What safety precaution should you take every time you use an elevated stand?

Wearing a harness while using an elevated stand is crucial for maintaining safety during hunting activities. A harness protects you from falling, which can lead to serious injuries or even fatalities. Many accidents in hunting occur due to falls from trees or elevated platforms, and wearing a harness effectively reduces this risk by securing you to the stand or the tree itself.

While wearing a hard helmet can provide some protection from falling objects or if you accidentally bump your head, it does not prevent falls. Camouflaging the stand is important for staying concealed from animals but does not address personal safety. The buddy system, although it offers support or assistance from another person, does not directly safeguard against the immediate risks associated with falls when using an elevated stand. Thus, the most effective and essential safety precaution is the use of a harness.