Treestand Harness; Don't be an Idiot

[JW]

Lil over a week. It still amazes me some guys do not wear safety harnesses. I've seen every excuse in the book. The main one being;

If you can't get back in your stand blood will pool in your legs and you'll die, I'd rather fall.

Fact; that's ignorance, a simple, cheap device has been made for years called a relief strap. It goes on the harness. You can stand up and take the pressure off your groin area.

Another tip; pull those leg straps up tight. Don't leave em loose. Don't believe me? Google testicle injuries due to loose leg straps while falling in a safety harness. Plus I've seen it first hand in industry.

Also remember. Nobody "FALLS" on purpose. Thats called "JUMPING".

If not for yourself, stop being a hard head and do it for your family.

http://www.deertreestands.com/

http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2011/09/tree_stand_accident_numbers_do.html

http://www.outdoorhub.com/how-to/2011/09/21/treestand-safety-tips-dont-become-a-statistic/

http://www.summitstands.com/summit-journal/cat/hunting-safety-and-security/

There are several different relief strap designs and fall arrest devices for hunters now.

This is a good vid to watch in case you do fall.

http://youtu.be/P5keThc6h6o

These are what I'm using now.
Tree Spider http://www.robinsonoutdoors.com/tree-spider/

http://youtu.be/BXy1Aeg1jjg

http://youtu.be/c5v6livBi1o

[systemnt]

NEVER go full testicle injury.
Cinch those straps up.

[manwitaplan]

I am not on Facebook...... errrrrr.... wrong thread!

Good reminder but the fact is that some of these long term tough guys decide to change there is nothing you can say to get them to.

I hope your message hits any of the new bow hunters. I had a good friend of mine break his back hanging stands 3 years ago with no harness or lineman belt.

I wear one religiously.

[JW]

Treestand Harness; Don't be an Idiot

I am not on Facebook...... errrrrr.... wrong thread!

Good reminder but the fact is that some of these long term tough guys decide to change there is nothing you can say to get them to.

I hope your message hits any of the new bow hunters. I had a good friend of mine break his back hanging stands 3 years ago with no harness or lineman belt.

I wear one religiously.

I was in Loma Alta. Summer 1998. 9 miles off of US 277. 10,000 acre lease and I was the only one there. I fell 12 feet. I had been working on it and climbed back up with a drill in my hand like an idget to mount a quiver holder. A Live Oak limb about 4 foot from the ground "broke" my fall so to speak. I laid there for a minute. Other than bark burn, cuts and beat to hell I was fine. Never again.

[nimrodajh]

I'll admit, I hated wearing the one I started with to the point I quit wearing it. It was a pain to put on and uncomfortable. BUT, that was 20 years ago, there's no excuse now. They've come a long way since then. I use HSS but some of the newer brands seem even better. You can have it on in seconds and not even know it's there. Hope I never need it but I'll have it on for the rest of my climbing days.

[JW]

I'll admit, I hated wearing the one I started with to the point I quit wearing it. It was a pain to put on and uncomfortable. BUT, that was 20 years ago, there's no excuse now. They've come a long way since then. I use HSS but some of the newer brands seem even better. You can have it on in seconds and not even know it's there. Hope I never need it but I'll have it on for the rest of my climbing days.

I dropped my HSS over that Tree Spider Micro. Daylight and dark in comfort. And especially sweat!!!

[florissant]

Ragin' are you tethered from ground to stand and vice versa? Or just in the stand? I stick to the ground but wondered if it kept you safe climbing as well?

[JW]

Ragin' are you tethered from ground to stand and vice versa? Or just in the stand? I stick to the ground but wondered if it kept you safe climbing as well?

That is only a descent device for a fall. Several companies make ascent/descent ropes like this one from Muddy Treestands for under $30.

[JW]

Take 5-6 minutes of your time and watch what happened to Mine MaCabe. His entire life changed for the worse.

http://youtu.be/aqfkK3h2jqM

[manwitaplan]

Ragin' are you tethered from ground to stand and vice versa? Or just in the stand? I stick to the ground but wondered if it kept you safe climbing as well?

In a climbing stand I am tethered from about 3ft up to 30 ft! On a hung stand most folks have a lifeline hanging off the side that you just run your harness strap up as you go. Same on the way down. I almost fell once on iced over steps half way up my ladder. Scared the mess out of me.

Ragin, you ever use one in a tripod say 16ft if you have trees near by?

[JW]

In a climbing stand I am tethered from about 3ft up to 30 ft! On a hung stand most folks have a lifeline hanging off the side that you just run your harness strap up as you go. Same on the way down. I almost fell once on iced over steps half way up my ladder. Scared the mess out of me.



Ragin, you ever use one in a tripod say 16ft if you have trees near by?

I've had to come up with something above to tie off too. I used Nylon Chokers that were rated at 5000 or above.

[txpitdog]

And for the folks who'd rather fall than die from blood pooling in the legs you can always cut yourself out and attempt a controlled fall. Duh.

And don't forget to carry a whistle. If you do fall and either get stuck hanging from a tree or fall and break a leg or worse, it is much easier and uses less energy to use a whistle to signal SOS than to yell.

[jerp]

Great reminder. I foolishly hunted from lock-ons with no harness for my first 6-8 years as a bow hunter before I wised-up. I am very fortunate that I never fell. I now even wear a seat belt when hunting from a tall tripod. I started doing this after almost tumbling out head first when I fell asleep. I have always been comfortable with heights but I have to admit my balance and agility is not quite what it once was - not to mention that at my age I would probably shatter like a beer bottle upon impacting the ground.

[gingib]

I hunt out of ladder stands 20 feet in air and pull my bow up with a rope.

I dont fall asleep so I feel fine. I don't hunt out of hang on stands because I am afraid of heights and not having that "edge" like a ladder stand provides with a front rail

[popup_menace]

I will be buying a harness before I climb into my stand to hunt. The only obstacle is choosing which one will work for both me and my wife. We will each be hunting that stand alone, so I don't want to buy two harnesses if o don't absolutely have to