Hunters Face Fall Risk from Thousands of Recalled Tree Stands

As hunters across the U.S. head out into the woods for hunting season, they should be aware of several tree stands recalled this week because they pose a fall hazard to the user.

On Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of three models of tree stands manufactured by Big Game, and one API Outdoors model made by Global Manufacturing Company, that all use a potentially defective cable assembly that may release unexpectedly. These climbing tree stands are used to hunt from an elevated position and all were sold with an accessory bag.

There has been one report of the cable assembly on a Big Game tree stand releasing, which resulted in injuries to the user’s knee, wrist and hip, and another report of failure in an API Outdoors tree stand that resulted in a broken vertebra, fractured rib and sprained shoulder.

Consumers are warned not to use these recalled tree stands until they receive the free replacement cables.

Recalled Tree Stands by Big Game

Certain batch numbers of The Outlook, The Cobalt and The Fusion model tree stands are included in the recall. The black metal tree stands include the main stand platform with a nylon hanging strap assembly. The Outlook model has a nylon netted seat without a backrest. The Cobalt and The Fusion models have a camouflage-print, padded seat with the Big Game logo at the front of the backrest. Consumers can locate the batch number on a small tag on the frame below the seat. The batch number starts with BN.

The tree stand recall affects about 12,200 Big Game climbing tree stands, all 2014 models with these batch numbers:

CL050 – The Outlook with batch number 9B-0414

CL100-A – The Cobalt with batch numbers 9B-0214 and 9B-0514

CL500-AP – The Fusion with batch numbers 9B-0214 and 9B-0514

These Big Game tree stands were sold June 2014 through July 2015 at Bass Pro Shop, Cabela’s, Menards, Rogers Sporting Goods and Sportsman’s Guide stores nationwide and online for between $130 and $380.

Owners of these recalled tree stands must contact Big Game at 1-800-268-5077 to request the replacement cables or visit www.biggametreestands.com to submit the request online.

Recalled API Outdoors Tree Stands

This recall involves certain batch numbers of API Outdoors – The Marksman model climbing tree stand. The light green metal tree stands include the main stand platform with a nylon hanging strap assembly. They have a nylon netted seat without a backrest. The batch number starts with BN and can be found on a small tag located on the frame below the seat.

The tree stand recall affects about 5,300 API Outdoors model year 2014 climbing tree stands with these batch numbers:

GCL300-A – The Marksman with batch numbers 9G-0114 and 9G-0614

Consumers may have purchased these tree stands from June 2014 through June 2015 at Menards and Rogers Sporting Goods stores nationwide and online for $140–$180.

Owners of these recalled API Outdoors tree stands must contact Global Manufacturing Company at 1-888-393-9611 to request the replacement cables or visit www.apioutdoors.com to submit the request online.