Wear your safety Harness

[John McCreary]

James,

  You are so very right. Just two weeks ago we had a bow hunter in the ER whose father found him at the base of a tree. My CT scan revealed several broken ribs, a punctured lung, a ruptured spleen and mutiple pelvic fractures. This fella isn't going to be in the woods again this season. When you do what I do for a living one, all too often, gets to see the results of human foolishness. Tree stands w/o a saftey harness is one...                

John McCreary RTR

[jfish]

As many have stated, statics show that more hunters are injured from falling each year than any other hunting injury.  Studies show that unless you are wearing a full body harness (correctly) you stand a high chance of severe injury if you fall.  Further more, if you wear a half harness (like me) or worst just a belt you may only have seconds before you run out of air.  With that said, the phone is good, if you have a signal and can call someone that can get to you within time.  Many use radios but thats only good if you have a partner near by and if you can reach it while hanging there.  Many including myself wear a knife on their belt just in case they have to choose plan "B".  However, there is one additional safety precaution that is cheap, doesn't take up any room and would always be there.  A Whistle.  I have been thinking about this and discussed it with a hunting partner during a recent trip to the mts.  I have a small flat plastic whistle that I have always carried in my pack but decided to recently move it to my harness.  It is small (2 inches long) flat, weights nothing but can easily make a lot of noise.  I'm thinking if I heard a whistle blowing I would surely go look?  It would really suck to fall and be hanging there (dying) only to learn that someone was hunting on the very next ridge but couldn't hear you yelling.  I think I will be picking up whistles for all the guys I hunt with.  You can tie/tape them on the front of your harness and it will always be there should the need arise.  If any of you are hunting and hear a whistle blowing real loud please come look.

[hardwoods]

i hunted for many years without a safety harness - my own stupidity and hardheadedness. after i bought a hunter safety system harness i never leave home without it. bought the linemans rope for much easier and safer trestand hanging. safety first

[thp]

I started using a Treesuit this year.  After a little trial and error and bumbling I feel so much safer than I did in my  gorilla seat.

[702plmo]

I responded to another call of deer hunter that had fallen out of his stand.  He was pretty banged up.   He had to take a ride in the ambulance to our local ER.   I did not follow up on the case .  Looked like some type of back injury and possible some internal injuries.  
 Im not a Dr. but I could tell the guy was in major pain.

[Steve Kendrot]

The summit stands come with a harness that uses a Carabiner or a "rams horn" hook to attach to the prussic loop on the tree line. I hook it up at the base of the tree and climb up and down with it, repositioning every two "squats" up or down. I'm pretty religious about it now, especially after a couple close calls. I just bought a 20' line to make a ascension line for use with my hang-on stand and tree steps. Its a great system.

[FAIRCHASE]

I still wear the old type belt, I hate um, never did like to be strapped in. I well know it's stupid not to wear a harness but there are still times I don't. I still remember in the 60's falling asleep 12' up---woke up 6 inches from the ground I think it took me an hour to get to my feet.Been thinking about the fall guy system, any one use one? Always wear a harness when in a treestand--don't be stupid "like me"

[Brian Krebs]

Honestly; I don't wear my harness all the time.
 I go back to the baker suicide stand days; these modern stands feel safer than standing on the ground.. ( I know ).
 I have more trouble with safety: when I am climbing up and down the tree; and when I am putting the steps in and stand up.
 I use a stand for bears; and the trees that work are spruce or fir; and have limbs the whole way up. A climber is totally out of the question.
 I have used the harness and then the strap around the tree when putting the stand on; but honestly; if I am climbing the tree; the only chance I have is to put the carabiner for the harness on the treesteps as I go up and down.
 I have dang near fallen trying to attach and unattach the belt around the tree when I come to branches... and feel safer just not using the belt part of the harness at all.
  Are you guys using this 'lifeline' with trees that have branches on them as you go up; or on slick trees?
 I am errrrrrr up for grabs on how to climb safely; but I do not feel safe at all- trying to take on and off a safety belt- while climbing up and down.
  I pick trees with smaller trees in front that I can in theroy jump onto if I have too. I have had times when bears were pounding on the bottom of my stand or crawling in with me; and I do not have any desire to be a pinata. I have jumped to smaller trees and climbed down a few times- and its a good way to injure yourself ( talk about a belly burn). But it beats falling to the ground.
  I know one guy who fell getting out of the stand at night and woke up hanging by his chin on a treestep the next morning.
 That was inspirational.
 When you fall- it happens REAL fast !!

 Seems like the time getting into the stand and out are the most dangerous.
  Whats the best way to be safe getting in and out of trees with branches all the way up ?

[Rich LaBombard]

Brian, the recommended procedure (as I understand it) is to use TWO lineman belts, to move around those limbs you are talking about..
You put one belt ABOVE the limb, secure it to yourself, and then safely remove the other belt.
You are always connected to the tree.  Reverse the procedure for descending.

When it comes to safety, I like back up systems, and can't afford to fall out of a tree, as I have people at home counting on me.
Good luck.

[John Scifres]

Another hunter fell this weekend in Indiana.  He wasn't so lucky and is dead.  Dead.  

 

South Haven -- A hunter died on the second day of the firearms deer season when he fell 20 feet from a tree stand in Northwest Indiana.
 
 
Indiana Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Gene Davis said Allen Loftis, 48, South Haven, was found dead at the foot of a tree Sunday night. His gun was still hanging in the tree.
A family member found Loftis' body.
Davis said Loftis was hunting alone and wasn't wearing a harness in the tree stand.
Davis said falls from tree stands were the leading cause of hunter deaths last year.
 

Two areas of emphasis:

 "wasn't wearing a harness in the tree stand"

 "A family member found Loftis' body."

Peace,

John

[Rich LaBombard]

I can't understand how a guy reads something like that, and then chooses to NOT wear one.
Stay safe.

[J.D.]

I don't have a copy of the paper, but another reason to waer onr. A hunter near Hayward WI. was in a stane by a corn field. A bear with 2 cuds came along and stop close to his tree. He tried to scare them away. One of the cubs got sared alright and climbed the tree passed him. It started crying and mom came to the rescue. He said she kept trying to pull him out of the tree, but he had a safty harnes on. He thout if she could have gotten him to the ground he would not have made it. He still sent severl days in the hospital. It happened a month or two ago.
J.D.

[J.D.]

Maybe I should check my spelling before I add reply.

[hunt it]

Wearing a safety belt in the stand is A NO BRAINER!

If you've got NO BRAIN, NO REGARDS FOR YOUR FAMILY AND THE POOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO CLEAN UP THE MESS WHEN YOU GO SPLAT. THEN WE CAN'T HELP YOU! GOD GAVE IT TOO YOU - USE IT!!!!!!!!!!

I found a guy lying under his stand who had been there for 18 hours in late November. He probably would have died had I not found him. I DON'T CARE TO REPEAT THAT EVENT AGAIN.

Lets brighten up folks, you know who you are.

[KPaul]

AKDan: I use a prussic knot and climbing rope system made by Summit that keeps you attached to the tree AT ALL TIMES.It's a great system that realy works.I say this from personal experience.

[Brian Krebs]

JD- exactly what I meant by the pinata effect. That is why I put a stand where there is a smaller tree to jump to and get down fast. Where I am cell phones will not work; so that is out as an option.

 I have had cubs do the exact same thing; and had sows TRY to do the same to me. I jumped to the next tree and let things sort themselves out; but  oh yeah; its not easy or lacks pain.

 I still do not understand how a prussic know works; how I can get around branches coming off the main part of the tree as I go up.

[tomh]

a prussic holds tight when it is under tension, then slides easily when the tension is released. So if you had one rope tied off to a branch over your stand, you take another short piece of rope that is a continuous loop and tie the prussic to the long line, clip that to your harness. then just climb your branches and slide the prussic as you ascend or descend. if you fall the prussic will hold tight. this is a case where a picture is worth a thousand words. much simpler than i have made it sound.