Thank goodness for the safety vest
 

There's usually at least one post about this every year. Sometimes I think some of em are hard to believe, but I never thought I'd be making a post of that nature myself. I've been bowhunting for about 11 years and NEVER wore one until this year. I hunt primarily from a climbing stand and last year I had a close call when my climber seat fell and I came close to biting the bullet, so my whole strategy changed. Well it happened again tonight. The safety harness didn't make it any less scary, but after I got my nerves back I was definitely thankful I was wearing one. I have no clue if I would've actually fell if I hadn't wearing one, but feeling that harness tighten up on me made it a lil more bearable. Don't be another statistic guys. STRAP YOURSELF IN

RE: Thank goodness for the safety vest
 

Glad you are alright,

Losing the seat is one of my worst fears with my climber. It doesn't cost alot of money or take alot of time to make sure you are still around to hunt another day....

Wayne

RE: Thank goodness for the safety vest
 

WOW!!!
Thank goodness you were wearing one.....im alwayd keepin mine on

RE: Thank goodness for the safety vest
 

I myself am wearing one for the fist time this year and just the greater sense of security is worth the extra cash to me. I hope I never find out how good it works , I'll just take your word for it. Glad you did'nt get hurt.

RE: Thank goodness for the safety vest
 

Glad you are alright, good advice.

RE: Thank goodness for the safety vest
 

Glad you weren't injured, be safe!!

RE: Thank goodness for the safety vest
 

Snake, you have a bun in the oven, you have a lot to live for. We are all thankful you are still with us but you've yet to meet someone who is the most thankful. Be safe out there.

RE: Thank goodness for the safety vest
 

I've wore one for the last 5 years or so. I had a friend fall from about 25 feet when his climber broke and he laid there all day until his wife and brother-in-law came looking for him around dark. Now he is paralized from the waist down.

RE: Thank goodness for the safety vest
 

For years I thought falling from a tree was mostly user error. One of my dads old highschool friends fell about 10 years ago and luckily lived, but broke his back (not enough to paralyze). Even knowing this didn't make me wear one. I guess I thought I was invinsible and last year was a wake up call. I figured for as long as I've been using a stand I know the ins and outs of using a climber, but the fact of the matter is, ya just never know how well you're gripped to that tree.

Rob, you're right, I haven't met that one person yet and knowing that scares me more than ever now. I've never appreciated life more than I do now and on Oct 12 I'll be finding out if there's going to be another lil snake or snakette. It took me a good 5 minutes to even attempt try to stand up afterwards even though I felt the tention of the straps. As I stated before, it didn't make it any less scary than last year when it happened, but I'm definitely more thankful. It's made me do a lot of thinking.

RE: Thank goodness for the safety vest
 

Im not sor worried abotu losing my seat in my climber as much as I am losing my bottom. I make sure they are both tied to gether. I dont normally wear my harness in my climber as Im surrounded by a full bar. I feel pretty secure and dont go to extreme heights with it. 15 feet max and only climb trees that I know and have climbed before numerous times. I think its time to start using the harness. I wear one all the time in my hang ons but not in my ladder stand or climber. I feel very comfortable in them with out one. But things can change in a hurry as you have shown.

RE: Thank goodness for the safety vest
 

Glad your Ok.......
I also use a climber.....this year I am using a ratchet strap on top and bottom.....I think that will help me feel more secure....just a tip that may help.....

RE: Thank goodness for the safety vest
 

I think it was earlyin or davidmil that said take and use a screw in hook below the cables on these things.

RE: Thank goodness for the safety vest
 

Full harness or a simple strap but always tie yourself in!! To many guys get to qualify for the disabled hunts just by falling as little as a few feet.
I weara belt type set up where one belt goes around me but right up under the arms and the other goes around the tree. Not the best system, but some of the full vest harnesses seem to be bulky and wiegh to much.
I know you guys are alert and in tune the whole time you are in a tree but I have dosed a time or two and that little head bob that wakes you up can put the fear of god in you quickly.
I have heard of guys that wear a belt but wear it to low and have heard of instances that by doing that when they fall they arehanging upside down. You can pass out pretty quickly hanging upside down 5 feet down a tree. Just be careful!!

RE: Thank goodness for the safety vest
 

Ok Folks, Please see this thread... http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2351333&mpage=1&key=?lets help our fellow hunters.

RE: Thank goodness for the safety vest
 

I pretty much do the same thing. I have a strap that I tie the 2 pieces together with when I'm carrying it and use it to attach the two pieces together when climbing the tree. I stay within 15 feer as well, just because I usually level out by then. I also usually climb tree's that Ive climbed before, but it doesn't really make a differenvce. The tree I was in last night. I must have hunted 10 times or so within the last 2 years. The tree just didn't wanna cooperate this time LOL