Users, Designers, and Manufacturers of Treestands Sought

“The use of portable elevated platforms, or treestands, for hunting and photography has expanded tremendously over the past 30 years,” said N. F. Mullaney, chairman of the Archery-Products Subcommittee within ASTM Committee F08 on Sports Equipment and Facilities. Since elevated stands have become an integral part of bowhunting especially in the eastern and midwestern states, nine standards have been drafted by a subcommittee task group to promote safety and structural integrity, Mullaney said.

Treestand users, designers, producers, or regulators are invited to participate on the task group comprised of Treestand Manufacturers Association members, who desire broader representation as they further develop the standards. Comments, information, and/or participation is sought.

“Obviously, there is no way to regulate the design and construction of privately-built elevated platforms,” stated Mullaney, P.E., principal, Mullaney Consultants, Bayside, Wis., “but commercially-built units can be made safer in design, construction, and use by establishing sound principles and practices to be followed by manufacturers of these devices and the ancillary equipment.”

The proposed standards cover practices and test procedures for portable or permanent treestands.

For further technical information, contact John Woller, Summit Specialties, Inc., Decatur, Ala. (phone: 256/ 353-0634; fax: 256/353-9818). Committee F08 meets May 9-12 in Phoenix, Ariz. For membership or meeting details, contact Staff Manager Jim Olshefsky, ASTM (phone: 610/ 832-9714; jolshefs@astm.org). //

Copyright, ASTM 2001