around the urethra. Do not sever. Step 7: Carefully remove the anus. Cut around the anus, loosening the connective tissues. Tie off the anus with rubber bands or string. Pull the anus and large intestine into the body cavity. Step 8: Make your final cuts. Hold open the rib cage. Reach into the cavity, and cut the diaphragm free from the rib cage down to the backbone. Avoid cutting the stomach or intestines to reduce contamination. Step 9: Roll the carcass onto its side to spill out the entrails. Loosen connective tissues as needed. Remove the windpipe and esophagus. Step 10: Place the liver and heart in resealable plastic bags and chill. Do not eat the meat if the organs smell bad, exhibit greenish discharge, have blood clots, or are discolored. Step 11: Clean, ventilate, and dry the body cavity. Prop open the body cavity with a clean stick or branch. Remove all visible dirt, feces, hair, and bloodshot areas. Clean out the entrail residue, and drain excess blood. Step 12: Wipe the inside of the body cavity with a dry cloth or paper towels. Use clean water and dry the insides thoroughly if you choose to rinse out the cavity. Dispose of entrails carefully. Don't leave them lying by the side of a road or near a residence where they can be dragged home by a dog. If you plan to process the animal yourself, skin the animal as soon as possible to allow the carcass to cool. Take to a professional meat processor or cut up at home. Finally, a sure way to ruin meat—as well as earn the disapproval of non-hunters—is to tie the animal to the hood or roof of a car, where it's exposed to heat, exhaust fumes, road salt, and airborne dust. Credit: Field Dressing Deer Techniques courtesy of Penn State University-College of Agriculture Science-Agriculture Research and Cooperative Extension Remember... If gut shot: Field dress as soon as possible to remove the entrails. Trim all visible feces or ingesta with clean knife. Clean the knife regularly between cuts. If you need to wash the cavity to remove contamination, dry it thoroughly with a dry cloth or paper towels. Prop open the body cavity to circulate air.

Ground Blinds

You should situate ground blinds: Downwind, based on the normal wind pattern during a given time of day, such as morning Away from the sun Where the foreground and background are safest

dont shoot

head on, rear-end, game behind tree, game behind small trees, game in brush, game running,

possible shoot

quartering towards - take shot if using rifle. bow and crossbow should wait for better shot, game in motion (depends on speed)

Game Calling

Calling is an effective technique for most animals. There are a variety of sounds that can be imitated to draw game to you. Territorial sounds: Deer "rattling," elk "bugle," or a turkey "gobble" Feeding sounds: A duck's feeding "chuckle" Distress sounds: Inviting coyotes, bobcats, or foxes to feed There are hundreds of sounds that can attract all types of wildlife. A skillful hunter uses these sounds to attract animals close enough to him or her for an effective shot.

Signs of Diseases in Animals

Identify possible diseased animals or animals with infected wounds or parasites: Irrational or odd behavior before harvesting—rabies Bad odor—gangrene Blisters on lungs or other organs—bovine tuberculosis Seeing outline of skeleton through skin—Chronic Wasting Disease Hair loss or skin irritations—mange No fear of humans—brain worm (elk)

A Game Care Kit

Other typical items include: Black pepper to repel insects Cheesecloth bags for organs you plan to use as meat (heart, liver) Cooler and ice Disposable plastic gloves Fluorescent orange flagging Foil Gambrel and pulley system Hand towels Large bag for caped or trophy head Plastic bags for cleanup Plastic or cotton gloves Salt (non-iodized) for hide care

Stalking

The difference between still hunting and stalking is that when stalking, you follow signs leading to a particular type of game or group of animals, or close the distance to game already spotted. You may stalk to: Follow tracks on trails or a morning "dew" trail through leaves and brush. Follow sounds or scents of animals, such as elk, sheep, or collared peccaries. Sneak closer to an animal for a better shot. Stalking requires total focus because you must remember to keep downwind, stay quiet, stay alert, and remain patient.

Shot Angles—Rear-End

The rear-end shot should not be taken by hunters using firearms or bows. Shot angle rear Remember... It's difficult to hit a vital area on an animal that is running or moving straight away from you. Rather than risk crippling the animal or ruining the meat, wait for a better shot.

shoot

broadside, quarter away, tree stand quartering away

How Projectiles Kill Game

A bullet kills game differently than shot pellets or a broadhead-point arrow used in bowhunting. It is important to understand these differences in order to select the best shot placement. Bullets kill game by causing massive tissue damage and shock to vital organs. Shot pellets need to penetrate through the animal's hide or bird's feathers into a vital organ. The damage created disrupts the functioning of the vital organs. Broadhead-point arrows kill game by cutting through blood vessels or vital organs, causing massive blood loss.

Approaching Downed Game

A downed deer or other large animal should be approached carefully from above and behind the head. If the animal appears to be dead, wait a short distance away for a few minutes. Watch for any rise and fall of the chest cavity. Notice if the eyes are closed—the eyes of a dead animal are usually open. You can be certain that the animal is dead if the eye doesn't blink when touched with a stick. Hunter approaching a downed deer Approach downed game from above and behind the head and wait a short distance away, watching for any rise and fall of the chest cavity. If the animal is still alive, it should be finished with a quick shot to the base of the ear. If you wish to mount the head, place your shot in the heart-lung area. For bowhunters, the only option is placing an arrow in the heart-lung area. Once the animal is dead, immediately tag it, including the date of kill. Then begin field dressing.

Female Wild Turkey

About ⅓ shorter than males and half their weight Feathers are duller than males and have brown-tipped edges No spurs or beards, in most cases Head is covered with hair and fine feathers, unlike the male, which has a bald head No fleshy growth (called a snood) between the eyes like males

What You've Learned

By learning about your quarry before you go hunting, you will be able to: Increase your chance of success. Enjoy your hunt more. Make sure you are taking legal game. Hunter education course review and summary Animals can be identified by five basic characteristics: their distinctive markings, the sounds they make, the way they move, their group behavior, and their signs. Hunter education course review and summary There are various strategies you can use while hunting. These include still hunting, stalking, and posting. You may use ground blinds or elevated stands to conceal or position yourself. Game calling, driving, and flushing are techniques used to expose game. Dogs can help locate and retrieve game. Setting traps is a technique used for certain game when allowed. Hunter education course review and summary To bring home the game you are seeking while inflicting the minimal amount of suffering on the quarry, you should learn how to place a shot for a clean kill. The most effective shots are delivered to an animal's vital organs — the heart and lungs. Hunter education course review and summary The shot angle is the angle at which the animal is standing in relation to the hunter. The different types of shot angles are broadside, quartering-away, quartering-toward, head-on, and rear-end. Know which angle offers the best chance of a clean kill for different game and which shots should not be taken. Hunter education course review and summary It is a hunter's ethical responsibility to stop the hunt and search for any wounded animal. Watch its movements, and follow signs such as blood or tracks. Hunter education course review and summary The best way to approach a downed deer or other large animal is from above and behind the head. Make sure that it is dead, and then tag it immediately. Hunter education course review and summary The growth of bacteria is the cause of spoiled meat. Three factors contribute to bacteria growth — heat, moisture, and dirt — so it is best to field dress the animal immediately. Hunter education course review and summary When transporting game, be sure to keep it covered to avoid offending others. Also keep the dressed game cool and free of insects.

If you should fall while in your stand:

Do not panic. Your FAS will hold you. Signal for help. Climb back onto the platform as quickly as possible. Take actions to avoid suspension trauma if you must wait for rescue. If you do not have a suspension relief strap, keep moving your legs.

Driving

Driving involves a group of hunters, some acting as "drivers" and others as "posters."

Flushing

Flushing involves using noise, movement, or dogs to cause game to become nervous and leave cover. Pause frequently when attempting to flush game. When you vary your pace, your quarry may think it has been detected and be more likely to leave cover.

Wild Male Turkey

Head color is red, white, blue, and black Larger body than a female Beard in the middle of chest; can be up to 12 inches long "Spur" found on the back of each leg

Field Dressing Larger Game

Here are some additional tips for dressing large game. Field dressing large game Because it's harder to move larger animals, you may need to skin and quarter the animal to pack it out, particularly in a remote area. If you're unable to hang the animal for skinning, begin by making a lengthwise cut and removing one side of the hide. Then turn the animal onto the skinned hide and skin the other side. To keep dirt off the meat, use the inside of the removed hide as a protective mat as you quarter the animal. Put each quarter in a game sack and attach the sacks to a backpack frame for the hike out.

Cons of Elevated Stands

Increase risk of injury resulting from falling Can be difficult to carry, especially large, portable stands Provide no protection from cold or wind Give little room for movement Cannot move toward game while hunting

Transporting Game

Keep the dressed game cool and free of insects. If you've quartered the animal, pack the quarters in ice chests—don't process the deer beyond quartering until you reach your final destination. Be sure to keep proper "evidence of sex" if required by your game laws. Loading bagged deer in back of pickup truck When transporting game, be sure to keep it covered to avoid offending others. Most hunters take their game to a commercial meat cooler, where a typical white-tailed deer can be properly aged up to three or four days at 40° Fahrenheit.

4 classifications of animals

Large mammals Big game, such as deer, elk, and bear Small mammals Small game, such as rabbits, squirrels, and raccoons Upland birds Turkey, grouse, quail, and dove Waterfowl Ducks and geese

Hauling Hunting Equipment Into a Stand

Never carry your hunting equipment up or down the tree with you as you climb. Always use a haul line. Before attaching the haul line to your hunting equipment: If using a firearm, unload it and open the action. If using a bow, put the arrows in a covered quiver secured to the bow. Use a haul line of heavy cord attached to your stand to bring up your hunting equipment or to lower it prior to climbing down from your stand. If using a firearm, attach the haul line to the firearm's sling so that the firearm hangs with the muzzle pointed down. If using a bow, attach the haul line so that the arrow fletching points down when raising your equipment and points up when lowering it. Slip the end of the haul line through your belt—leave it untied so that it can pull free if you fall. Put on your FAS full-body harness, secure yourself to the tree, and climb to your stand. After you are in the stand and secure, haul up your hunting equipment and untie the haul line.

Elevated Tree Stand Guidelines

Place stands by clearings, cut paths, or anywhere that gives hunters a clear, unobstructed view. Never place stands on fence lines or near another landowner's property. Look for a tree with the following features: Alive Straight Rough bark Large limbs Select the right species of tree. Safe trees are oak, cedar, ash, hemlock, large pines, and maples. Unsafe trees are birch, poplar, aspen, willow, shagbark hickory, beech, and small pines.

Pros of Elevated Stand

Provide a wider field of vision—game is spotted sooner than at ground level Allow time to plan for best shot through earlier detection of game Position a hunter above the animal's normal field of vision Make a hunter's scent harder to detect and movement less noticeable Make a hunter more visible to other sportsmen so that he or she is less likely to be hit by a stray bullet Provide a good backstop for arrows or bullets due to shooting at a downward angle

S.T.E.P.S. to Safe Tree Stand Hunting

Safety harness: Always wear your fall-arrest system with a full-body harness whenever your feet leave the ground. Tree stand maintenance: Check your stand for missing or broken parts before each use. Evaluate your stand site: Select trees that are alive and will support your stand. Partners and plans: Hunt with a partner, and have a plan in case of an emergency. Signals: Carry a whistle or other signaling device should you need assistance.

What You Learned (cont.)

Stay safe while on a turkey hunt by correctly identifying male and female turkey. When turkey hunting, be sure to take extra care to identify the target to avoid mistakenly shooting another hunter. Hunter education course review and summary Elevated stands place the hunter above ground level. They can be tree stands placed in or against trees, or free-standing structures. While they offer certain advantages, they also have some drawbacks, including a degree of risk. Hunter education course review and summary Portable tree stands are one category of elevated stands. These stands can be safe and environmentally friendly. Homemade stands should not be used. Commercial stands that are manufactured, certified, and tested to industry standards are best. Portable tree stands come in three basic types: hang-on stands, climbing stands, and ladder stands. Hunter education course review and summary Tripods, quadpods, or tower stands are similar to a ladder tree stand but are free-standing. Hunter education course review and summary When hunting from an elevated stand, you should use a fall-arrest system (FAS) that is manufactured to industry standards. Make sure your FAS includes a full-body harness, lineman's-style belt and/or climbing belt, tree strap, tether, and suspension relief strap. Never use single-strap belts and chest harnesses. Carefully read the manufacturer's instructions for proper use of your FAS, and follow all safety guidelines. Hunter education course review and summary When you are in a tree stand, use the FAS tree strap and tether to attach your FAS full-body harness to the tree. If you should fall while in your stand: Do not panic. Signal for help. Climb back onto the platform quickly. Act to avoid suspension trauma if you must wait for rescue. Use your suspension relief strap, or keep moving your legs Hunter education course review and summary Never carry your hunting equipment up or down the tree with you as you climb. Always use a haul line attached to your hunting equipment. Unload your firearm and open the action. Put arrows in a covered quiver secured to the bow.

Where To Aim When Turkey Hunting

The most effective firearm shot for a turkey is to the head and neck. The preferred shot angle for bowhunters is broadside, aiming for the heart or lungs. An exception to this rule of thumb occurs when hunters pursue wild turkeys with a shotgun. Because of the thick feathers and heavy wing bones protecting the vital organs, shot may not be able to penetrate to the vital organs. When hunting wild turkeys with a shotgun, greater success is achieved when hunters shoot at the head and neck area of the bird.

Where to Aim

The most effective shots are delivered to an animal's vital organs—heart and lungs. In large game animals, these organs lie in the chest cavity behind the front shoulder. A lung shot is the most effective shot for big game. The brain is not considered a vital organ when hunting big game because it occupies a small, hard-to-hit area. All too often, hunters aiming for the brain do not hit their target. Animals injured due to a misplaced shot to the brain often escape the hunter and suffer some time before dying. The area of the vital organs also contains major blood vessels and arteries. A shot in this area causes a lot of bleeding. If the animal doesn't die immediately and tries to flee, it will leave a blood trail that's easy to track. An exception to the no-head-shot rule occurs while turkey hunting with a shotgun. For more information, see the Turkey Hunting on the next page. Aside from being a good marksman, the key to a clean kill is patience. Hunters should limit shots to the vital organs only. If you do not have a clear shot to the vital organs, wait until the animal presents the best possible shot. The preferred shot for larger game animals, such as elk, deer, and bear, is broadside.

Trailing Wounded Game

It is a hunter's ethical responsibility to stop the hunt and search for any wounded animal. You should wait for at least a half-hour to an hour before trailing a deer, unless the downed deer is in sight. Make a practice of carefully observing every movement of a game animal after you shoot it. Investigate the ground and trail after shooting before assuming you missed. Once at the site of the shot, look for signs: Blood on the ground or vegetation Broken twigs or branches, or scattered leaves A "dew" line if early in the morning Tracks Hair, meat, or bone fragments Downhill trails, especially toward water If you lose a trail, search in a circular or grid pattern and try to pick up the trail again. Use fluorescent orange flagging to mark the blood trail in case darkness or weather forces you to quit the search and return the next day. Marking the blood trail also shows where to look for more signs if you lose the trail. Be sure to remove the orange flagging after use. Remember... A clean kill improves the flavor of game meat. A wounded animal that has to be chased down yields strong-flavored meat because waste products, produced by stress, accumulate in the flesh.

Field Care Basics

The way you handle game after it's harvested can have a significant impact on the quality of the meat. Tag immediately, as required by law. Three factors that cause meat to spoil: Heat Dirt Moisture Heat is the number-one concern. Bacteria grow rapidly in a carcass, especially if it's allowed to stay warm. Meat begins to spoil above 40° Fahrenheit. The higher the temperature—and the longer the meat is exposed—the greater the chance of spoilage. This is particularly true with large game. Remember... In warm weather, it's helpful to place squirrels and doves in a cooler after dressing, as long as they remain dry

Decoys

Decoys are life-like models of game used to lure animals toward a hunter's position. They are typically used to hunt waterfowl—ducks and geese—and wild turkey. Decoys are most effective when used with scents and game calling.

five basic characteristics of animals

Distinctive Markings The black cheek patch on male pronghorns; the "flags" of the white-tailed deer; the face pattern on a gray fox; the green head on a mallard drake; the red, white, and blue on the head of a male turkey Sounds The wild call of the sandhill crane; the familiar honk of the goose; the gobble of a strutting "tom"; the grunt of the deer; the howl of the coyote Movement The bounce of mule deer; the fast or slow wing beats of some waterfowl; the zigzag in-flight pattern of the common snipe when flushed Group Behavior Flock patterns, such as the familiar "V" shape of certain migratory birds; various types of herd behavior Game Sign Animals leave "signs" indicating their presence in an area. These signs can include tracks, fecal droppings, scrapes or rubs, and beds.

Turkey Hunt Safety Guidelines

Look through the following list of safe turkey hunting practices. Positively identify your target. Be absolutely certain it's a legal turkey before pulling the trigger. Wear and display the required amount of fluorescent orange. Helps you to be seen by other hunters. It's the law! Never carry harvested turkeys in the open. Cover with a fluorescent orange vest, or completely conceal from view in a game bag. Never stalk turkey sounds. This could be another hunter calling. Protect your back. Sit with your back against a large tree, rock, or other large natural barrier. Shields you from unseen hunter approaching from the rear. Shout "STOP" at hunters who approach you—don't move. Alert hunters to your presence without moving, which could cause them to fire. Never wear red, white, blue, or black, the head colors of a male wild turkey. Pre-select a zone-of-fire. Shoot at a turkey only in the predetermined area. Choose safe and responsible hunting partners. Don't hunt with anyone who is not safe and responsible.

Shot angle: Broadside

The broadside shot angle is the preferred shot angle for both firearm and bow hunters for larger game animals, such as elk, deer, and bear. Firearm: The broadside position offers several excellent shots for a firearm hunter. The best target is the shoulder and chest area. A bullet of the correct weight fired from a firearm adequate for the game will break the shoulder bone and enter the lungs or heart. Bow: The broadside angle offers the best shot for the largest big game animals, such as elk, deer, and bear. For most big game, the aiming spot is straight up from the back side of the front leg, one-third of the way up from the bottom of the chest. An arrow will penetrate the ribs but not the shoulder bone; wait until the near leg is forward, and aim behind the shoulder. Vital organs of a turkey The most effective firearm shot for a turkey is to the head and neck. The preferred shot angle for bowhunters is broadside, aiming for the heart or lungs. Vital organs of an elk The preferred shot for larger game animals, such as elk, deer, and bear, is broadside.

Shot Angles—Quartering-Toward

The quartering-toward shot angle is when the animal is facing toward you, but at an angle. Since the animal is typically looking your way, it most likely will spot your movements. Shot angle: quartering-toward Firearm: The quartering-toward angle presents a clean shot to the vital organs. A shot can be taken at this angle if the gun is already trained on the animal. For an effective hit, aim at the front of the shoulder of the near front leg. Caution: A light bullet may deflect off the shoulder bones of large game, such as elk, deer, or large bears. Be certain to use a firearm and ammunition adequate for the game you hunt and the angle of shot you might select. Bow: This angle offers a poor shot opportunity and should not be taken. Heavy shoulder bones shield the majority of vital organs from broadhead-tipped arrow penetration. Also, bowhunters should never fire an arrow at an animal that is looking at them.

Turkey Hunt Identification

The wild turkey has red, white, blue, and black coloring on its head. Wearing these colors while hunting is like painting a target on your back. Many turkey-hunting shooting incidents occur because hunters think they see a wild turkey. In reality, many of these incidents happen because the hunter sees movement and shoots. If someone is wearing wild turkey colors, such as a red handkerchief around the neck, a blue T-shirt, or dark-colored camouflaged clothing, that person could be mistaken for a male turkey. It is very important to be sure of your target before you pull the trigger. In Pennsylvania, there are two wild turkey hunting seasons. One season occurs in fall, and the other is in the spring. During the spring wild turkey season, only bearded turkeys can be shot. You must be able to identify the basic physical characteristics of a male wild turkey.

Elevated Stand Safety Guidelines

To protect yourself, use good judgment and follow these recommendations, always putting safety first. Purchase a commercial stand that is manufactured, certified, and tested to industry standards. Read the manufacturer's instructions and watch the video that accompany the stand. Review this information each season before using the stand. Attach your FAS to the tree while at ground level, and keep it attached throughout your hunt - from the time you leave the ground until you get back down. Use a tree stand only during daylight hours. Practice first with your tree stand and FAS at ground level, using all safety devices that were included with the stand. Then continue to practice, gradually going higher. When climbing into or out of a tree stand, always use three points of contact with your hands and feet. Keep a firm hold on the climbing system as you enter or leave a platform, and don't let go until you're certain you are secure. Get enough sleep to ensure that you are well rested before using a tree stand. Carry a signaling device, such as a whistle, radio, or cell phone, to let others know if you have a problem. Take your time and plan every move you make while installing and using an elevated stand. Check your stand carefully prior to each use. Do not leave a stand attached to a tree for more than two weeks. Never exceed the weight limit of your stand or FAS. Remember that the weight includes you plus your equipment. Do not climb with anything in your hands or on your back. Use a haul line. Raise and lower all hunting equipment on the opposite side of the tree from your climbing route.

Fall-Arrest Systems (FAS)

You should use a fall-arrest system (FAS) that is manufactured to industry standards. Never use single-strap belts and chest harnesses—they can be deadly. Before hunting, carefully read the manufacturer's instructions for proper use of your FAS and follow all safety guidelines. Most tree stand falls occur when a hunter is climbing up or down a tree. Always use a properly fitting FAS that includes a full-body harness at all times when your feet are off the ground. This includes while climbing a tree, installing a tree stand that uses climbing aids, and hunting from a tree stand. (When using a ladder stand, attach your FAS to the tree and tighten the tether as soon as you reach the top of the ladder.) Essential FAS Components: Make sure your FAS includes these components. Full-Body Harness: The vest harness is a very effective style of full-body harness. Tether: The tether attaches your full-body harness to the tree strap/belt or the tree stand safety line system and has a shock-absorbing feature. Suspension Relief Strap: This strap provides a loop to stand in if you fall. Additional FAS Components: Your FAS also must have additional components that you use to attach yourself to the tree. Lineman's-Style Belt or Climbing Belt: The lineman's-style belt (or climbing belt) goes around the tree while you are climbing up and down the tree. Tree Strap/Belt: The tree strap goes around the tree after you are in your tree stand. Tree Stand Safety Line System: The tree stand safety line system is an alternative to using a lineman's-style belt and a tree strap. When installed on a tree, a tree stand safety line system lets you remain attached to the tree with your FAS full-body harness and tether from the time you leave the ground until you return. A complete system includes these parts. Safety Rope/Line With Prusik Knot: The rope/line goes around the tree and extends from the base of the tree to a point at, or above, head level when you are standing on the tree stand platform. The prusik knot on the rope/line is designed to slide easily with one hand. If you should fall, the knot will tighten around the rope/line to keep you from falling to the ground. Carabiner: This metal ring connects the tether from your full-body harness to the prusik knot on the safety rope/line.