From the second I leave to ground until my feet are planted back on the ground, I'm wearing a harness.

Make sure you replace that harness too. Whenever it stops your fall, replace them.

Or send it back to the manufacturer for inspection.

I only use one if the tree is wet. Other wise I strap myself in once I'm at my height where I'm going to lock myloggy in around the tree. Climbing down I still like to do a firemens slide down to the bottom. I'm getting older though and may need to shimmy down the tree as well.

I don't use climbers but when I'm setting up my hang on's I'm always strapped in. I use a rock climbing harness and 'beaner and static rope. I figure if it works at a couple thousand feet it will work at 20'. As a few have mentioned the "pain" of moving the strap is nothing compared to a lifetime of pain, or death.

Just out of curiosity BobCo19-65how do you use an ascender if a rope isn't already up in the tree?

You may have just hit upon the one area that I slack on...on occasion. I wear it up in the tree and coming down but not always going up. I am about to change that practice though. I would like to go home and see my wife and kids after the hunt.

Maybe I will change my mind some day when I have a wife or kids, but right now I am willing to take the risk. I know that I could fall and die, I realize there is a risk, but thats something I am willing to chance I guess. I've been climbing trees since I was old enough to walk I think, and have spent many hours in some interesting stands, and never used a strap. I know it only takes 1 time, but I will live with that. Like I said, I am going to start wearing a strap while I am in the tree now becuase I seem to have trouble staying awake up there lately, but as for ascending and descending....Im not going that far yet.

How do you guys use the static rope idea when you are hunting with your climber and setting up in different trees each time? Im assuming you must use a different method then right?

I use safety belts (want to get the vest, hunters saftey system design) but do not use a safety strap while climbing

i pretty much always use a harness once in the tree but don't use it while climbing as much as i should. i'm trying to change that though. my rope gets stuck to easily on pine trees and i really gets on my nerves to say the least. i know i should but don't always.

As I said, I don't use a climber, but I've got a 20' loop of heavy duty climbing rope that I loop around the tree and knot the free end to a close length and then lock the 'beaner on the inside loop. I can then do a lumberjack style lean and have both hands free to hang stands or steps. All I risk that way is a bloody nose from smacking my face into the side of the tree.
BTW, supaarcher, remember there are things far worse than dying. How about a lifetime of paralysis with no way to hunt? Constant pain that makes every position and movement torture? Being young only means you've possibly got longer to suffer.

I don't use one when climbing. I wear a vest type harness most of the time once i'm up.

PS I don't wear a safety belt when driving either.