From
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Annapolis, Maryland (September 17, 2010) – On September 16, 2010 at 8:16 pm, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) responded to a fatal hunting accident that occurred in the 1900 block of Franklin Church Road in Darlington, Md. NRP’s investigation revealed that Paul Joseph Kemper Jr., 55, of York, Pa. was bow hunting for deer when he fell out of his tree stand which was 25 feet off the ground.
Kemper was located by a hunting companion, Steven Edwin Myers, 54, also of York, Pa. Kemper had an unattached tree stand safety harness near him when he was discovered. Kemper’s body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy. NRP’s Special Operations Division will continue to investigate accident.
NRP investigated 12 hunting accidents during FY2010 and 14 hunting accidents during FY2009. Tree stand accidents totaled six and seven respectively during those years. NRP urge hunters should read, understand, and practice manufactures recommendations before using any climbing equipment or tree stands. Hunters should always use a full body harness as part of the overall safety restraint system during tree stand use. More information can be found at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/ts.asp.
