Treestand safety

[E. Texas HillBilly]

Hey Fellers,
               I had a eye opener yesterday I thought I should share. I ground hunt alot but this year I have been using a treestand some. My treestand came with a harness that was difficult to use and a real pain to put on. So, I says to myself, I'm gonna get one that is more comfortable and easier to use so I will actually wear it. I did and I use it...most of the time. I know I will catch a ration for being completely honest here. But, there have been times in the past I have not worn one in the tree stand because I just didn't want to hassle with it, I was in a hurry, so on and so forth. I went hunting yesterday and was wearing it thank goodness. There was nothing happening the only animal I had seen was a squirrel or 50. The wind was blowing real good and I just kinda got bored and drifted off to sleep. My stand is about 20ft in the air and tilts forward just a smidge cuz I wanted to hunt that side of the tree and it leans a little that particular direction. To make a long story short I fell asleep and pitched forwards headfirst out of my stand...I woke up when the strap went tight...for some reason when I get hurt badly or frightened, I laugh...belly laugh, let me tell you my hunting was over because I was laughing so hard I very nearly fell out of my stand again. So please take it from me wear that harness everytime. I know I will.
                    -Hillbilly

[sgrogg]

My cousin fell asleep in his stand this year.  No harness.  Five fractured vertabra, broken hip, leg, ribs, dislocated shoulder, collapsed lung.  It happened about a month ago.  He still cannot stand, much less walk.

Please wear a safety device at all times.

[Curveman]

My friend had not properly secured his rope, knew it, but thought it would be alright "for just sitting there." Fell asleep, pitched forward and broke his neck! JUST missed dying by an eight of an inch if that! It's not enough to just be careful-that's why they call them accidents! E.-thank you for sharing this story. People need to be reminded about even the simpliest of things sometimes-I know I do!    

[Jerry Jeffer]

Hillbilly, stick to the ground.    

[metsastaja]

I don't leave the ground without one. I use a prussic knot setup

[30coupe]

Hunter Safety System! I bought one for me and one for my son this year. I've nodded off in a tree stand before and old bones don't knit so well, so I bought for me.

My son is recently married and I don't think I could face either his wife or his mother, much less myself, if he were hurt doing what I got him into. So I bought him the HSS and make sure he wears it.

The best part is the HSS is comfortable, easy to put on and adjust, and I love all the pockets!

I don't leave the ground without it now. I also made some safety ropes with prussic knots for the hang-on stands we use.

[DeerSpotter]

I just put a Hunters Safety System up for sale in the classifieds, it's with the tree stands.

I just sold my lone wolf Alpha and climbing sticks, I'm going to stick to the ground, I purchased a gily suit, and I have a double bull, I feel I'm much better at hunting on the ground, and the hunt is more exciting, at least for me anyway.  I've hunted on the ground for 30 years, I'm just too used to it.

I put a photo with it, it has the hunter safety system lineman belt also.


Carl

[KILLER B]

I was just reading about a man who died within the last week here in TN from falling out and another who is busted up real bad.  If not for yourself guys and gals, wear one for your family.

[Ssamac]

I like the ladder stands with the bar in front of you that closes down. I wear a harness too.
When it's time to shoot, I stand on the footrest anyway, so the bar does not get in the way

I do my best hunting if I take a nap in the stand. I seem to wake up when something's there. If you sleep, the deer come right up to the tree. Even if you're on the ground. I can't tell you how many times I sat under a tree taking a nap, woke up and had deer right a few feet away. Now if you're arrow is nocked and you're really quiet, you get a nice shot. And I love to snooze in the woods.
sam

[toddster]

well, I have hunted like most of us from stands from for years.  yes, I did not use a harness, just got in the way and was tangled mess, yada-yada.  Back when a well known company started making strap on steps, I had a few slip and some close calls, right then I decided No animal is worth me loosing my life or my families well being, and I didn't go through alot of things in the Marine Corps to die from a fall.  I bought a lineman's belt and used it to set up everything.  then I tried a few harness's and didn't like them, then I found the Hunter safety system, WOW, I don't even know I have it on, comfy, secure and no bulk or tangled mess.  The last week after working a 16 hour day, and hunting hard, forced myself (foolishly) to go out, cause of weather, well, fell asleep in stand and woke up staring at the ground, if it wasn't for the harness would of been dead or badly hurt.  hunting out of a tree is more expensive, and time consuming and a great view.  If you are leaving the ground, harness up!  you family would rather you spend 100 something on a harness then a stand.  You may shoot 100 deer from a stand, but a harness saving your ass once is worth it's weight in gold!!!!

[selfbowyer]

can anybody explain how to set upthe prussic knot. I've seen it used and it makes sense but how is the knot tied.

[SteveB]

SB - sent you a pm with a site with an animation on tying the knot.

Steve

[ranger 3]

I too have a HHs with the prussic knot. What kind of rope is it and where can I buy some?

[e alexander]

Are people using the purssic knot with a climbing stand.  Most everything I've seen has been with a hang-opn, ladder, etc.

[toddster]

I use my seat of the pants, rope with prussic knot with my Hunter safety system.  I believe Hunter safety system makes one also.  To know how to tie the prussic is great, but unless you are a Rope Master better off buyinig one professional made, remember your life depends on it.

[Danny Roberts]

Hunter's Safety here !!

[SteveB]

Originally posted by e alexander:
Are people using the purssic knot with a climbing stand.  Most everything I've seen has been with a hang-opn, ladder, etc.

I do - have a 5 or 6 footer for that.
All other hangon's and ladder stands have ones that reach the gound - hooked up from ground to ground.

Steve