I found out this morning that my co-workers son fell out of his stand last night and broke his back in 3 places. He's not paralized and they are running all sorts of tests, but it was oh so close.

I have climbed into far too many death traps over the years and when I think back, I just shake my head. I've been trying to wear my Summit harness every time I get in a lockon or climber these days.

Ya'll be careful out there, never know when something may happen.

Reloader

I agree 100%. I think of some of the stands I've been in over the years and am amazed that I have not been hurt.

The most dangerous involves a home-made climbing tree stand that I built, along with my older (but no wiser) brother-in-law when I was about 12 years old . (29 years ago) This was a "copy" of the original Baker climbing tree stand and was constructed of 1" x 1" x 1/4" aluminum angle. The angle that is a "Vee" that goes around the tree was also aluminum angle 1"x2" x 1/8" or so. It was connected to the stand with one (1) 1/4" diameter steel bolt per side. I spent ALOT of time in that thing as a kid and teenager and never had a problem, without a safety belt or harness. (Possibly due to the fact that I weighed less than 150 lbs then) I still have that stand in my barn as a memento, but would NEVER use it now.

I now wear a harness when in stand and make my kids do the same thing. Every year at least one local hunter is severely injured or killed from a fall from a tree stand.

Be careful and double-check all stands (portable and permanent)

more hunters die each year as a result of falling than they do by gunshot!

My whole life I've hunted spot-n-stalk in the West and got invited to try sitting in a tree waiting for a deer to walk by for the first time about a month ago in E KS.

You guys are nuts! While it worked really well, that's more suited for roofers or bridge painters than a clumsy oaf like me. I was very careful to use the harness but ended up leaning way out of the back of the tree to get my shot. I could see where folks could easily get hurt, especially if the metal platforms and climbing rungs were icy.

It dawned on me that the most likely way for me to get hurt was to accidently take the fast way down being excited to go check on my kill.

I have a co worker that works as an emt and also with the fire dept. EVERY YEAR they pick up at least 3 fallen hunters in our local area. Probably the saddest was a guy that was in his mid 30's who's now paralyzed and then his wife was diagnosed with major cancer a few weeks later. Life just can't get crueler than that.

I have driven 35 miles to one of my hunt spots and realized that my safety harness was not in the rig...drove home. I won't climb w/o a harness.

I was in a ladder stand this past Saturday morning. While I love 'em, I think a harness is a great idea.

Best wishes for the young man's speedy recovery.

I will never get in a stand without a harness.

As a matter of fact, a couple of years ago, I added a 5/8" rope that reaches from the ground to above my tree stand.

With the use of a prussic knot, I am attached to the tree by my harness from the time my foot leaves the ground until it touches back down.

Think about it, I have yet to see a deer that is worth dying or being crippled for........

i remember reading on a bowhunting forum a few years back. as here, the topic was tree stand safety the posted something like this:

"i hit the ground hard, and knew immediately i was paralyzed."

i'll never forget that! and i too wear a safety harness. i put the strap around the tree before i take the first step up. and keep it on until i am back on the ground.

Don't know all the details, but this past Saturday, opening day of General Deer Season here in Texas, a policeman from Garland Texas fell from an elevated stand or from the ladder and was impaled on a Tee Post.

His son witnessed the accident. The man died on the way to the hospital. Really tragic situation.

I tried them a couple of times and found that these things are scary.

This is what we generally use over here, it's not as mobile as a climber and takes some time to set up. As an advantage, it's more difficult to steal and still fast and cheap to build.



If you still want to go light and mobile for public land, this is something I frequently use:

quote:

With the use of a prussic knot, I am attached to the tree by my harness from the time my foot leaves the ground until it touches back down.

Very smart, even use two prussic's! A Petzl gri-gri belay device or even a cheap tri-block ascender would work very well too

Very interesting read on harnesses, I had no idea.

http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0500/d000568/d000568.html

Reloader

Reloader, just reading about your friends sons accident makes me cringe and I'll sure be thinking about him and hope he'll be OK. This is something that should be taken serious in that so many people never think these things will happen to them. Don't take the chance. The back can be broken in so many ways, and takes so long to heal and will never be the same. Rodney.

An article in this morning paper is

quote:

Hunter suffocates hanging in harness
A northeast Ohio deer hunter apparently suffocated when he fell from a tree stand and became suspended in his harness 20 feet off the ground.
The Carroll county sheriff's department says the victim's safety harness apparently suffocated him.

I copied this from the paper but left out the victim's name.

Rad

A few years ago I read about a guy who strapped his son in a tree and then climbed up above him to video, somthing went wrong and he fell to his death. It hit home for me. I hunt alone, A LOT. I always were a harness and this year I upgraded, my wife didn't gripe one bit about the $130 price tag either. Apparently, I am worth it

I strongly suggest everyone to check out the Hunter Saftey Systems pro series vest. Much easier to use (wich means your more apt to where it) Heavier than a normal harness, but much safer, ie you wont strangle yourself, and thank goodness no more tangles!