NY Bowhunter,

They have told you the way to go, adding a small strap or rope section in to the piece to the tree, and so I am only going to implore you to wear a harness with every type of stand you use. I speak from experience. I was the same way as you, several years ago, until I took a fall of 17 feet from a "safe" ladder stand. I never thought it would happen, because I was so safe. I knew what I was doing. I had been hunting for sooooo long. But it can happen, and it did happen.

So please, don't be apathetic about it. Don't fool yourself. Any and every stand can fail. Any and every hunter can slip, make a mistake, or be subject to changing environmental elements. Just because it has never happened to you, doesn't mean it will not happen to you. So please, please wear your safety gear at all times when hunting from any elevated platform.

Be safe and good hunting

God bless