Buddy fell 15 feet from Tree Stand
 

To all of you who use Hang on stands with Ratchet straps. Make sure you check them over before stepping on to your stand.

Last Friday my buddy stepped onto his stand and went straight down. He didn't even get a chance to hook up his harness. It appears the Strap literaly seperated, like it was torn into. He's pretty banged up and has 2 Fractures on his Pelvis. He's very lucky that it wasn't any worse. He's already planning on going out several weeks from now if he's able in a ground blind. Of course he will have to be dropped off and picked up but at least he hasn't lost his desire.

Safety first!

WOW!!!!!! Glad he will be ok.....

Sorry to hear he got hurt but glad it's not worse.

Checking over the straps is an important reminder. I've seen straps that looked good fail suddenly. The elements (sunlight in particular) can quickly degrade the integrity of ratchet strap.

Also, everyone should consider using a safety system that will keep you from falling as you climb up the tree.

I never step into my stand until I hook into my strap. I wear a harness with a carabiner. Once I am at the top of the steps into my stand, I hook into a strap I leave on the tree. Then I step into the stand. Of course I could have a problem with the steps, but there are 4 straps on the steps so the odds are much slimmer they will have a serious enough issue.

Hope he heals quickly and fully and gets back at it.

That's how I do it. I also have a couple of the long HSS ropes that you attach yourself at the base of the tree and just slide the knot up as you go. I need to get one of those for every set.

I was using one of the harnesses that come with the stand, but there was a couple elements of the one I have that looked inadequate for someone of my size.
So, I use my tree climbing gear instead, and just pull the rope tail up with me and bag it.
I feel safer, I KNOW my gear and trust it, and I can easily self extract if need be. Love that prusic...

That's the problem.

Statistically, the majority of falls occur while getting up and into the stand, or getting out and down from the stand. The harness should be in use before the feet leave the ground. Inconvenient, maybe, but better than the alternative. A hunter in our area fell the same distance and didn't live to tell about it.

There was another story on the radio this morning about a hunter being found dead at the base of his tree after falling from his stand. That's 2 deaths I know about this year in MD from treestand accidents.

It's usually not just one mistake
 

It often takes three, four and five mistakes.

Many who fall use no safety device of any kind. For them, any mistakes means the swan dive. It's difficult to hit the ground, if you're already tied to the tree. And if you lack agility and balance, not using any safety device is surely inviting disaster.

I see many falls are by hunters who use fabric racket straps. Not only are these used, many are kept up for months and years, and face many types of weather.

Some see harness as the ultimate. But some hunters have found ways of hanging themselves after falling.

Ultimately it's up to us and our safety checks, our precautions, balance and agility. Regrettable, some folks should avoid the heights of a six foot ladder. Not all hunters are climbers of trees.

there is no substitute for a chain as a backup, especially guys like me who leave their stands in the air year in and year out..i noticed it took my straps about 3 years to start to be bad enough to change em. i never even took the old ones off, but am sure i could tear them away because they are rotten.

Can a prusic knot be used on any type of rope?? or does it have to be a specific type?? Thanks

For me this makes me wonder...
 

How long can one rely on a climbing stand before having to replace it? I have a Summit Viper and have used it for maybe 5 years. It seems to be working great, but usually when warranties expire, they do so for a reason...

you never know when it will happen. It happened to me last year but i was luckier it snapped when iwas on the ladder trying to tighten the strap . it was stretching but when put tighter it snapped. scared the hell out of me as i stood there thinking what could have happened.

Suffolk, I believe the Prusic knot can be used with any type of rope, the issue of course being that the strength of the rope is sufficient to withstand the strain of a fall.

Chazspot, that's a good question. I recommend inspecting the stand each year. I have a Summit stand; if I were you I would be inspecting the cable for rust/corrosion. I don't know if it's carbon or stainless steel. Mine is a loaner that I keep around for the kids. From a 'that thing is really locked onto the tree' standpoint, I prefer the API system, but they all need to be inspected periodically.

It's a good idea to hang a rope and use a prussic knot,you just slid it up as you climb and it stays hooked up the whole time you are climbing up and down,works great with my summit seat of the pants harness

Yeah glad to hear that he is able to even consider hunting again. But a fall story from last year with a ladder stand. Another thing for hunters to think about. A guy I know was moving his ladder stand. it was on uneven ground and single side rails on the ladder. Unhooked the top and was coming down the ladder. The weight ended up buckling one side of the ladder and dumped him out. He ended up making his way back to his truck with a fractured leg and a couple vertibrates damaged. Ended up flying him to the hospital. He says he remembers everything up to the point of the help arriving and then he blacked out. Definitely important to not drop your guard at any moment and also to let someone know where you are or going to be.

I always use another ratchet strap on ladder stands about halfway up, really helps secure things up when you are taking them up or down.

In soft ground, I also fasten the ladder sections together. I once had a ladder come apart on me while climbing it - that was a complete surprise and luckily I didn't get hurt. I was pretty high up, but was able to keep hold of the bottom section and wedge it so I could climb down! The ground was soft enough that after 6 or so times of climbing it, the bottom got far enough in the ground to separate...

Basically, you need to plan on the primary fastener to the tree breaking, so that your backup will save your life.

My Chiropractor fell out of his stand a few years back and impaled his eye on a branch - now he's only got one good eye!

Be safe out there!

How about climber stands? Does anyone tie off to the tree as they climb?

sorry to hear about your buddy!
I think 2 common sence things can save your life when using a on a lockon or ladder stand:
1. Use a climbing rope with a prussick knot that allows you to be hooked on before you even leave the ground! I cant understand why people dont use these. The straps for your sticks could break just like the straps for your stand!

2. use a chain backup with a turnbuckle for your stand and dont leave the stand up too long(trees do grow ya know). Those nylon straps wont last forever and it seems like ive been reading alot of post with straps breaking! If you get strong enough hardware your stand will break before your chaiin!

I think the rope is the most important!

Can you explain to me how this would work with a ladder stand? I always hook myself to the ladder (up a few rungs) as I am climbing and I hook myself to the tree before sitting down. But if the stand were to pull away from the tree before I was hooked to the tree I would be in a world of hurt.

Damn, that sucks. Glad he's ok.

Some good advice in the replies as well.

Thanks for all the tips and concearns guys.
I talked to him this weekend and he said he tried to shoot his bow setting in a soft chair and he can't. He said he got up with his crutches and after he was standing he was able to shoot. I told him not to rush it but he's planning on still going to Illinois in a week and a half. He paid an outfitter $3,000 dollars for a combo hunt and he says he's going.
Thanks again guys!