Make sure y'all check your equipment and be safe!

[Matthew Bolton]

With deer season coming in soon and even underway in some parts I feel like I need to tell you guys a little story and a valuable lesson that we all need to be reminded of.

Two years ago, my dad and I were on a late season quota hunt in west Tennessee. I shot a buck that afternoon and was climbing down to retrieve the deer. I was set up about 15 feet off the ground in my old summit climber stand (by old I mean 20+ year old hand-me down). When I got to around the 8-10 feet mark on my decent the rubber bands that wrap around the back of your feet gave out when I pushed back on them to move the bottom portion of the climber down the tree. When this happened the stand fell about 4 feet down the tree. I should mention that I *USED* to wear a safety harness only when I'm up in the stand but not when I'm climbing up and down. Fortunately, I'm strong enough that I was able to hold all 220 some-odd pounds of myself on the upper half of the stand even after the seat of my stand slapped the taste out of my mouth.

From there I had only one option, let go and drop to the bottom section that was, thankfully, directly below me and pray that it bit the tree when my weight hit it. Thank the Lord that stand bit into that tree perfectly and I was able to reach up and pull the top section down then jump the remaining 4 feet to the ground to remove the bottom section that nearly killed me, or at best, did some permanent damage.

Why am I telling you guys about my hands down dumbest 30 seconds of my hunting career thus far? Because I know some of you hunt with old equipment and/or improperly used safety equipment. A minor inconvenience of being attached to the tree from the moment you leave the ground could mean the difference between life , death, or a bad maiming. No deer or whatever you may be hunting is worth your life and health. Don't be a stupid redneck like me and wing it. I was 20 years old at the time and I wouldn't have the great job I have now if i had been paralyzed from landing wrong. Please just be smart and be safe this season. You owe it to your families.

[Pine]

That's one of many reasons I stay on the ground .

[Tom]

Amen and thanks for the reminder-for those who venture up the trees.

[Roy from Pa]

I fell also and got hurt, from that day on I now use the climbing rope system and a safety harness.

           

Bisch

[highlow]

A VERY timely reminder. Thanks.

[maineac]

Good reminder, thanks!

[D. Key]

Glad your result wasn't permanent.  I too have fallen out of a tree stand and fortunately, I was not permanently injured, so I know the value of safety equipment.

Stay safe out there.

[Gregory P. Pearson]

My boot slipped off the top rung of my ladder coming down. Lost my "hold" and descended quite fast for about 18 feet! The fall was ok, but the sudden stop at the bottom of the tree messed up my one ankle. I was lucky it wasn't worse. Since then I have always used a life line and am attached from the ground until I'm back on the ground. Here's hoping every one has a SAFE season. Thanks for the reminder Andrew.