Bowhunter Crawls 600 Yards After Treestand Fall
Mark Gutsmiedl broke both legs and fractured two vertebrae when falling from a treestand; and then crawled 600 yards in search of help.
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Safety harnesses and other safety
- Thread starter giles
- Start date
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The heat and humidity has been crazy this year. Undergrowth is crazy too. Remember to hydrate this stand hanging season. That backpack is worth throwing extra water in. They aren't near as heavy if you drink them either
Bowhunter57
Senior Member
Wow! I started reading this post, then started to scroll down when I looked at the slide bar on the side. 
It was extremely small, which indicates the page is extremely long....then I read the posting date. 2018.
I'll say this.... I'm all about safety harnesses, climbing safety, etc. One of the main reasons why I like tree saddle hunting is that I'm always secured to the tree in some way, shape or form....and sometimes by more than one method at a time.
I've only fallen out of a tree 2x.
The first time was back in '77, when after working a night shift, driving 8 hours to the Manistee National Forest (west of Cadillac, Mi.) and attempting to bow hunt that same evening. (After all, I'd only been awake for 36 hours.) After climbing into a tree and finding a branch to stand on, I hoisted up my bow with a piece of twine tied to my belt loop and locked my knees to wait for a passing deer. I thought to myself, that the breeze was nice. Suddenly something hit me in the back, knocking the wind out of me. I attempted to sit up and catch my breath, only to realize that I was laying flat on the ground at the base of the tree that I had been in a few seconds ago. Apparently, I did a 3/4 flip and landed flat on my back. Damn lucky I didn't land on my head and snapped my neck. I went back to camp and got some sleep.
The second time, I was in a brand new Baker Mighty-Mite climbing tree stand. No hand climber, just hug the tree and raise your legs, that were tied to the platform with a bungee cord. After getting to about 18 feet, I turned around, hoisted up my bow and settled in for the hunt. I must have shifted my weight or something, because that's when the "eject" feature kicked in and it started ratcheting down the tree, clanking as it went. At about the 8 foot mark I reluctantly gave my bow a toss and decide to jump at 5 feet. I did a hit and roll and was fine. Quickly got up to check my bow and it was fine too. The Baker was left in the woods. My uncle was 150 yards away and he came over to see if I was okay. He said he thought I was pissed at the tree stand and was beating on it with a hammer or a rock.
That's all I have to say about that. - Forest Gump
It was extremely small, which indicates the page is extremely long....then I read the posting date. 2018.I'll say this.... I'm all about safety harnesses, climbing safety, etc. One of the main reasons why I like tree saddle hunting is that I'm always secured to the tree in some way, shape or form....and sometimes by more than one method at a time.
I've only fallen out of a tree 2x.
The first time was back in '77, when after working a night shift, driving 8 hours to the Manistee National Forest (west of Cadillac, Mi.) and attempting to bow hunt that same evening. (After all, I'd only been awake for 36 hours.) After climbing into a tree and finding a branch to stand on, I hoisted up my bow with a piece of twine tied to my belt loop and locked my knees to wait for a passing deer.
I thought to myself, that the breeze was nice. Suddenly something hit me in the back, knocking the wind out of me. I attempted to sit up and catch my breath, only to realize that I was laying flat on the ground at the base of the tree that I had been in a few seconds ago. Apparently, I did a 3/4 flip and landed flat on my back. Damn lucky I didn't land on my head and snapped my neck. I went back to camp and got some sleep. The second time, I was in a brand new Baker Mighty-Mite climbing tree stand. No hand climber, just hug the tree and raise your legs, that were tied to the platform with a bungee cord.
After getting to about 18 feet, I turned around, hoisted up my bow and settled in for the hunt. I must have shifted my weight or something, because that's when the "eject" feature kicked in and it started ratcheting down the tree, clanking as it went. At about the 8 foot mark I reluctantly gave my bow a toss and decide to jump at 5 feet. I did a hit and roll and was fine. Quickly got up to check my bow and it was fine too. The Baker was left in the woods. My uncle was 150 yards away and he came over to see if I was okay. He said he thought I was pissed at the tree stand and was beating on it with a hammer or a rock. That's all I have to say about that. - Forest Gump
I had a TSS climber that was the exact same as the baker. Strap broke shimming up a tree and it dropped and locked back in a few feet below me. Slid back down slowly and made contact hoping it would stay put. Luckily it did. No harnesses back then.Wow! I started reading this post, then started to scroll down when I looked at the slide bar on the side.
I'll say this.... I'm all about safety harnesses, climbing safety, etc. One of the main reasons why I like tree saddle hunting is that I'm always secured to the tree in some way, shape or form....and sometimes by more than one method at a time.
I've only fallen out of a tree 2x.
The first time was back in '77, when after working a night shift, driving 8 hours to the Manistee National Forest (west of Cadillac, Mi.) and attempting to bow hunt that same evening. (After all, I'd only been awake for 36 hours.) After climbing into a tree and finding a branch to stand on, I hoisted up my bow with a piece of twine tied to my belt loop and locked my knees to wait for a passing deer.
The second time, I was in a brand new Baker Mighty-Mite climbing tree stand. No hand climber, just hug the tree and raise your legs, that were tied to the platform with a bungee cord.
That's all I have to say about that. - Forest Gump
Glad I’m still around to talk about it….
You've got time. Read away and add what you can. Some good stuff in here.Wow! I started reading this post, then started to scroll down when I looked at the slide bar on the side.
I'll say this.... I'm all about safety harnesses, climbing safety, etc. One of the main reasons why I like tree saddle hunting is that I'm always secured to the tree in some way, shape or form....and sometimes by more than one method at a time.
I've only fallen out of a tree 2x.
The first time was back in '77, when after working a night shift, driving 8 hours to the Manistee National Forest (west of Cadillac, Mi.) and attempting to bow hunt that same evening. (After all, I'd only been awake for 36 hours.) After climbing into a tree and finding a branch to stand on, I hoisted up my bow with a piece of twine tied to my belt loop and locked my knees to wait for a passing deer.
The second time, I was in a brand new Baker Mighty-Mite climbing tree stand. No hand climber, just hug the tree and raise your legs, that were tied to the platform with a bungee cord.
That's all I have to say about that. - Forest Gump
TikTok - Make Your Day
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Here is one I had forgot about. Doesn't just apply to ice fishing anymore.
Here's a great deal on Muddy life lines. If you want three, add three single lines to your cart and not the three pack. It's cheaper to buy them individually. I spent $99 to get free shipping.
www.midwayusa.com
Muddy The Safe-Line Treestand Climbing Rope Nylon Black
No more risky climbs; now you can stay safe from the moment you leave the ground to when you return. This unique safety system eliminates the need for...
www.midwayusa.com
That is a great deal. For anyone who still hasn’t implemented lifelines on their fixed stand setups, I highly encourage you to do so. I added them to all my stands last year and I wish I’d have done it much sooner. They’re so quick, easy, and convenient… and of course improve the level of safety going up and down the tree big time. Do it! You won’t regret it.Here's a great deal on Muddy life lines. If you want three, add three single lines to your cart and not the three pack. It's cheaper to buy them individually. I spent $99 to get free shipping.
Muddy The Safe-Line Treestand Climbing Rope Nylon Black
No more risky climbs; now you can stay safe from the moment you leave the ground to when you return. This unique safety system eliminates the need for...
Good share @Mike. Ordered enough for free shipping also. It's been on my mind to have these on every stand, so I'll be able to do that now.
OO2
Well-Known Member
At this point it’s stupid to not have one at each stand you go vertical.
Doesn’t matter how experienced you are. Shit happens and you hear each year about guys falling
thanks for sharing the deal
Doesn’t matter how experienced you are. Shit happens and you hear each year about guys falling
thanks for sharing the deal
Good question. Nylon rope shows a 10 year shelf life. I pull them at the end of the season and I retired mine after three seasons, but I don't know the correct answer
Big_Holla
Senior Member
Don’t really know the right answer either but I’ve got some up that have been out over 5 years now. Those are on ladder stands if that matters at all. Any that have shown any kind of wear or chewing have gotten replaced. Climbing sticks I try to use the newer ropes on and transition them over to the ladder stands after a couple years.
Question 1.. How do you hook up a lifeline without a lifeline? I've never seen one of these contraptions installed on a tree. How do you secure it?
Question 2.. There are lots of threads on here about the importance of safety harnesses and life lines. We have threads every year about people dying from falls. What I haven't seen are stories from people who have been saved from falls by their harnesses. Does anyone here have stories about being saved by their safety gear?
Question 2.. There are lots of threads on here about the importance of safety harnesses and life lines. We have threads every year about people dying from falls. What I haven't seen are stories from people who have been saved from falls by their harnesses. Does anyone here have stories about being saved by their safety gear?
OO2
Well-Known Member
You hang your steps with a line man’s belt around the tree that is attached to your waist to allow you to be hands free.
Then a shorter lifeline is attached to the tree that is moved vertical as you go vertical.
I admittedly have only used the line man’s belt to hang my stands in the past. Will have to try the shorter lifeline in the future.
You use a Linemans belt to hang the stand and the install the ascension line while you are standing on the tree stand. I have installed over one hundred hang-on type tree stands doing this, and since I have never fallen in over 40 years of hunting from tree stands, I cannot report ever being saved by any safety equipment even climbing in and out of them in the dark dozens of times every season for as long as I can remember. At my age, and considering the Law of Averages, I use my safety lines religiously. I'm due, but I'm always attached, so I'm not going to fall to my death. I may choose to cut myself free and fall to my death to avoid suspension trauma, but I'll worry about that when I get there.
Ladder stands you just hang one up the first time you go up. Preferably before you even strap the stand in you clip in.
Did you order any? $15 a piece can save your life.
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Muddy The Safe-Line Treestand Climbing Rope Nylon Black
No more risky climbs; now you can stay safe from the moment you leave the ground to when you return. This unique safety system eliminates the need for...
ads.midwayusa.com