Treestand falls and harnesses

I have my ladder stand in tree cluster, just the section with the seat on it and no, at five feet up in the trunks of the cluster, I do not wear the harness.  It is just a nice seat that gives me some elbow room in the cluster.  Two years back I had it with all of the extensions on public land. I used the harness for sure then. Problem was, a lot of days there was a big dude that beat me to my stand and the Iowa rule is that all stands on public land are on a first come first serve basis, so I left him to it. Perhaps I should have offered him the use of my harness.  I would advise all of those that are sitting in other peoples tree stands to have a harness, you just never know how well they hung it.

[Burnsie]

Many years ago when tree stands were often homemade wooden platforms that people cobbled together between a couple trees.  I was hunting a piece of land a farmer had given me permission to go on,  The land had several of those homemade stands on it.  I figured great,  someone already did the work.  I climbed up the wooden 2x4 steps nailed into the trees and when I grabbed the top rung it was rotten and snapped.  I went over backwards and landed flat on my back across a log.  I think it knocked me out for a moment.  As I lay there dazed and disoriented I started to think I had just broke my back.  Slowly I started to move body parts and finally got rolled over to my hands and knees.  I am lucky that I sustained no permanent damage.  Was super sore and black and blue for quite awhile,  but lived to tell about it. Always wear a harness,  and never go in a junky wood stand - please!

[bisket]

11/2/2012 - A date I will never forget...waited for this day to go to a spot with some rut activity.  Watched 6 different bucks that night, including one that looked like he was off the cover of Outdoor Life.  I waited for pitch dark and thought I would slip out unseen.  

I like so many other's wear a harness in the tree.  Took for granted the getting up and down part.  27 years of bowhunting in the tree and I made a mistake getting out of the stand in the dark.  I couldn't see the step but went for it anyway.  I missed it getting off the platform and went for a ride.  I hit the ground with a thud.  I thought I was ok until I started but heard this ringing noise in my ears and was feeling like throwing up.  Went to stand up and it wasn't working out not to mention my burly boot was bent out in a way that it shouldn't have been.  Thankfully I had a cell phone and was hunting on the edge of a bean field that the farmer could drive out to me.  He is 85 years old and there was no lifting me.  I army crawled to the car and went to ER.  I ended up dislocating my ankle and breaking my tibia and fibula above the ankle.  Four months of no weight and almost a year later I still have some issues.  However, I am thankful I did not land on my back or worse.  Heard way to many stories from people at hospital about guys that weren't so fortunate.  

This year going back out after that buck.  I hope he made it.  Spent the money on a ladder stand and a good harness and climbing attachment that allows me to stay connected at all times with the use of a prussic knot.  Thank God for health insurance, after 2 surgeries and therapy this fall topped $75,000 in medical bills that my insurance paid most of.  A valuable lesson that I hope many of you don't have to learn.  Stay safe, I now pay attention when people say ...if it can happen to me, believe me, it can happen to you.
-Mark

[D.J. Carr]

I've had the oppurtunity to take several of my nephews hunting. My number one point is hunt today so that you are able to hunt tomorrow, and a safety harness is a huge part of that.

[EHK]

I've always been a safety harness user and some of the newer models are so easy to get into and so comfortable that you don't even know you have them on.  It's so tempting to climb a ladder stand or tree steps without being attached, but it's just plain foolish.  Last year, I got a 3 pack of the HSS Lifelines and now I can't imagine hunting without them.  You're connected from the ground to stand and all the way back down without ever needing to unclip anything.  They're on the pricey side for what they are, but compared to the well-being of my wife and kid, are totally worth it:

 http://www.huntersafetysystem.com/lifeline/

[beaunaro]

Several years ago the Lord was really watching out for me. I fell 15 ft and landed flat on my back.
Almost landed right on top of my son who was on the ground below the stand. My head narrowly missed a big rock.
While in the Ambulance, the EMS people kept asking me questions. I was doing good till it came to "What are your kids birthdays?"
My wife said..."Don't worry, he never did know them."
I don't have the wife anymore, but I have a good harness I will never give up.
It's just plain silly not to use one.

[beaunaro]

Several years ago the Lord was really watching out for me. I fell 15 ft and landed flat on my back.
Almost landed right on top of my son who was on the ground below the stand. My head narrowly missed a big rock.
While in the Ambulance, the EMS people kept asking me questions. I was doing good till it came to "What are your kids birthdays?"
My wife said..."Don't worry, he never did know them."
I don't have the wife anymore, but I have a good harness I will never give up.
It's just plain silly not to use one.