Use a safety harness!

[Rich LaBombard]

 Long story short: I was sitting in a friends tree stand this morning. One of those types that uses ratchet straps to hold it to the tree. Everything seemed fine, it’s in good shape.
Thankfully, I am religious about using a safety harness. Without warning, one of the straps let go, the top strap, and I was dumped out of the stand, dangling in the air from my harness.
 Unfortunately, I always thought if I fell off of my tree stand, I could climb back up on it, but with the stand away from the tree, there was no platform to get back up onto.
I had access to a sharp blade, and contemplated that I would have to reach over my head, to cut myself free and drop, or bear hug the tree on the way down. Either way, it was not going to be pretty.
Fortunately, I was able to reach far enough over to my left and grab the ladder.
Once I got to the ladder,  I was able to get my foot on a rung and start to untangle myself. And carefully went to the ground.
Once on the ground, I really thought I was going to throw up.
The morning hunt is obviously over. And I am just very thankful that I was wearing a harness.
(I’ll go back and try to determine what actually happened to that thing, but I will never trust one of those again. Ironically, I have a beautiful Lonewolf hang-on stand sitting in the garage)

[Sam McMichael]

Glad you were not hurt. Ratchet straps are fine, but they must be checked on regularly. They will deteriorate, so every year they must be closely examined. The bright side, if there is any, is that this safety reminder did not result from a tragedy.

[Carcajou]

Whew! Close Call!  Squirrels love to chew on the nylon straps; usually behind the tree out of sight. Glad you are ok

[nineworlds9]

Those ratchet straps are not meant to be left out in the elements all year or indefinitely.  UV and temperature changes degrade the material.  I would leave them up during a season, inspect them closely and then change them every second season for safety. 

[Roy from Pa]

Thank god you are ok..

 

[John3]

I have gravitated to using ladder stands... The ONLY hang on stands I will use are Loc-On with a CHAIN... Nothing else!  Glad you are safe.  A guy I grew up with fell out of his rifle treestand (no safety harness) a few years ago and was killed.  I don't like any treestand but they are effective!

[Pine]

Wow, thankfully you weren't hurt.
And another of the many reasons that I stay on the ground. 

[TradBrewSC]

Close call bud! I wish I were as fortunate when I fell and broke my feet few months back! I am finally waking again, but not quickly.

[Bisch]

Wow! Glad you are OK!! 

Bisch

[jsweka]

Glad you're OK and had the mind to always use your harness.

Each time I get into a treestand I like my Waldrop PacSeat more and more even when all goes as planned in a treestand.

[Dry Creek]

Glad you are ok!

[Rich LaBombard]

Thank you for the kind words, gang.
That split second of falling, like through a trap door you didn't know was there..  hard to get over that one!
Next week I'll go back and see if I can figure out if the ratchet failed, did the steel on the stand fail, or what.
I was always afraid of being the guy that gets hurt, and certain groups like to see hunters get hurt, and that fuels my obsessive harness OCD, but having the stand fail was a new one.
Thanks again.  (I'm done with ratchets, although I never heard of a failure)

[Stumpkiller]

Congrats on being prepared.   

Mine has a "self rescue" foot loop that can be deployed so, supposedly, I can take the weight of myself off the harness and do something more than hang around. 

I should probably test it.

I've had a couple "Holy Spit!" moments in stands and both times my harness caught me before it was a problem.  The last one was with a chain -on that had a fold-out seat with a cloth pad.  It turns out a timber rat had made a little nest in the folded up seat and was chewing along the seam to make nest filling.  It didn't show.  I know this because he shot out when I climbed onto the stand.  When I lowered the seat it looked OK.  But when I sat suddenly I was sitting on my heels with an aluminum bail pushing the backs of my knees out into space.  Happily my harness pulled up tight and I was able to pivot back and stand up. 

I replaced the original with a section of fire hose pop-riveted in place.  And I check for mice and also put some weight on the seat with my hands before sitting.

[Rich LaBombard]

Tough to beat "rattler in my seat": You win!

[Modad2010]

Glad you're ok. I will have to add - don't just use a harness, but a lifeline too. I took a 16' fall three years ago when a weld broke on an old metal stick ladder. I broke my left shoulder and jammed my right hip really bad. The doc in the ER was amazed that I didn't break my legs and pelvis. I was wearing my harness when the ladder failed as I was getting ready to step onto the stand. Now every stand I put up has a lifeline on them and anyone who hunts them clips in before they take one step off the ground.

[toddster]

Thank god your okay.  I teach hunter ed, and do the tree stand part of it.  I am always amazed, when I hunt what I see "hunters" do.  No animal is worth your life, or part of your physical being.  When leave the ground use a harness, there are thousands of crippled hunters who didn't think it would happen to them.  Everyone has a close call or two, always inspect gear!!  Your harness is the last line of defense, your brain and taking the time to check is first.  One tip bit, I found is this.  When in a stand, and making sure all is okay (yes even when running late, never chance getting into a stand you don't know), put the harness not on the ladder side of the tree, just enough "slack" that when seated it's taunt.  What this does is most of the time, will keep you on the ladder side of the tree.  Take the time, to plan what to do if you have to rely on your last line of defense, when happens not the time to think.  Always, Always ensure someone knows where you are hunting and what time you will call/text or be home.  If going to be late (shoot an animal, blood trail), contact someone and let them know.  A map is the best.  Hunt smart

[Eric Krewson]

I fell and broke my back about 25 years ago. Now it is lifelines on my lock ons and ladders, I haven't use a climber lately.

I also replaced the cables on my lock-ons with chains and double up on the attachment to the tree with and extra ratchet strap. I take my lock-on stands down every year and store them out of the weather until the next season.

[Rich LaBombard]

Question: can you clarify “lifeline”?  Seperate rope that you Prusik knot onto??

[Eric Krewson]

Yes, all stores that sell treestands carry them ready to use, usually a 30' rope with a prusik knotted tether hook up on the rope with a carabiner.

I buy mine from a place that sells them made from extra heavy duty mountain climbing rope, they are about $30 each but money well spent. I tried to google the name of the place but couldn't find it, they might have gone out of business.

You don't want to make your own with rope from Home Depot or Lowe's. You can buy mountain climbing rope on eBay that will be sure to keep you safe.

[SteveB]

Eric - You mean James at Safetree? Just a one man operation. I have his contact if you want it - just got a couple more from him.