The climbing stands attach to the tree and they have some sort of device with them that you basically inch your way up the tree. The lock-on stand seems to be the type associated with the most accidents. People tend to use climbing spikes. For whatever reason, you seem to hear of more accidents with this type. Kirkland urges hunters to know and inspect all equipment.
Any tree stand left out in the elements from year to year is an accident waiting to happen.
Just a year or two ago, I interviewed a guy in Wakulla County that got up in one and the bottom gave way. He fell out backwards. All it did was crack a vertebrae in his neck, but he was very fortunate it didn't kill him. Stands should be taken down and taken out of the weather. If they are going to leave the stand from one season to the next, it is absolutely imperative that they inspect the stand to see that is sound, Kirkland added.