Staying Safe During Hunts

Hunting is one of the safest outdoor activities when practiced correctly — but accidents happen, and remote locations amplify the consequences of any injury or emergency. ProHunt provides several safety tools. This guide explains how to set them up properly and what to do if an emergency occurs.

Before Every Hunt Season: Safety Setup

1. Choose your SOS contact

   Go to Settings > Safety > SOS and choose the one contact who should receive your SOS. Pick someone reliable — ideally a person who stays home and can relay to emergency services. Let them know they are your emergency contact before the season.

2. Share your hunting areas

   Tell your SOS contact which properties you hunt and the rough location. This context is vital if they need to direct rescue services.

3. Download offline maps for all hunt areas

   Emergency location sharing requires your GPS position — but you can only navigate rescuers to you if you know where you are. Offline maps let you identify your exact location and surroundings even without cell service.

Before Every Hunt: Daily Routine

• Tell someone your plan. Share property name, approximate stand location, and expected return time with a non-hunting contact.
• Fully charge your phone. A dead phone cannot call for help. Carry a portable power bank for all-day hunts.
• Set a check-in reminder. Go to Settings > Safety > Check-In and set the time when you expect to be back at the truck. If you do not check in by that time, the app prompts you to trigger SOS, which sends your position to your chosen contact.
• Check POI layer for nearest hospital. Before heading to a new property, enable the POI layer and note the nearest hospital or urgent care and its distance.

Treestand Safety

Treestand falls are the leading cause of serious injury in hunting. Whatever app you use, treestand safety requires physical protocols:

• Always wear a full-body safety harness from the moment your feet leave the ground
• Use a lifeline system (Prusik knot or commercial lifeline) that keeps you tethered throughout the climb
• Inspect stands before every season and repair or replace any worn straps, cables, or platforms.
• Never climb or descend with a loaded firearm or drawn bow. Use a haul line.
• If you fall and are suspended in your harness, use the suspension relief strap to maintain blood circulation while waiting for help

Using SOS in an Emergency

1. Activate SOS

   Tap the SOS button to send your GPS coordinates and a custom SOS message to the contact you chose.

2. Call emergency services directly if possible

   SOS sends to your chosen contact, not directly to 911/112. Call emergency services yourself if you have signal and are able to speak.

3. Stay put

   If you have activated SOS, do not move unless staying in place is dangerous. Moving makes it harder for rescuers to find you.

4. Keep your phone visible and charged

   Enable the screen to maximum brightness if rescuers are searching visually. If battery is low, reduce screen brightness between check-ins.

Firearm Safety in the Field

Team Tracking shows where your teammates are, but it does not override fundamental firearm safety rules. Always:

• Treat every firearm as if it is loaded at all times
• Never point the muzzle at anything you do not intend to shoot
• Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire
• Identify your target and what is beyond it before firing. GPS positions are accurate to 3-5 metres — never use a map position to determine a safe firing direction.

Related Features

• SOS and Safety — complete SOS documentation
• Team Tracking — know where your team is at all times
• Points of Interest — locate nearest hospital from any hunt area
• Smart Gear — connect Pro-only gear such as trail cameras and weather stations