The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the voluntary recall of two hunting-related products as hunting season is well under way. The first product is the EXO-Tech Safety Harness, which is proving to have difficulty in living up to the product’s name. Manufactured by Gorilla, Inc., the safety harness has a defective webbing attachment, which can lead to ripping. The belt loops on the harness are not properly anchored to the harness webbing, which eliminates the possibility of intended support for climbers, thus allowing falls and consequentially serious injuries.
The defective EXO-Tech harness models, sold primarily at Cabelas, Bass Pro Shops, and other major sporting goods retail stores, were manufactured between April and June of 2009 and were sold between May and August this year. An estimated 90 harness models are affected by this recall. The CPSC and Gorilla, Inc., urge consumers to immediately cease use of the EXO-tech harnesses and to contact the manufacturer at (877) 685-7817 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the Gorilla, Inc., Web site at www.gorillatreestands.com.
Also being voluntarily recalled are the Hang-On fixed-position tree stands manufactured by StrongBuilt, and imported by the Gander Mountain Company. These tree stand models were built with a defective clasp that can open unexpectedly, causing the tree stand to collapse from under the consumer. Multiple injuries have been reported against this tree stand.
The Hang-On units in question (models GMT101 and GMT103) were manufactured between July of 2008 and July of 2009 and sold at Gander Mountain stores. StrongBuilt and Gander Mountain strongly urge consumers to stop using these tree stand models immediately and to contact StrongBuilt for refunds and replacements at (888) 542-6337 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern time on Monday through Friday or on Saturdays and Sundays between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.