This is something I need to think about BEFORE hanging a stand, not after. Figured that out on Saturday. I have lots of firewood to cut and stack after the season...
Safety harnesses and other safety
- Thread starter giles
- Start date
This is something I need to think about BEFORE hanging a stand, not after. Figured that out on Saturday. I have lots of firewood to cut and stack after the season...
Ok, I'll say it. Some people should not climb trees period.
How's that for a strong opinion?!?
Some things need to be said. These are valid points. We need to self evaluate at times and recognize our limitations. Great points.
My kind of safety doesn't mirror most, 
, so this is an interesting topic because I often forget how reckless I tend to be. I'm a bull in a china closet. I'm slowing down and getting better at it, but there's room for growth without doubt. I'm pulling all my stands this year to do a once over and establish a baseline for going forward. It's been too long. I'll be adding lifelines too in prep for K.
, so this is an interesting topic because I often forget how reckless I tend to be. I'm a bull in a china closet. I'm slowing down and getting better at it, but there's room for growth without doubt. I'm pulling all my stands this year to do a once over and establish a baseline for going forward. It's been too long. I'll be adding lifelines too in prep for K.
Ok, I'll say it. Some people should not climb trees period. They're too fat, too weak, and/or too incapable of recovering and helping themselves when they're at the literal end of their rope. If you can't do one pull up, you shouldn't be 20' up a tree. That's my "safety nazi" opinion. I personally feel you shouldn't put yourself in physical situations for which you're not prepared.
How's that for a strong opinion?!?
And thats why I built a blind. Doesnt help that my knees and back are fucked up from my time in the military plus 2 deployments.
Ok, I'll say it. Some people should not climb trees period. They're too fat, too weak, and/or too incapable of recovering and helping themselves when they're at the literal end of their rope. If you can't do one pull up, you shouldn't be 20' up a tree. That's my "safety nazi" opinion. I personally feel you shouldn't put yourself in physical situations for which you're not prepared.
How's that for a strong opinion?!?
You’re exactly right, Jesse.... Too many folks get over their heads just leavithe truck heading towards their stands....
But, you know your limitations and don’t go about to exceed them.... There’s the difference....
You aren’t alone. I’m pretty bad about these things as well. I have openly admitted on here before that I don’t wear a harness or anything. I’d rather take my chance with a fall. This research has started to change my mind on them though, they’ve come a long way and have a chance of doing you some good now. I’ve also said in this thread that I’m the worst about ladder stands...maybe me starting this conversation will hold me accountable from here on out. Or maybe I’ll take that 5% out and keep my fat ass on the ground.My kind of safety doesn't mirror most,
triple_duece
Ragin Cajun.
- 9,490
- 159
This is an awesome topic, thanks for making this thread.
First of all, everything we do in life has inherent risk. We must except this or live in a bubble. With that being said, I will give you some history of me and hunting.
I’ve been a firefighter for 29 paid, 2 volunteer. I’ve seen a lot and dealt w more shit than I wanted to. Anyway, I know peoples perspectives are different as my age has changed mine, along with having a wife and kids.
I never liked heights. To this day I’m on alert when off the ground, so I have a lot of respect for falling or the fear of falling lol. I started wearing a harness around 23 when the deer hunting bug hit me. Yes I’ve climbed many times without one, I knew the risk I was taking. Through my career as a Ff and hunter, I have changed without making a change. Safety measures are in place to keep you most safe, most of the time or minimize a risk of having something bad happen.
Ok I’m rambling on sorry. There is measures you can take in all situations. I have changed more since my kids were born. We use climbers, lokons, ladders, portable sticks and what I call chicken sticks... the kind that lock together and go all the way to the stand. It was mentioned that most falls happen getting in a stand or out, I believe this to be corrected. Most times it’s because we are not taking advantage of a safety system.
Let me throw this out there: I’m not a professional climber or osha safety instructor.
Lifelines should always be used. Harnesses should always be used. A 6’ fall can be as traumatic as a 30’ fall.
So with all that out there I will give my opinion. At no time should you leave the ground without a safety line, once connected and off the ground, you should never disconnect till back on the ground. YouTube is your friend, so is some paracord in your pocket. I hear about suspension trauma and it is a problem, also using safety equipment wrong. I’ve had some close oh shit moments and never a situation. Let’s talk about some scenarios that can happen with each type of climbing equipment.
1. The ordinary climber, has two parts. Piece that you utilize to climb w hands and also use to sit on. The other is your platform. I use this the most for public land and portability. If you read my recent live thread I had some mishaps. My straps were in horrific condition. I used my stand in October w no issues then used it a month later and was a epic fail. How did this happen I asked my self. This is called the normalization of deviancy. Please watch the whole video. It is worth the 15 minutes of your life. I should check my stuff after every climb. The reason I didn’t is human nature.
2. The lokon is perhaps the most dangerous to me. I have been erecting them without a lineman’s belt, won’t do that anymore. I do use a safety line once it’s up and stay connected at all times.
3. Ladder stands, when thinking about it this should be one of the safest stands to climb, but they aren’t. I know of a friend that his stand collapsed trying to put one on a tree. Almost has happened to me.
4. The old build it out of wood and make the stand yourself. I don’t need to explain this one I hope.
So the common denominator with all these stands besides the inherent risks are what? Me! Cutting corners and cutting corners and cutting corners. So all my safety values have been compromised. It’s not if but when will it happen.
So before you climb again ask yourself did I prepare myself for success or failure? Is the equipment checked and changed, is that strap holding my stand on good, is it old, rotten or did a Varmit chew it almost completely threw last night. Am I using my safety equipment correct and do I have a plan of action to get me out of a possible situation.
During these times its best to have a hunt plan or boat plan and have someone in the know of my whereabouts and expected time back.
There is plenty of stuff left out here but I didn’t want to bore you. Please watch the video, it will change your perspective (because it won’t happen to me, I have safety equipment)
First of all, everything we do in life has inherent risk. We must except this or live in a bubble. With that being said, I will give you some history of me and hunting.
I’ve been a firefighter for 29 paid, 2 volunteer. I’ve seen a lot and dealt w more shit than I wanted to. Anyway, I know peoples perspectives are different as my age has changed mine, along with having a wife and kids.
I never liked heights. To this day I’m on alert when off the ground, so I have a lot of respect for falling or the fear of falling lol. I started wearing a harness around 23 when the deer hunting bug hit me. Yes I’ve climbed many times without one, I knew the risk I was taking. Through my career as a Ff and hunter, I have changed without making a change. Safety measures are in place to keep you most safe, most of the time or minimize a risk of having something bad happen.
Ok I’m rambling on sorry. There is measures you can take in all situations. I have changed more since my kids were born. We use climbers, lokons, ladders, portable sticks and what I call chicken sticks... the kind that lock together and go all the way to the stand. It was mentioned that most falls happen getting in a stand or out, I believe this to be corrected. Most times it’s because we are not taking advantage of a safety system.
Let me throw this out there: I’m not a professional climber or osha safety instructor.
Lifelines should always be used. Harnesses should always be used. A 6’ fall can be as traumatic as a 30’ fall.
So with all that out there I will give my opinion. At no time should you leave the ground without a safety line, once connected and off the ground, you should never disconnect till back on the ground. YouTube is your friend, so is some paracord in your pocket. I hear about suspension trauma and it is a problem, also using safety equipment wrong. I’ve had some close oh shit moments and never a situation. Let’s talk about some scenarios that can happen with each type of climbing equipment.
1. The ordinary climber, has two parts. Piece that you utilize to climb w hands and also use to sit on. The other is your platform. I use this the most for public land and portability. If you read my recent live thread I had some mishaps. My straps were in horrific condition. I used my stand in October w no issues then used it a month later and was a epic fail. How did this happen I asked my self. This is called the normalization of deviancy. Please watch the whole video. It is worth the 15 minutes of your life. I should check my stuff after every climb. The reason I didn’t is human nature.
2. The lokon is perhaps the most dangerous to me. I have been erecting them without a lineman’s belt, won’t do that anymore. I do use a safety line once it’s up and stay connected at all times.
3. Ladder stands, when thinking about it this should be one of the safest stands to climb, but they aren’t. I know of a friend that his stand collapsed trying to put one on a tree. Almost has happened to me.
4. The old build it out of wood and make the stand yourself. I don’t need to explain this one I hope.
So the common denominator with all these stands besides the inherent risks are what? Me! Cutting corners and cutting corners and cutting corners. So all my safety values have been compromised. It’s not if but when will it happen.
So before you climb again ask yourself did I prepare myself for success or failure? Is the equipment checked and changed, is that strap holding my stand on good, is it old, rotten or did a Varmit chew it almost completely threw last night. Am I using my safety equipment correct and do I have a plan of action to get me out of a possible situation.
During these times its best to have a hunt plan or boat plan and have someone in the know of my whereabouts and expected time back.
There is plenty of stuff left out here but I didn’t want to bore you. Please watch the video, it will change your perspective (because it won’t happen to me, I have safety equipment)
Last edited:
triple_duece
Ragin Cajun.
- 9,490
- 159
triple_duece
Ragin Cajun.
- 9,490
- 159
triple_duece
Ragin Cajun.
- 9,490
- 159
How many of us have friends or family members who also hunt, but don't utilize a harness? It took me well over 4 years to convince a very good friend of mine to start using a fall arrest system. I finally got him to cave this year, and he has since thanked me for not giving up on the topic. All the money we spend on stands, gadgets, etc., but yet fail to spend some cash on what might save your life. Similarly, guys who ice fish. They'll spend $500 on a flasher, but wont put a pair of $5 ice picks around their neck.
https://www.foxnews.com/great-outdoors/michigan-hunter-rescued-stuck-tree-stand-upside-down
Just saw this on Fox website
Just saw this on Fox website
Sgt Fury
Sgt. Spellchecker
To the guys that use hang on stands....a friend of mine was hunting in a screaming eagle tree stand years ago. (They had an ad that showed three or four elk hanging from one of their stands to show how much weight it could hold...after animal rights protests, they changed it to show a Volkswagen Beetle hanging from it). The cables that held the platform rusted from the inside out after many seasons of use during rain and snow. He didn’t have on a safety harness. He was standing up in his stand and in his words...”the next thing I knew, I was sitting on my ass on the ground”. It happened so quick, he didn’t even have time to react. Thankfully, he just bruised his ego, but it could’ve been much worse. I inspect my cables every year before and after the season...and change the cables every 4-5 years wether it looks like they need it or not. Better to go a little overboard with safety and ensure that you come home to your family. Look at it a a necessary evil...like going to the dentist. No one likes going to the dentist, but it’s a chore that you need to do.