What should you do with your firearm before climbing into a treestand?

Before climbing into a treestand, unloading your firearm is the safest practice. This action minimizes the risk of accidental discharge while maneuvering in an elevated position where maintaining balance and focus is crucial. When climbing or sitting in a treestand, providing a clear space free of potential hazards reduces the likelihood of accidents, especially since a firearm can be unwieldy in such conditions.

Keeping your firearm loaded, even with the safety on, presents an inherent risk if you lose your balance or if an unexpected movement occurs. Additionally, securing a loaded firearm in a holster does not eliminate the potential danger while navigating to the treestand. Hiding it in the treestand could lead to an unsafe retrieval situation or an unexpected encounter with others who might not anticipate a firearm being there.

Therefore, unloading your firearm before ascending ensures that you prioritize safety, enabling you to focus on your hunting activities without the added concern of handling a loaded weapon at height.