treestand safety - a tip you don't hear everyday

[Tajue17]

Inspect that stand before stepping in !!!  I checked out one of my stands yesterday, I was standing in it sitting down checking out the shooting lanes when I noticed the base was a little crooked.

got back on the pegs and tried to shift the base and where its bolted to the frame on each side with two bolts the whole bottom section opposite the ladder was rotted and the base came apart from that!  

this never happened to me before so I wanted to pass on a tip to all of you who use steel stands to watch for rust and rot.  

I have pics but cannot post them from here.

[smokin joe]

A thorough safety check on every piece of climbing equipment and every treestand is part of my summer every year. If anything needs fixing, I still have time to get it done correctly before the season starts. That being said, checking things out each time you use it sounds like a good idea too.

Thanks for the safety tip.

[Sam McMichael]

YES! always check out your stands carefully. Several seasons ago, I barely missed getting hurt bad. One of my stands had been left out after the previous season. It had a fold up seat that was folded during the off season. As I was about to lower the seat I noticed that a big wasp nest was right next to my hand. I was hunting alone, so stirring up that nest could have fatal. Structural stability is not the only safety consideration, and you can bet you a$$ that I check 'em out now. Safe hunting, everybody.

[Tajue17]

Sam wow that one happened to me too,, they where nested inside the square tubing that the seat is attached too,, I'm allergic to bees and it was a close call.

[LC]

Tajue17 was this a stand you left out year around? The reason I ask IMHO that's one safety aspect that needs some heavy thinking by us bow hunters. I personally take down all my stands at years end. It sure is a pain with all the stands I have out but the metal fatigue, rust, freezing rain and snow,  tree growth etc sure makes one wonder how long they can last if left out year around.

[59Alaskan]

Good advice! I inspect on my way up and down every time.  I check the chain, bolts and key welds.  I also test the stand with my foot before entering and ensure my hands are both on holds as I step in.  3 points holding on are key

[TGbow]

That's something that bothers me about hang on stands. Never hunted out of a hang on but it appears there's more of  a chance for the seat/platform to come apart over time. Though I do like the idea of a hang-on. Tryin to decide whether to go with a hang-on or ladder.
Either way that's GOOD ADVICE to checck em each time you get in the stand ,whatever kind it is.

[JimB]

Great information above and timely.I posted about this before but I'll bring it up again.Watch out for those plastic covered cables found on some hang ons.A couple members had tree stand accidents due to corroded cables breaking.

I had been meaning to give a couple of mine a good going over and did so recently.I replaced all the bolts with new,grade 8 bolts and also replaced the cables and nylon tree strap.

I had been wondering if the plastic cable covering  might hold moisture and cause corrosion.I cut the covering off the old cables and indeed,they were badly corroded but what shocked me was,they were soaking wet under the plastic and it hadn't rained in weeks!I should have tended to that a long time ago and feel fortunate that I hadn't had a bad accident because of it.

I have come to believe that plastic coating is a bad idea on tree stand cable.It retains water,causing corrosion and it prevent you from inspecting the condition of the cable.I'm now using stainless cable with no coating.

Stay safe guys.
 

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I hear of Cables breaking every Year!  Do yourself a  favor and check em out.

Also with Ladder stands, Take apart the ladder sections. They can rust at the connection and break.

Thanks for the reminder.

[Doc Nock]

Yikes. I take mine up and down almost each time in the woods. Just helped a friend who leaves them up all year. They replaced a few... change ratchet straps, etc...but never heard that on cables before...interesting! Scary too!

[LC]

To reinstate my theory tree stands left out to constant exposure are a problem ready to happen. YES plastic covered cables are a PROBLEM. PEROID! Ask GM about their tale gate cables! Problem is water leaks down in the cable and no where to go and degrades or corrodes it!

Please folks DO NOT leave tree stands out year in and out and not expect problems. Forgive me if this is not the problem in this instance but beware! Mother nature is not forgiving and we all know this but we tend to forget this on tree stands. DO NOT LEAVE TREE STANDS OUT YEAR AROUND!

As a footnote ladder stands are the worst! Because they are so hard to put up and take down everyone I know leaves them up year around. Do a soul search and ask your self is the best metal to do this with? Often proclaimed as the safest tree stand I beg to differ! I know this was NOT a ladder stand but the same results seem to have taken place! Just saying!

[Dave Lay]

Jim B I was checking my stands last week and had a side cable break when I bounced on the stand a little. It was as you said. It was rusted under the plastic coating

[Robertfishes]

I broke my back 21 years ago when my cables let go..after a 2 year 80% recovery I remodled my stands..I started tying a 3/8" rope from bottom piece to frame under seat along the cables, make rope shorter than the cables since rope will stretch a little..if cables break the rope keeps the platform from dumping you on ground.

[2-door]

Another tip. "Use a life line" click on before you go up, please! You all are too valuable to your love ones. I finally did and have not regretted the money I spent to buy them. And if you know a fellow hunter who can not afford one, buy one for your friend. It might make a difference.

[hitman]

I found one of my hang on stands with the strap cut about all the way through. Luckily I always check them before getting in each time.      :confused:

[Tajue17]

LC that was stand was in the tree about 5yrs,, its something I never thought of but since it was a chain on and it was private property I thought it was fine..  I live a mile from the ocean and have a lot of experience with rust and this one surprised me..

Hitman,, I heard that is something that some people will do to sabotage a stand so I only use chain on's.  they are getting rare and harder to find.

I want to confess is I did not have my safety harness on because I was only double checking the stand was still there,, I think now I'll be bringing the harness in,,, a life line with a sliding prussic knot is a plus because we know most falls are when stepping in and out of the stands.

I had a ladder stand up a few years back.  I used a Thermarest pad for my boney butt, which I rolled up and wedged into the tree stand when not sitting on it.  How many of those tan long tailed field mice can fit into one of those?  They had to have been packed in there tighter than a VW Beetle packed with college co-eds, I miss those days. On my head, over my back, under my jacket, inside my back quiver, and all over the tree branches, there were a lot of mice and I did not have my harness connected yet.

[Gswag]

We use new heavy duty wide ratchet straps on them each year. The 3" wide or so version. Has always worked well for us. We take them down as well each year just to make sure they aren't stolen or damaged from the usual annual flood since it's at the mouth if two rivers down in MS.

[toddster]

right now is when I get my stand out and go through them, inspect, tighten bolts, check seat.  When I buy a new stand or ladder, if there is tubbing exposed, I will use spray foam and fill them up (the caps usually end up missing).  If any painting needs done, I do it, so has plenty of time to "rest" and odor to disappear.  If I have a stand with a "strap", I replace it every three years (I don't leave stand out longer than a week), I change them as a cheap insurance policy, then use the old ones for other things.  I will go through and inspect my harness at this time as well.  I work in a manufacturing plant and we do this every year at work, I strongly recommend you do this once a year as well.  If anything look's out of place, discolored straps, or threading loose, I throw it away and buy another one.