Tree stand safety has come a long ways for us Bowhunters

[tradslinger]

I can remember back in the mid 70s climbing trees to bow hunt. First off, I was pretty ignorant of bowhunting in general much less hunting from a tree but I knew that being up a tree had to help. I was ignorant on which tree might be the best to use or anything else. I simply climbed up a tree with a big branch to stand on or sometimes sit on. After the first time, I decided that because I worked nights in the Air Force, I needed to tie myself in the tree to keep from falling out if I dozed off. I used what I had, a 12 foot long nylon fish stringer. What little that I knew about bowhunting came from a bowhunting magazine. Some guys called me a sissy for using the stringer but I didn't care. The stringer turned into a rope and then for years, the long strap from a boat winch. As I learned a little bit more and more, I saw this "thing" in a local Freds store that said it was for hunting, a climbing tree stand. This stand, a Baker was just the base part and no seat. This stand taught me a lot of tree stand safety, mainly by the lack of safety. I was young enough to hug the tree and climb but on a couple trees, like pine, I would get about 8 to 10 feet up and loose my grip with the stand and end up sliding back to the bottom. Not pleasant to the arms or chest. So for several years, I used this Baker stand with my strap as I stood for hours, many times from before daylight to dark. I tested out the strength of that strap as I leaned forward against the strap trying to get relief of my feet and back. Then I saw a Baker seat that helped also in climbing. More lessons as I lost the base twice, you had to avoid the area closest to the tree. Then I saw a picture of a better climber and decided to build one out of steel. Yeah, weighed a ton, left it in the woods. I went to better and better climbers and then started the hang on stands. At first I used the screw in steps, two different designs. But then one day, I was 14 feet up and had another two feet to go when one of the one piece steps broke. I pushed away from the tree as I began to fall because I just knew one of the steps would rip right thru me. Landed flat on my back, I just laid there for a long time and stared up into the darkness. As I begin to move my feet and hands etc, I realized that I was not really hurting that bad. But then I looked to the right and left of my head, inches away from big rocks. I had actually fallen in the only rock free strip all around the tree. So, no more tree steps, I now used the single pole ladders. I bought the first one and then made five or six more that were twenty feet tall. By now, I am a lot more conscious of tree stand safety and acquired my first safety harness. The straps had been replaced by the harnesses where I was tethered to the tree with a quick disconnect. Today, tree stand safety is preached to everyone and a lot of people use a vest type safety harness. I never have fallen out of a tree stand but I knew several that did and one that never hunted again. To me, tree stands were a very viable tool for the bowhunter, especially the trad hunters. Tree stand safety is something not to take lightly but seriously. I also learned very quickly to use a pull rope to pull my bow and pack up after I was safely in the stand. Be safe out there everyone.

[Sam McMichael]

Tradslinger, like you, as a young hunter, I had little knowledge of deer hunting. Neither did I have a high concern for safety. But, in one of those very few moments of clarity, I recognized the Baker stand as a possible death trap. A friend of mind had one slip while trying to set up on a telephone pole. He got skinned up pretty bad with many creosoted splinters in his arms, chest, and face. However, I still jammed a notched board between two forks of a tree branch and called it a secure stand.

Now, I use ladder stands, and each year, I check them out before hunting from them. Stands are better now, and I was fortunate enough to live long enough to develop a sense of safer hunting. With the new season approaching, this thread should be a solid reminder to us all to check out our stands and review the safe and proper usage of them. A safety harness is one of the best hunting companions we can have.

[Cory Mattson]

Similar start for us.
Wadsworth Blocks to climb
Plywood platforms
Both using Parachute rope
Then Bakers and yes I’ve rode a couple a times straight down fast when it kicked out
Amacker after that SOLID and never kicked out TWO separate pieces top and bottom heavy but killed a TON of deer outta that
Eagles
Woodpecker drill and Steel Bolts replaced Screw Steps long ago
Chippewa Hang On and Lone Wolf climber 25 year run
Now a Beast stand love it amazing quiet easy
Sticks - sometimes drill 4 bolts underneath
Lineman’s Rope Traditional Wilderness Podcast
And still wearing my Eagle Harness bought in 86 thing is amazing
Before that ropes and slings glad that’s over

[dnovo]

You think these episodes and Baker Tree stands had anything to do with the phrase “survival of the fittest” ?
We’ve come a long way. I had a Baker way back and then made some of my own copying it. I never slid down a tree with mine but I had a buddy who used to get close to 20’ up every time with his. He always wore heavy coveralls and when he was read to come down he would hug the tree, take one foot and pull up on the outside of the stand and slide down. The coveralls stopped him from getting all scratched up.  Crazy!!

[tradslinger]

Well, the Baker slide... it was a hard freeze, opening day of bow season in Arkansas. I was at the edge of a food plot on a management site. All I had to climb were pines. There was another bowhunter way across and down from me in a stand already, a friend. Anyways, I was not dressed the best for such a temperature drop. Anyways, I had my Baker and I meant to hunt this side. So I started up, made it about 7 feet or so with the bottom when it slipped and down I went. I did this three times before I just sat on it two foot off the ground. My arms and hands were all chewed up as was my chest. Later, I met up with my friend after we both froze out. He told me that he had seen me each time when I slid down, said that he had never laughed so hard. That was my last pine with the Baker. 

[LookMomNoSights]

Probably considered a youngster by many at going on 46,  but I started bow hunting for deer as soon as I could legally.  I made my first hang on stand myself with wood,  some threaded rod and conduit in place of where we normally see cables on a hang on stand these days.  I used to do what in hind sight was really dangerous,  really stupid things to get up and into trees.  Fast forward to now,  I inspect all my equip each year before I hang anything.  I use the climbing belt while attaching climbing sticks or ladders.  I use the "life line" that goes from ground to full stand height,  and stay attached to the tree with that line from the first step up to the last step down,  being D ringed to the harness the entire time.  Looking back, very lucky I had no mishaps.  I feel and appreciate the piece of mind these days, knowing I've gone to lengths to increase the safety of my tree stand hunts,  therefore increasing the longevity of my hunting career.  Not messing around anymore and I look at it as quitting while I'm ahead.  My kids will also never take those chances as I once did,  as long as I can help it.  They will learn the safe way and have the right stuff to do it.  The new way is not always the best way with things,  but in this instance.....it absolutely is. 

[Terry Green]

Yep, I'm old enough to remember the Kamikaze Baker stand.  Did a few slides myself.

However, I hunted with just a base till I was in my 40s,and I would stand till lunch, then stand till dark, never sat down.  I always picked up the base with my feet and slide down. Always.  Sounds just like a couple of squirrels scamping up a tree. I didn't think nothing of it.

[Kelly]

Started just by sitting over branches, then added a boat cushion. Then someone from southern WI, think Glenn Helgeland came out with plans for a tree stand made of wood and held on by rope, sort of a cam action type thing. Used them for years, then used same design and changed out the wood for steel angle iron and mesh with chain instead of rope. Only got rid of that stand two years age when we moved-don't do trees anymore because of health issues.

Used one of those Bakers but after the first plunge that was gone, My favorite were Climax(I think that is what they were called but the seat was too far from the platform for me so I modified them or just made them from scratch. Of course, in the latter years went totally to ladder stands and modified them with a flip up seat and extended platform so I could stand up right next to the trunk. But really preferred to sit and set up stands to mostly shoot from seated position.

Never owned any kind of safety harness-wouldn't know what is a good one or not.

How do you guys get away with drilling holes in hardwood trees to insert thos bolts? Where I lived even the small hole drilled for a maple sap tap produced marks and holes in the lumber. Sure the hole grows over on the outside near the bark but not the inside. Plus, on Public land one can't use and screw in steps or even trim and branches.

[Dave Lay]

Heck yea, I started out just standing on tree limbs , accessed  by nailing 2x4’s to the tree, then progressed to taking a rope and tying myself to the tree, then the famous baker came out, all I ever had was a base where you bear hugged the tree to get it up or at least until you took a unplanned trip down the tree, and I did that quite a bit. Next came screw in steps and old lock ons till I broke a screw In step , then I moved to pole gaffs and lock ons which I used for years and caused me a 18 ft fall when I gaffed out without by lineman’s rope. Luckily someone stole those gaffs , I had holes in the sides of my rubber boots from gaffing into them. I bought a screaming eagle stand and nothing about that said mobile hunter, it was heavy as heck and that noisy chain didn’t help things either. But that stand was as solid as they get, until I broke a side cable from lack of maintenance , luckily I had my harness on, but I did drop my dang bow. Lately I found climbing sticks and swore off every other method to hang and hunt out of my lone wolf hang ons , using my harness and dual lineman’s belts where I can stay attached to tree at all times, going around limbs and entering my stand.
It pays to be old and to have screwed up ALOT hunting elevated for 50 years , I think they call it experience ?

[gregg dudley]

Cory,

I can't tell you how many deer I killed out of an Amacker climbing tree stand.  Those things weighed a ton, but were rock solid.  They had solid spikes that essentially drove in to the bark.  I had one pine tree that I climbed so much that it essentially glowed in the dark from all the sap that had dripped and dried white along the trunk.  I could find that tree without a flashlight on all but the darkest of mornings!  Loved that stand and love the memories that this conversation just stirred! 

I have different, less pleasant memories of Baker's...

[LookMomNoSights]

Started just by sitting over branches, then added a boat cushion. Then someone from southern WI, think Glenn Helgeland came out with plans for a tree stand made of wood and held on by rope, sort of a cam action type thing. Used them for years, then used same design and changed out the wood for steel angle iron and mesh with chain instead of rope. Only got rid of that stand two years age when we moved-don't do trees anymore because of health issues.

Used one of those Bakers but after the first plunge that was gone, My favorite were Climax(I think that is what they were called but the seat was too far from the platform for me so I modified them or just made them from scratch. Of course, in the latter years went totally to ladder stands and modified them with a flip up seat and extended platform so I could stand up right next to the trunk. But really preferred to sit and set up stands to mostly shoot from seated position.

Never owned any kind of safety harness-wouldn't know what is a good one or not.

How do you guys get away with drilling holes in hardwood trees to insert thos bolts? Where I lived even the small hole drilled for a maple sap tap produced marks and holes in the lumber. Sure the hole grows over on the outside near the bark but not the inside. Plus, on Public land one can't use and screw in steps or even trim and branches.

Unless you own the land,  I don’t think there are many if any states left that won’t give you heck for making holes or cutting branches for public land hunting.  You can get a set up going without holes using stick ladders...... most simply strap around the tree,  then hang any of the newer stands that strap on also.  You can get a bow holder that straps on as well....... but you’re still left with the pruning issue...... and that’s a big deal if you can’t fine tune shooting lanes 

[RIVERWOLF]

Yea, Hate to admit it ;^)) but I'm from the age before tree stands could be purchased .
Hunted from trees I climbed a good bit . Mostly squirrels and just enjoying the climb and view ;^))
Late taking to "hunting" deer , as trapping, Fishing, small game fed my youth. Though trapping and natural desire to learn the ways of deer promoted natural interest/learning .

Then when I did start deer hunting I progressed to board/plywood platforms and wooden steps....Then a Loggy bayou  hand climber when they came out.(early model)...I had a few  falls from that contraption.  With and Without a harness..

Used to climb  with that climber to 20'-near 30' on some steeps.  As I aged and took on more experiance I learned #1 = that stand was junk...#2 no need in the eastern woodlots to go over 8'-12' .  (better shot angles as well)

In weight /strength/safty  many aspects have greatly improved...in many they have not. 
Safty harnesses is a area that has improved for the better ....stands on the other hand you better do your home-work !   Case in point ..portables. imho , any stand with thin plastic enclosed cables is a death waiting to happen. Leave you stand out year after year and no maintenance=GREATLY INCREASED likelyhood of a fall !    I replaced those cables years ago with chain....take them down at the end of every seaon and inspect 2 times  a year. Keep them painted  and all hardware properly maintained.   

All my talks are of private property . Public  land has a very different set of rules , yet the safty should be a no brainer .  Wood and nails=Bad /illegal , leaving stands up all year=BAD (and illegal on most public lands) Not wearing safty harness=BAD...No yearly maintenence on stands of all types=stupid at best...deadly at worst.

Lets be smart and SAFE  .........

[Dave Lay]

River wolf makes a great point on stand cables ,that black plastic coating hides rusted out cables, ask me how I know ! When I replace cables I always use clear plastic coated cables or cables with no covering and check them yearly.

[BAK]

OMG, do I ever remember those days.  Now at 72 I started with climbing a decent looking tree and just wedging myself on a big enough branch.  One huge old oak in particular, I drove rail road spikes in the side of it to get to a huge limb about 15 feet up.  I'd sit straddle that limb for hours.  Killed a number of deer from that tree.  It's still standing, though I can't hunt there anymore.

And the wild and frightening days of the "Baker rides", if I tried that now it would kill me.  And safety straps, hah, who needed something so silly, why that would just interfere with your ability to hang on..   

[tradslinger]

yeah, forgot about the cables on the hang ons, had to replace several over the years. nothing quite like being 17 feet up when one side breaks, can totally wake you up and make you a nervous wreck until you get off of it. I always went with a bigger cable to replace them.

[Onehair]

I went to a saddle around 1980 after several seasons with my Baker Mighty Mite. Wrap in tight with my bow rope. For several years using the saddle my standard method was using blots to climb up. I would loop my rope around the tree,hold it in my teeth freeing up both hands to hook my saddle. I took a doe one morning while still holding the rope in my teeth.

[KAZ]

Lots of history and experience here…. I have had my share of experience with the Baker climber on smooth bark trees, anything to get the edge on a whitetail in the early to mid 80s… No hand climber, just the hug & lift method. No strap to ensure it doesn’t give way. Praise God nothing was life altering. Never shot a deer from one… I was more successful on tree limbs and homemade hinge crotch stands… The other thing was I was on a tight budget which meant four screw in steps or rope on blocks would get me way up the tree. Not much worry in stand theft due to the athletics required to span the gap. Especially difficult in Michelin man attire for cold weather sits. I progressed to the Loggy Bayou Climber that had locking seat bracket and J-Bolt rope to tighten the stand like a lock on once in place. Still have it but don’t really use it unless I get nostalgic… Good times, not so smart times, blessed times, and thankful God protected me…

I have better & safer options today

[PrimitivePete]

The very first time I slid on a stand gave me enough pause that I have not returned to the treetops again. I know I'm not as successful, but I am sure more comfortable and at peace at the base of a tree.

[kbetts]

Started with a heavy climber and then fixed stands with screw in steps.

I do not like heights and moved to saddle hunting early in the game because I liked tension on my tether.  I switched to the Treehopper bolts for presets and sticks with aiders for the run n gun. 

I will still use a LW hand clumber, but with a rock climbing harness.  I'd rather end up facing the tree rather than away.