As long as he has good health insurance who cares? I really don't want to be chipping in on the medicare bill though. The fat slob comment was ignorant by the way. A good friend and hunting buddy of mine, might argue that one. He is in his early 30's, played college football at a Div I school, still works out and is in great shape, is quite athletic and strongas well. He fell trying to adjust his climber, right before he hooked up his safety belt. A concussion, and broken pelvis gave him a new outlook. All the strength and athleticism in the world isn't going to help, if you fall you'll hit the ground, there is no grabbing onto a branch, the tree the stand. Bottom line, it is this fellas decision, he isn't going to change his mind so big deal. I would however ask that if you do ever fall and you can still type please let us know so I can say I told ya so.

I still have a good spare. If you want it PM me.

Hey Mindless, that "fat bastard" statement was ignorant and uncalled for. What ever age you are, grow up! Hunt without a harness, that will get you something. Your choice.

Oh yea, I forgot, the word is spelled prerogative.

Most times its the young guys that don't use safety harnesses. They have the mind set that they will live forever and nothing can happen to them. I think if you have a family at home your being very selfish not using one. I would hate it for my family more than for myself. I would hatefor them to have totake care of me day after day and getting cheated out of many things because of my stupidity and hardheadedness.Nothing like being a rebel and looking death in the face I guess.

I wear one all the time.
I want to hunt for years to come.

A.D.D.
I also have a spare harness if you want one,PM me and I'll send it to you

Four the last 4 years I've written threads on this board about using rope and ascenders for fixed positions treestands; I've outlined in detail how it works, how to set it up, where to get the ascender and the rope, etc.

BobCo19 is the only other climber on this board that I've heard of that tried it. As I recall he was one of the board members that was very curious about the ascender threads that I wrote. Good for you, Bob. Spread the word, my friend. You may save a life...or more than one.

Here the facts:

Using an ascender can eliminate 99.9999 percent of the chance of falling from your treestand and being seriously injured. Yes, you can still fall, but the ascender stops your fall no matter where you are in the climb, whether your 3 feet off the ground, half way to the stand platform, climbing into or out of the stand platform, (which is where most fall occur), etc.

Like BobCo10-65, you will wonder how anyone would ever climber without a full body harness and the simple system of using an ascender and a piece of rope to virtually eliminate the risk of serious injury from fixed position treestand hunting.

I use it on all of my fixed position stands ALL the time.

Guys, pay attention to what BobCo19-65 posted after using the ascender system that I've been writing about the past years:

...Then ask yourself this question: What's it worth to virtually eliminate the risk of dying or spending the rest of your life in a wheelchair?

Here's what it looks like. It costs only $35, fits in the palm of your hand, and operates silently. It bites the rope if you fall and stops your fall...but it will easily slide upward and only upwards as you climb. When you go to climb down it has a release that allows you to simply slide it down the rope with you as you climb down...but no matter what, if you happen to fall, it engages, bites the rope and stops your fall.



Here's link where you can actually buy one.

www.mgear.com

Do a simple search for "Ropeman Mark II Ascender" Item #635000

And no folks, I have no interest in the website, nor do I sell the stuff in any way shape or form. It is just that the idea for hunters is so remarkably effective that I cannot help but want to share it.

If anyone needs help, shoot me an email.

I had a friend who felt that way - he only went up 12 feet for the MD shotgun season, same tree, for over 10 years, so he "didn't need one". He doesn't remember what happened -ended upwitha crackedpelvis,& now doesn'thunt anymore...WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES!?

Mine? - I am looking forward to bowhunting again and again. Thelittle extra time taken by goingup and down belted-in is the best & cheapest insurance investment I've ever made...
-fsh

Another cheaper alternative to the ascender is a prusic hitch and a rope.
The prusic hitch is the knot that seat of the pants uses and easily slide up and down a rope but stops cold when pulled from the business end. It's a simple and easy to tie knot. I'll try to find an illustration and post it.

PS: guys please be very careful if you use steel screw in steps. Big Country, A good friend and member here fell this year while climbing into a stand that the landowners son hung last year before dawn. A treestep pulled out only 8 feet up and he landed on his feet. For a few seconds he thought everything was OK but then he felt something running down his leg (blood).He caughta treestep on his way down and competely severed is bicep, his deltiod muscle and part of his tricep. He pulled the main artery partly out of his arm but somehow it wasnt severed (or he'd be dead). As it was he almost bled out before getting to the hospital where they gave him 4 pints of blood. Th good news is that he's healing well and should recover fully.

The point of the story is that the treestep (ameristep) hooked him only a few feet down. Something that could still happen with an ascender if it hadnt been kept very tight. If you uyse screw in steps, consider the rubber coated types like Deer Me or go to the hardware store and get some rubber caps for the end of those steps. have over a hundred Game tracker steps and they have the same sharp edge as the Ameristeps. I came across some heavy rubber end caps a few years ago in a bargain binthat are supposed to glow in the dark. They dont glow anymore but after my buddy's experience, I'm only using the steps that have the caps till I get em on the rest of my steps

Well I am 6'03" and weigh 260. I think that I could be close to a fat bastard. I used to chew a can and a half a day for 10 years but recently gave it up. I drink a 12 pack of beera day on average and could call myself a functioning alcoholic if i had to. I wear my seat belt. I wear my safety belt as well. I can still enjoy all of my bad habits because I wear one. I was saved from 20+ earlier this year and have been able to enjoy everything sinc3e then from my own 2 feet as well as see everyone in my life on Thanksgiving.
I usually don't reply to stuff this ignorant, consider yourself "lucky" I suppose.