Treestand climbing systems

[BRONZ]

Deer season is approaching and so are treestand accidents.  I've already taught at one KS Hunters Safety Course this year, the second is in Oct.  I really put a lot of focus into encouraging hunters to use climbing systems.  Seventy percent of falls occur while climbing up/down or transitioning from steps to stand.  It is not affective to  only  secure yourself once you're on stand. I recommend everyone use a prussic/climber's knot on a rope that is secured above your stand height and tied at the base of the tree-- attach your harness (preferable a 4-point) via a carabineer .  This allows you to be secured at all times.

Another part of my Hunter's Education speech is about the patient I treated about 4 years ago:  Although he always wore his harness, he fell while climbing... He was 32 y/o at the time and became a paraplegic.

Good luck this season and hunt safe!      

Manolito

[swampdrummer]

By chance do you have a link that would detail the prussic/climbers knot as it relates to tree stands?

Thanks

[Jim Jackson]

Search PowWow and you'll find several links and pictorials.

Here's a good one:

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=036692;p=3

[swampdrummer]

Thanks! Good info there. I've got 4 stands  up on my 20 acres and will have 2 more before season starts in two weeks. Was trying to figure out how to rig up safety lines on all of them. That link answered that question.
Thanks again

[SteveB]

Get and use a linesman belt as well for installing stands and the climbing rope.
As well as safer, its like having a 3rd hand and makes the job way easier.

Steve

[Mo. Huntin]

Thanks for the info guys.  I have been using a light weight Gorila treestand and the lone wolf sticks for a few years now and feel very uneasy about it.  They are both great products and I love them but I got to get a belt to go around the tree while I put the stand up.  I almost never use the same tree more than 2 times in a year so the rope thing won't help me much but my brother has a lot of stands put up so I will definatly make sure and put them in his trees.  If it is already their you might as well use it right.  Thanks again guys.

[BRONZ]

Originally posted by Mo. Huntin:
Thanks for the info guys.  I have been using a light weight Gorila treestand and the lone wolf sticks for a few years now and feel very uneasy about it.  They are both great products and I love them but I got to get a belt to go around the tree while I put the stand up.  I almost never use the same tree more than 2 times in a year so the rope thing won't help me much but my brother has a lot of stands put up so I will definatly make sure and put them in his trees.  If it is already their you might as well use it right.  Thanks again guys.

When installing, get a linesman's belt like SteveB wrote.  
Also, you may only get into a certain tree twice, but it only takes one fall.  If you have to, scout potential trees and place multiple ropes ahead of time, then simply move/switch stands PRN.  Safety is not a matter of convenience.
A buddy of mine laughed at my climbing systems.  The very first day I convinced him to use one, he fell while climbing out and the prussic knot caught him.

[SteveB]

Safety is not a matter of convenience.
 

Great quote!!
Would make a good signature.
Last thing I want to read this year is about someone taking a preventable fall.

Steve