Posted: 10/2/2014 4:33:45 PM EDT
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The condom of deer season - everyone has their opinion on them but generally no one loves wearing one.
I am wearing one for the first time this year. Wear it or not? |
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Always. If I get into the woods and find I forgot it at the truck, I either hike back to get it or ground/still hunt for the day.
The last time I didn't bother, I was (alone) in a 2-man ladder stand. I stood up to get down at sunset, put one foot on the ladder, and the legs sunk three inches into the soil and the ladder went bye-bye. I was off-balance, fifteen feet in the air, one foot on the edge of the stand and the other dangling in the breeze, barely hanging on with my hands. I got settled back on the stand with some nervous glances at the two pieces of one-inch web now holding my fat ass in the tree, then called my hunting partner to come save me. It's worth spending the money for one of the better zip-on comfortable ones over whatever comes in the box with the stand. Also, check 'em every year for mouse chewing... fucking rodents. 
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wear it.. Don't be one of those guys that falls and is now in a wheel chair all his life because of being stupid. This is something you dont play with. Or... here's a novel thought... Don't use a tree stand and actually stalk the animal! 
Seriously.... makes the hunt much more satisfying |
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Or... here's a novel thought... Don't use a tree stand and actually stalk the animal!
Seriously.... makes the hunt much more satisfying Quoted:
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wear it.. Don't be one of those guys that falls and is now in a wheel chair all his life because of being stupid. This is something you dont play with. Or... here's a novel thought... Don't use a tree stand and actually stalk the animal!
Seriously.... makes the hunt much more satisfying Stalking with a bow means you'll probably be eating store bought meat this Christmas. |
| I've always used one. I started out with the hunter safety system vest type which was kinda heavy. Now I have the Scent Blocker Tree Spider that only weighs 1 lb. It goes on and off easy and I can't tell I'm wearing it. As much as I love hunting it's not worth it to me to end up a vegetable or dead. I've had a climbing stand drop about 2 feet while I was climbing and it was enough for my tether to catch the tree and stop me and the stand from going all the way down. I'm tethered to that tree before I leave the ground. |
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Bought one last year - one of my unlce's friends is paralyzed from a fall, 2 other people I know fell in the last 3 years but were luckier- just broken ribs, legs, etc.
Easier to wear in a tree than a weelchair. My borther refuses- but his fiance is pregnant now, I wonder if he will think a little differently? |
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I have fallen not once but TWICE from treestands. First time dislocated shoulder and broken arm. Second time I got REALLY hurt. 5 broken ribs torn sternum etc
I hunt from pop ups and maybe on e a year I sit in a ladder. Guess what I alwYs wear now. Dont be like me. Falling sucks and hurts terribly. Im lucky Im not dead (from that). I have some other pretty interesting stories about how I fubared myself.. |
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Adk1 you are a bad mamma jamma. Were you in a ground blind? I don't know if I could draw without getting spotted without a blind. Is that a fresh kill this year? |
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I'm going with a rock climbing harness this year And using a "life line" when climbing up and down. HSS sells one but I think I'll make my own setups since I use several different stands to hunt out of. I have a rock climbing harness too - didn't even think to use that |
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I've always used one. I started out with the hunter safety system vest type which was kinda heavy. Now I have the Scent Blocker Tree Spider that only weighs 1 lb. It goes on and off easy and I can't tell I'm wearing it. As much as I love hunting it's not worth it to me to end up a vegetable or dead. I've had a climbing stand drop about 2 feet while I was climbing and it was enough for my tether to catch the tree and stop me and the stand from going all the way down. I'm tethered to that tree before I leave the ground. "i'm tethered to the tree before I leave the ground" ^^^^^^^Should be gospel. For the cost of decent rope and a quality carabiner, you can have a tether line that keeps you safe from "feet up, to feet down". Look up "prussic knot", it's super simple and cheap enough to have a dedicated setup at each one of your stands. For the love of god or any higher power you might care for, tie yourself in to the tree. No fuckin' deer is worth the hell that you'll put yourself and your family through if you take a tumble. |
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Stalking with a bow means you'll probably be eating store bought meat this Christmas. Quoted:
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wear it.. Don't be one of those guys that falls and is now in a wheel chair all his life because of being stupid. This is something you dont play with. Or... here's a novel thought... Don't use a tree stand and actually stalk the animal!
Seriously.... makes the hunt much more satisfying Stalking with a bow means you'll probably be eating store bought meat this Christmas. Just because I go through 2 deer in a month doesn't make me a bad hunter! 
Seriously though, I don't hunt bow, but I stalk for rifle and shotgun. Schooled in the backwoods of western Missouri and perfected in the heights of southern Utah |
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Or... here's a novel thought... Don't use a tree stand and actually stalk the animal!
Seriously.... makes the hunt much more satisfying Quoted:
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wear it.. Don't be one of those guys that falls and is now in a wheel chair all his life because of being stupid. This is something you dont play with. Or... here's a novel thought... Don't use a tree stand and actually stalk the animal!
Seriously.... makes the hunt much more satisfying Yeah do it the Benoit way, practically walk the deer to death! http://www.amazon.com/Big-Bucks-The-Benoit-Way/dp/0896896765 |
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I have a rock climbing harness too - didn't even think to use that Quoted:
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I'm going with a rock climbing harness this year And using a "life line" when climbing up and down. HSS sells one but I think I'll make my own setups since I use several different stands to hunt out of. I have a rock climbing harness too - didn't even think to use that There's a couple of threads on Crossbow Nation and other bow forums on the merits of using these over "hunting" type harnesses. |
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I use a climber stand, I just take a ratchet strap and strap the climber to the tree...it's not going anyplace, and I don't see any way I could fall out of it. Just make sure you have a living will and health care proxy. Not trying to be a smart ass here but thats what I thought. My friend was using his climber and inadvertantly leaned in with his toes while the seat part of the climber wasnt set. He slid 20 feet down before he leaned back with his heels and the base locked in. Rifle and gear bag smashed into ground and he broke his scope. Hes lucky it was only a piece of gear I couldn't foresee how I could fall out of a permanent stand built with 2x10 joists and pressure treated wood... And then one of the joists broke and it dumped me out like a dump truck. No chance to catch anything except a root ball to the ribs at 0430 deep in the woods all alone |
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Just make sure you have a living will and health care proxy. Not trying to be a smart ass here but thats what I thought. My friend was using his climber and inadvertantly leaned in with his toes while the seat part of the climber wasnt set. He slid 20 feet down before he leaned back with his heels and the base locked in. Rifle and gear bag smashed into ground and he broke his scope. Hes lucky it was only a piece of gear I couldn't foresee how I could fall out of a permanent stand built with 2x10 joists and pressure treated wood... And then one of the joists broke and it dumped me out like a dump truck. No chance to catch anything except a root ball to the ribs at 0430 deep in the woods all alone Quoted:
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I use a climber stand, I just take a ratchet strap and strap the climber to the tree...it's not going anyplace, and I don't see any way I could fall out of it. Just make sure you have a living will and health care proxy. Not trying to be a smart ass here but thats what I thought. My friend was using his climber and inadvertantly leaned in with his toes while the seat part of the climber wasnt set. He slid 20 feet down before he leaned back with his heels and the base locked in. Rifle and gear bag smashed into ground and he broke his scope. Hes lucky it was only a piece of gear I couldn't foresee how I could fall out of a permanent stand built with 2x10 joists and pressure treated wood... And then one of the joists broke and it dumped me out like a dump truck. No chance to catch anything except a root ball to the ribs at 0430 deep in the woods all alone Your friend obviously did not use a ratchet strap to lock the climber onto the tree, he was trusting the cables....that's silly. You must be a big ol' hoss to break a 2x10. |
| I also use two man ladder stands (by myself) or hunt on the ground. I probably should use a harness but I don't. The stands are ratcheted down with several straps and a cable lock. I suppose I could always fall asleep and fall out though. Now you all have me thinking lol. |
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I have never used one in a ladder stand, but am teaching my girlfriend this year and want to show her the right way. Should the harness be used while climbing the ladder or just at the top? When I use my climber I have a climbing strap that hugs the tree. Put the harness on the ground . Climb up and tie off the strap on the tree and clip it to your harness. Ladder are a lot easier than climbers. The key to ladders is strap the ladder to tree at varies points with ratchet straps so its solid. I usually set them up with leaning against the tree and use a ladder to tie it off i make sure its the ladder is planted into the ground so it doesnt move later on. My personal preference is not to use a climber at all seen too many people hurt with them over the years dues to not griping the tree good. |
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Put the harness on the ground . Climb up and tie off the strap on the tree and clip it to your harness. Ladder are a lot easier than climbers. The key to ladders is strap the ladder to tree at varies points with ratchet straps so its solid. I usually set them up with leaning against the tree and use a ladder to tie it off i make sure its the ladder is planted into the ground so it doesnt move later on. My personal preference is not to use a climber at all seen too many people hurt with them over the years dues to not griping the tree good. Quoted:
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I have never used one in a ladder stand, but am teaching my girlfriend this year and want to show her the right way. Should the harness be used while climbing the ladder or just at the top? When I use my climber I have a climbing strap that hugs the tree. Put the harness on the ground . Climb up and tie off the strap on the tree and clip it to your harness. Ladder are a lot easier than climbers. The key to ladders is strap the ladder to tree at varies points with ratchet straps so its solid. I usually set them up with leaning against the tree and use a ladder to tie it off i make sure its the ladder is planted into the ground so it doesnt move later on. My personal preference is not to use a climber at all seen too many people hurt with them over the years dues to not griping the tree good. That's why I bought the aftermarket harness - also my stand came with a tourniquet strap to add security to the stand when at height |
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I have never used one in a ladder stand, but am teaching my girlfriend this year and want to show her the right way. Should the harness be used while climbing the ladder or just at the top? When I use my climber I have a climbing strap that hugs the tree. Using a "lifeline" is the safest system. Once it's installed you clip onto it at ground level and push up on the prussic knot on the way up and push down on it when descending. Plenty of you tube videos on this. I'm going to use this setup for the upcoming season. |
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Using a "lifeline" is the safest system. Once it's installed you clip onto it at ground level and push up on the prussic knot on the way up and push down on it when descending. Plenty of you tube videos on this. I'm going to use this setup for the upcoming season. Quoted:
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I have never used one in a ladder stand, but am teaching my girlfriend this year and want to show her the right way. Should the harness be used while climbing the ladder or just at the top? When I use my climber I have a climbing strap that hugs the tree. Using a "lifeline" is the safest system. Once it's installed you clip onto it at ground level and push up on the prussic knot on the way up and push down on it when descending. Plenty of you tube videos on this. I'm going to use this setup for the upcoming season. This sounds like a good setup. I'll have to look into this for my ladder stands. |
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Using a "lifeline" is the safest system. Once it's installed you clip onto it at ground level and push up on the prussic knot on the way up and push down on it when descending. Plenty of you tube videos on this. I'm going to use this setup for the upcoming season. Quoted:
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I have never used one in a ladder stand, but am teaching my girlfriend this year and want to show her the right way. Should the harness be used while climbing the ladder or just at the top? When I use my climber I have a climbing strap that hugs the tree. Using a "lifeline" is the safest system. Once it's installed you clip onto it at ground level and push up on the prussic knot on the way up and push down on it when descending. Plenty of you tube videos on this. I'm going to use this setup for the upcoming season. Thanks a ton! |
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Thanks a ton! Quoted:
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I have never used one in a ladder stand, but am teaching my girlfriend this year and want to show her the right way. Should the harness be used while climbing the ladder or just at the top? When I use my climber I have a climbing strap that hugs the tree. Using a "lifeline" is the safest system. Once it's installed you clip onto it at ground level and push up on the prussic knot on the way up and push down on it when descending. Plenty of you tube videos on this. I'm going to use this setup for the upcoming season. Thanks a ton! it's definitely the way to go. i started using a lifeline sort of system (home brew version) a few years ago. Lifeline gets attached at head height or greater from the tree stand, along with another strap to "clip into" after climbing. The line runs from above the stand to ground level, and tied around the tree to keep tension on it. Just slide your prussic and carabiner up the life line, get into your stand and clip into the secondary strap above the stand. This way, you are constantly attached to a safety line from the moment your feet leave the the ground. I've found that using this system, makes it even more likely that I'll make it to my stand before dark. It's so safe, I never worry about getting hurt climbing in or out of the stand in the dark. I can't recommend it enough, really. Check out a few videos online, whip yourself up a set or two and keep one at each of your stand locations. I tie all mine on around now and take them off in december. I wouldn't leave em out there all year... |
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Your friend obviously did not use a ratchet strap to lock the climber onto the tree, he was trusting the cables....that's silly. You must be a big ol' hoss to break a 2x10. Quoted:
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I use a climber stand, I just take a ratchet strap and strap the climber to the tree...it's not going anyplace, and I don't see any way I could fall out of it. Just make sure you have a living will and health care proxy. Not trying to be a smart ass here but thats what I thought. My friend was using his climber and inadvertantly leaned in with his toes while the seat part of the climber wasnt set. He slid 20 feet down before he leaned back with his heels and the base locked in. Rifle and gear bag smashed into ground and he broke his scope. Hes lucky it was only a piece of gear I couldn't foresee how I could fall out of a permanent stand built with 2x10 joists and pressure treated wood... And then one of the joists broke and it dumped me out like a dump truck. No chance to catch anything except a root ball to the ribs at 0430 deep in the woods all alone Your friend obviously did not use a ratchet strap to lock the climber onto the tree, he was trusting the cables....that's silly. You must be a big ol' hoss to break a 2x10. Not being a dick, just asking, do you tie the top part of the climber to the bottom? I do; I've always had this fear of seeing the bottom part slide down the tree.... 
I'm sure there's alotta people who thought they'd never fall out of a tree stand either, be it ladder, strap on or climber...but some of em did anyway. There's so many variables, from dark, cold, ice, rain, adrenaline, sleep, fatigue, etc that can all lead to an issue and can all be countered by a safety strap and harness. I think you're nuts for not using one, but to each his own. Respectfully, I'd hope you'll reconsider. What works for me, is when I use a climber I just keep a thick knotted rope, with a loop at each end, above the sitting half of the climber. The rope goes around the tree, through one loop and I clip my harness into the second loop. If I'm going 25/30 feet up, I only have to move the knotted rope 3 or 4 times and then re adjust when I ratchet strap the stand in at the top. I figure, staying in the stand and having the two halves tied together is my "first line of safety" and the strap/harness is the "second line of safety". Two is one, and one is none...and all that.... Good luck out there, again, respectfully, I hope you'll reconsider and think about wearing a harness and using a safety strap. |
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Not being a dick, just asking, do you tie the top part of the climber to the bottom? I do; I've always had this fear of seeing the bottom part slide down the tree....
I'm sure there's alotta people who thought they'd never fall out of a tree stand either, be it ladder, strap on or climber...but some of em did anyway. There's so many variables, from dark, cold, ice, rain, adrenaline, sleep, fatigue, etc that can all lead to an issue and can all be countered by a safety strap and harness. I think you're nuts for not using one, but to each his own. Respectfully, I'd hope you'll reconsider. What works for me, is when I use a climber I just keep a thick knotted rope, with a loop at each end, above the sitting half of the climber. The rope goes around the tree, through one loop and I clip my harness into the second loop. If I'm going 25/30 feet up, I only have to move the knotted rope 3 or 4 times and then re adjust when I ratchet strap the stand in at the top. I figure, staying in the stand and having the two halves tied together is my "first line of safety" and the strap/harness is the "second line of safety". Two is one, and one is none...and all that.... Good luck out there, again, respectfully, I hope you'll reconsider and think about wearing a harness and using a safety strap. Quoted:
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I use a climber stand, I just take a ratchet strap and strap the climber to the tree...it's not going anyplace, and I don't see any way I could fall out of it. Just make sure you have a living will and health care proxy. Not trying to be a smart ass here but thats what I thought. My friend was using his climber and inadvertantly leaned in with his toes while the seat part of the climber wasnt set. He slid 20 feet down before he leaned back with his heels and the base locked in. Rifle and gear bag smashed into ground and he broke his scope. Hes lucky it was only a piece of gear I couldn't foresee how I could fall out of a permanent stand built with 2x10 joists and pressure treated wood... And then one of the joists broke and it dumped me out like a dump truck. No chance to catch anything except a root ball to the ribs at 0430 deep in the woods all alone Your friend obviously did not use a ratchet strap to lock the climber onto the tree, he was trusting the cables....that's silly. You must be a big ol' hoss to break a 2x10. Not being a dick, just asking, do you tie the top part of the climber to the bottom? I do; I've always had this fear of seeing the bottom part slide down the tree....
I'm sure there's alotta people who thought they'd never fall out of a tree stand either, be it ladder, strap on or climber...but some of em did anyway. There's so many variables, from dark, cold, ice, rain, adrenaline, sleep, fatigue, etc that can all lead to an issue and can all be countered by a safety strap and harness. I think you're nuts for not using one, but to each his own. Respectfully, I'd hope you'll reconsider. What works for me, is when I use a climber I just keep a thick knotted rope, with a loop at each end, above the sitting half of the climber. The rope goes around the tree, through one loop and I clip my harness into the second loop. If I'm going 25/30 feet up, I only have to move the knotted rope 3 or 4 times and then re adjust when I ratchet strap the stand in at the top. I figure, staying in the stand and having the two halves tied together is my "first line of safety" and the strap/harness is the "second line of safety". Two is one, and one is none...and all that.... Good luck out there, again, respectfully, I hope you'll reconsider and think about wearing a harness and using a safety strap. I use 3 straps 2 are ratchet straps and one is a buckle strap. When I climb up I wrap a ratchet strap around the tree, insert the loose end into the ratchet mechanism and lock it down. The strap goes around the tree and around the stand. Once I have my seat strapped in, I take another ratchet strap and strap the bottom section to the tree. I always keep a buckle strap connecting the upper and lower sections together, when I get up to the top I take out the slack. |