HSS safety vest and safety lines vs latching to strap

[Ray Lyon]

OK, so I've vowed to put a safety line with the prusic knot in all my trees this year (they say climbing in and out of the stand is most likely time for fall).  I would normally have a tree strap above my stand with the clip and then clip my harness when I got into the stand.  If I'm using the thirty foot safety line all the way above the stand can you just stay attached to that and use it instead of clipping in to the tree stap belt????

[Don Batten]

Thats what I do. Clip in on the ground and unclip when I get back on the ground. DB

[The Night Stalker]

I will change because I am afraid of the safety line moving at ground level when your positioning for the shot.

[VTer]

I stay clipped to the rope. Night stalker, I used to worry about that but now I make sure my rope is tied off to the tree pretty much at the same height my tether would be attached, right near the knot that I tie off the rope with. I also tie the bottom down to my tree sticks so there is very little movement, if any, to the rope at all. I really like the system, its so much quicker gettin settled into the tree.

[The Night Stalker]

VTer,  I have taken a screw eye and screwed it to the base of the tree or a ground root to make the rope taunt. This way it makes it easier for the pricthet knot to slid. I will try it and see if I get any movement out of the rope, I guess if the rope was tight, movement would be minimal. I am getting ready to order some climbing rope and set stands,

[reddogge]

When you tie it fairly tight to the bottom of your ladder or ladder sections you clip in standing on the ground and hold the knot end of the prussic knot in your hand as you climb up and just keep sliding it upwards as you climb.

[Ray Lyon]

OK, I didn't think about the rope movement at teh bottom of the tree.  I'll make sure that it's taught.  I also like the idea of not having the extra movement when I'm getting down at dark to fiddle with clipping back and forth.  Thanks for the input.

[Jock Whisky]

I was busted several times before I realized that the safety rope was moving every time I moved. What I do now is tie my pack to the bottom of the safety line. This gives enough tension to allow the prussic to function. When I'm in the stand I pull the rope and pack up, hang the rope on a limb or other handy spot and remain clipped in. Getting out is just the reverse.

JW