Treestand hunting and safety belts

[BodarkOkie]

Scott,

I'm going to come by your house and thump on you next week on my way to KC.    

....then I'm going to tell your dad on you!!    

Gene

[findbows]

I work at Medtronic spinal division. We make spinal implants  Cages Hooks rods screws  Plates discs. we can patch you up when you fall . Please Just wear your safety harness .It's hunting season and I don't want to work over time . Findbows

[caleb7mm]

for the people that complained about falling with a harness and not being able to get back in the stand...

That is why you put your strap up high, head level when standing in your stand and almost with tension when sitting. When you "fall" out you wont realy fall you will roll to the side and you can very easily roll back in. Ill take rolling over 2 feet and back in as aposed to falling 10, 12 or 3 feet! its a no brainer. I know my wife is much happier that I do, as my sister is, my dad is, my mom is ect ect....

Im my opinion you are not thinking correctly if you dont where some kind of fall restraint.
O' and they do make fall restraints for asending and decending the stand, and obviously line man belts for hanging a stand. I hunt about 99% of the time out of a 15' ladder and I will never climb in without my HSS, comfy and has 4 pockets for various items I keep with me while bowhunting.

ok im done  

[kctreeman]

I've used a belt until this year after whip convinced me to use a body harness,  still not sold on the harness.  I'm using a HSS harness with linemans belt and have tried using the safety line.  The harness will keep you from dying from hitting the ground but most guys die from the suspinsion syndrome. The HSS seems bulky to mr even though I've got the pro madel thats all webbing.  Still searching for a better way to hook to the tree.

[ChuckC]

which "most guys" are those ?
ChuckC

[razorsharptokill]

I usually put mine on before I leave to hunt, that way it is on when I get out of the truck. no wasted time fumbling with it in the dark and no excuse not to wear it.

[kctreeman]

Chuck after watching the vidios that are included with the HSS they stress the point that suspension syndrom kills more guys than hitting the ground.  That is why I decided on the safety rope. Now I can just release my prussik loop and continue sliding all the way to the ground in a controlled manner.  Still looking for a better way of better attaching the safety rope and harness to the tree.  Anybody out there using that retractable safety line that HSS sells?

[Roy from Pa]

I tie the SOP safety rope off above my stand and tie the bottom off at the base of the tree, making it as tight as I can get it. That way the safety rope stays pretty taught as I asend and desend, works well for me. When climbing up to tie the top of the safety rope, I use my harness with a climbing rope wrapped around the tree, moving the rope ahead as I go. I carry 2 climbing ropes when doing this so when I come to a branch, I connect the spare rope above the branch before unhooking the other rope.

[GrnMtnTradNut]

It takes one slip or bad step to change your life or your loved ones life forever ask my uncle he fell 20ft, broken pelvis, 6 ribs, collar bone and 2 cracked vertibrate he has never been the same that was 8 years ago, it will not hinder or change the way you hunt, ask yourself this question would you let your kid hunt without it? mine never does and either do I.

[ChuckC]

Thanks KC   Haven't seen that video I guess.
ChuckC

[Jeff Strubberg]

I'd like to see the source for the HSS claim.

I can't remember ever hearing of a hunter dying hanging in a tree, but we lose a few every season here in Missouri from hitting the ground.

[MI_Bowhunter]

I wear a harness religiously if hunting off the ground.  My dad refuses to wear one, even after having at least one fall that I know of.   He claims they are too restrictive in the tree.       Every time he's late getting back to the truck I start thinking the worst.

[BRONZ]

I was working in inpatient one Sat and treating a 32y/o who had fallen from a treestand and is now a paraplegic.  It can happen to anyone at any time.
Also, during my hunter's safety talks I remind my class that 70% of falls occur while climbing up/down or transitioning to/from the treestand to steps.  So, it is not good enough to simply be tied off in the tree.  I install climbing systems in all my treestands:  A rope tied above my stand dangling to the ground, attach myself via a prusic/climbers knot-- I'm secure while climbing and sitting.  It's the only way to go.  Also, a belt harness can kill you, use a 4-point.

[GR]

Looks like most say yes, so I posted a poll see to see if the results are the same.