Three Iowa hunters are recovering after falling 20-feet from their tree stands, in three separate accidents.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says 51-year old Jeff Pavek of Palo, Iowa fell October 29th, while bow hunting in Linn County. A friend found him face down on the ground two hours later, with serious neck and back injuries. He was taken to University of Iowa Hospitals. Pavek says a fastener came undone, causing the fall.
The DNR says last Saturday, November 4th, 45-year-old Philip Rolfe of Dubuque fell from a tree stand near Garber, in Clayton County. He received injuries to his jaw and lower body. He says an anchor strap failed, causing him to fall. He was not wearing a safety strap.
Sunday, November 5th, 58-year-old Jeffrey Newman of Winterset was found lying at the base of his tree stand in Adair County, near the Middle River. He was taken to a local hospital, then flown to a Des Moines hospital, with unknown injuries. The DNR says Newman's stand was loosely hanging by a bottom strap.