I fell tonight
 

I messed up and fell ,but I'm ok . I got in my stand and cliped my harness strap to the rope and turned to pull my pack up and ??? I have to admitt I was thinking about other things . I found my self hanging with my hips just below the platform . I pulled my self up and checked my self out . A scrape on my hand and a bruise on my hip from hiting the stand . And a world class wedgie from the harness pulling up my pants. I read the harness directions and they recomend replacing it after a fall , a small price for not falling . So harness up it saved me from a bad fall.

RE: I fell tonight
 

Glad to hear you are ok...

RE: I fell tonight
 

Glad to hear all is well.
Never wore a harness before, but here lately I've been considering it.
Saw some that are a vest type in the Bass Pro and Cableas catalogs today. Think they would be easier to use????
Going to check at a local shop later this week, if none there going to order one.
Guess the older you get the wiser you get[:-]

RE: I fell tonight
 

Thank goodness you weren't hurt. Nobody ever wants to get any real use out of their harness. It's like buying insurance- if you ever need it, it's a good thing you've got it.
Glad to hear you're okay other than a few scrapes and bruises.

RE: I fell tonight
 

I have to admit; I never wear a safety harness. I hunt out of a Summit Viper and order new cables every 2 years. It would have to be an extreme mechanical failure for anything to happen. I also only climb trees that have good bite. I'm not saying it can't happen, but you can't be completely safe at all times can you? I am careful and enclosed in my summit and unless the cable breaks, I'm OK.

RE: I fell tonight
 

A great reminder for us all.

RE: I fell tonight
 

I'm not trying to be a smart $%# and please forgive me if I come off that way but it can and has happened.

I have an API Grand Slam Bowhunter and was on my way down after dark one night when the bottom got tangled in the rope holding the halfs together. I THOUGHT I got a good bite but the rope was between the blade and the tree so the bottom slipped and I was cought by my harness.

If I hadn't been wearing it I might have landed on the bottom half a few feet down but I might not either.

I was still 20 feet or so up so I wouldn't be sitting here today.

Please,if not for yourself then for your family, wear that harness.

RE: I fell tonight
 

Glad to hear your OK. I always wear a safety belt and am looking to go to a full body or chest harness.

RE: I fell tonight
 

In reply to Shadowace: Either you place little value on your health or life or your a fool. Anyone that hunts out of a treestand, climbing or fixed, should always wear a safty restraint, at all times. How about you take out some life insurance and name me beneficiary.;)

RE: I fell tonight
 

thank God you are ok. I always wear my saftey harness and think your a fool not too. I really like the SOP from summit, but I think any of the better made full body harness will work well. Just make sure you use one! If not for your self, do it for your family.

RE: I fell tonight
 

You'll never beat gravity, the best you can do is tie.

RE: I fell tonight
 

That's also a small price to pay. I'm glad to hear you were wearing your harness and it did it's job. It seems that's generally how it happens, Quick. This should serve as a reminder that accidents do happen.

I'm sorry to hear you fell but appreciate you sharing your experience. Hopefully those who don't harness up will learn the "easy" way.

RE: I fell tonight
 

Good news to hear your alright![:o]
Now the next adrenaline rush will be on that monster buck you see.:)

RE: I fell tonight
 

I'm really glad to hear you're OK. The harness did it's job and it's a good thing you had it on. I have always worn one because I don't like heights, but recently I bought a Summit Bullet stand and got the Seat of the Pants harness with it. Those things are great. They're easy to put on, can be worn while you climb and descend, and are so comfortable I don't even realize I'm wearing it. The way harnesses are made today it would be foolish and self-destructive not to wear one.

RE: I fell tonight
 

So how did you work out the wedgie? Pitchfork? Shop Vac? Block and tackle? Or is it still in there? [&:]

RE: I fell tonight
 

Glad to hear your ok

RE: I fell tonight
 

There are 2 kinds of bowhunters, those that have fallen and those that will fall but have not yet.

I am in the previous catagory. I FELL! I got real lucky too. I was using a Lone Wolf climber 4 years ago and about 8 feet from the bottom a bolt sheared on the top seat portion and the strap released. I had all my weight on that at the time and I fell only to be hanging upside down with my big boot lodged in the angle iron. I got lucky. I used to
use a saftey strap only when I got to the top and settled in the stand.

I climb now up and down with my Seat-O-Pants. ALWAYS!

RE: I fell tonight
 

I don't think you'll have to replace the strap, unless the fall was severe enough to pop the stitches in the strap. Generally they have the strap sewn so that as you fall the the stiches break easing the "jolt" from the fall.

Remember it's not the fall that gets you, it's the sudden stop at the end. Glad you're Ok

RE: I fell tonight
 

Thanks for the best wishes on my safty . I posted as a PSA . If I can fall , 25 years of deer hunting from a varity of elevaed stands anyone can . How many of you get up , strech and move around on a stand and never give it a thought ? Thats how I fell . In 25 seasons I have helped 2 hunters that fell . One fell 15' and broke a leg and arm ,the other fell only 4' and broke an anckle .