Dangerous Treestands Recalled
Treestand accidents injure and kill many hunters every year. Some of the product liability lawyers at Finch McCranie are avid hunters and we have successfully pursued legal actions against companies which manufactured dangerously defective treestands. We recently received word that one of our clients who was paralyzed after his climbing treestand fell passed away from complications of his injuries.
Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Gander Mountain Company, of St. Paul, Minn announced a voluntary recall of treestands. Hunters should stop using the recalled stands immediately.
The recalled stands are the Gander Mountain 2008 model GMT101 and 2008 model GMT103 Hang-On Fixed Position Treestands. The recalled treestands have wire mesh on the base of the platform to the top of the footrest and a Gander Mountain logo on the front of the seat. In addition, the seat has a camouflage pattern that is branded “AP” and “REALTREE”. Model GMT101 has “Steel Hang-On With Foot Rest” printed in large bold print on the exterior of the box and the GMT103 has “Large Steel Hang-On With Foot Rest” printed on the exterior of the box. This recall does not affect the 2009 year models GMT101 and GMT103 Hang-On Fixed Position Treestands manufactured by Rivers Edge.
The clasp on the stands may open unexpectedly if the strap is fastened incorrectly, causing the treestand and user to fall to the ground. Gander Mountain has received two reports of consumers falling while using the treestands: one sustained unspecified injuries and a second person sustained a broken pelvis and broken arm.
About 13,000 stands were sold. They were sold only at Gander Mountain stores from July 2008 until July 2009. The GMT101 was sold for about $60 and the GMT103 was sold for about $80.
Anyone with one of the stands should immediately stop using it and return it to Gander Mountain for a refund, exchange for a 2009 model or a store credit.
