HELP experienced tree stand hunters!!

[TSchirm]

It's hard to believe that in my 50's, I have only bowhunted from tree stands a few times.  Where I now live and having limited time to hunt, a trestand is probably on of the best methods to harvest a deer.

I have two treestands and a restraint harness, but I had a near fall 2 years ago when climbing on to my fixed strap on treestand. I have been watching some of the threads about trestand safety the last two years and have several questions.  They may be naive, but here goes:

1) Is a climbing rope with prussic knot suitable for climbing into the stand AND using as a restraint sytem (In other words, without a separate restrain system) ?

2)Does anyone have experience with the Hunter Safety System prussic setup in Sportsmans Guide?  Is this an adequate, safe set up?

3) Are Guide Gear items from Sportsmans Guide decent quality and safe?  I know you usually get what you pay for, but I am very budget limited at this time.  I am thinking guide gear tree step sticks or strap on ladder sections.

All I have right now are some screw in tree steps, but I have read some of the horror stories of guys falling and impaling themselves on these screw in steps.  

Thank you for any advice you can give me.  Be safe.

[Bill Carlsen]

Tom: My wife and I both have older Gorilla safety harnesses and I have made  numerous safety ropes with the prussic knot. Once the rope is in the tree you are safe from top to bottom both ascending and descending the tree. We hook on before we ascend and don't unhook until we are back on the ground. We are always "fall protected" from the moment we hook on to the know until the hunt is over and we are on the ground.

[JLeMieux]

Originally posted by Bill Carlsen:
Tom: My wife and I both have older Gorilla safety harnesses and I have made  numerous safety ropes with the prussic knot. Once the rope is in the tree you are safe from top to bottom both ascending and descending the tree. We hook on before we ascend and don't unhook until we are back on the ground. We are always "fall protected" from the moment we hook on to the know until the hunt is over and we are on the ground.

I have to agree with Bill. I think this is a very safe method. As far as the guide gear stands, I've owned a couple with no problems and know several other people who have different ones including the sticks.

[tippit]

The prussic knot works well and is secure.  Remember for ascending & descending you have to take the tension off it in order to slide it.  The Petzl GriGri 2 self belaying devise will allow you to descend your safe rope without having to get back to the tree or your stand in a fall.  It works in full weight tension and with one hand...tippit

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=110494

[Notso]

As most falls occur while getting into or out of the stand- a safety rope w/ prussic knot is the ONLY way to stay safe. Clip in when you leave the ground- clip out when you return.

The HSS safety rope is great - but you can make your own for half the price. Be sure to get good rope from a climbing store. Lots of help on-line for tying the prussic hitch.

Inexpensive stuff fro Sportsman's guide should be fine.

Good luck.

[TSchirm]

Thanks everyone!

[TSchirm]

Anyone else have any thoughts?

[Rollie]

I have purchased several from the guide over the last few years , I like them alot. Remember,If you choose to stay attached to the main line that runs down to the bottom of the tree,(which is fine), after you have reached your stand and are hunting, remember any movement you make could move that 20 foot line all the way down at deer eye level.

[toddster]

TSchirm- I use the hunting safety system harness vest.  Mine is equiped with the lineman's loops to use the prussik rope to set up stick ladder and stand.  I purchased a second prussik rope.  AS I set up and work up tree, I have the harness strap stuffed into front of vest.  Once I am ready to climb into stand, I put the extra prussik on tree, clip harness strap into it,then with linemans strap still on too, I get in stand.  then adjust harness purssik, take linemans off,  pull up bow, shoot a deer, wink.

[Lefty]

Yes, you can use just the lineman's loop and prussik only.  However, it is a pain to slide that thing up and over all the screw in steps or climp stick steps.  I really like to use the seperate safety rope that is tied above my stand and positioned beside my climbing stick and slide a prussik knot up it as I climb.  I do use a HSS vest and lineman's strap to hand stands or with a climber, but make my own safety ropes.  Good mountain climbing rope is expensive, but you can still make them a little cheaper that the HSS rope system and the quality is MUCH better.  Here is a link that tell you how to make them or buy ones already made.  I made mine following these instructions and ordered all my own mountain climbing rope from BlueWater Ropes.
   http://safetreehunt.com/  
As far as the screw in steps are concerned, in my opinion they are very dangerous.  Not only impaling yourself in a fall, but getting weak from weather and wear and snapping off when you are climbing up.  I much prefer the climbing sticks.  I have ordered some from SG and also bought them at Menards (Home improvement store).  You can catch them on sale for around $30 for a 20 footer.  I set most of my stand around 16-17 feet.  That leaves me something to hold on to, to step onto the stand and gives me a place to hang my pack or other gear.  The only major difference I can see in the more expensive ones are weight.  Which would be important if you pack in each day.  But I don't carry mine in and out each day.  I leave them up all season.  I do replace the top strap with a quality ratchet strap though.  
  My feet do not leave the ground now, unless I am attached to the tree.  If I use my climber then I use a lineman's rope and slide it up above me as I go.  If it is a hang on stand, then I am attached to a safety rope from the ground up.  Too many things can happen out of my control to think a fall couldn't happen to me.  Another thing to think about is replacing the platform cables on your lock on stands every 3-5 years.  The stand company's recommend this and sell replacement cable.  I am as thrifty as the next guy, but I will not risk my life to save a couple hundred dollars on good rope.

[briarjumper12]

Google up the Tree Saddle. I have used one quite extensively and love it. Although I haven't hunted out of a tree in 3 years, when I do again it will be in my tree saddle. I feel more safe and secure in it than any tree stand I've used. Exept for maybe the Tree Lounge. My Dad has one and I have used it many times, it is very safe.

[TSchirm]

Thank you all for  the input!!  Keep it coming.  Rollie, good thought.  I didn't think about the line moving.