Tree Stand Scare
 

I would like to explain a little scare that I had a few weeks ago from my climbing stand while deer hunting.

I want to start off by stating that this incident was operator error and in no way a problem with the stand. In fact I will not even mention the brand name of the stand in this thread.

I found a hot area that I wanted to muzzleload hunt between a bedding area and a feeding area. Set my stand up on the tree, hooked my safety harness up and climbed on up. Once I got to about 15 feet I was head level with a crotch in the tree, where the trunk split in two. I decided that would be good enough. As I was setting my gear, the thought occurred to me that if I went up another foot or so I could use the crotch in the tree as a rest for the area directly behind me. So, I moved up another foot or so.

When I set the top portion of the stand, I noticed that it was angled up more than usual due to the tree being wider at the point where it split into two. As I sat down everything was fine but when I leaned back, the top portion fell, with me in it. Luckily my feet were almost directly under my butt, so I landed on my calves and was able to scoot my back up against the tree and stand up.

After I caught my breath I realized how lucky I had been. I was also amazed at how fast it happened. Had my feet not been almost directly under me, I may have lost my balance and fallen out of the climber. I did have a full body safety harness on but I don't really want to try one out on a fall.

Just wanted to post this to remind everyone to wear a harness and pay attention to what you are doing. Had I thought about the angle of the seat for more than a second or two I would have not sat down in it.

I am glad you are ok
It's better to use a safety harness, and not need it, than to need it, and not have it.

Last year I had my platform drop out from under my while I was tightening the straps on my seat. I had my butt on the bar still (and my safety harness on) but it happened SOOOO fast. I almost needed scent-lok underwear that morning!

Wear a harness!
rw

The incident made me wonder what would happen if I had a complete tree stand failure. I know the harness would stop me from falling, but then what? How would I get down? In many of the areas I hunt a cell phone is worthless.

I'm seriously considering a Rescue One safety harness for next year. They are expensive but is the only harness that gives you the option of a controlled descent if you can't get back into the stand.

I dont hunt a tree stand but if I did, I would wear a harness.
I would also make sure to test the harness out.

You said...

"I did have a full body safety harness on but I don't really want to try one out on a fall."

Im not sure what you meant, but Im going to suggest you try your harness out on a fall (on purpose). Maybe only 5-10 feet up.
High enough so you wont hit your legs on the ground when you fall but not so high that if it breaks youll hurt yourself.

After that Id practice getting down while hanging.

Not sure that I want to do that. From my understanding most safety harnesses are supposed to be replaced after a fall. That is the beauty of the Rescue One. It is designed to be reused. Kind of like a motorcycle helmet or a seatbelt in a car. Don't want to drop a bike or wreck a car to make sure they work.

Several designs have 'break away' stitching where the attachment strap is sewn over itself again and again that helps to stop you a bit slower than if you were on a regular tether. It would be no good to reuse. Besides that, I have know a couple people that have had the displeasure of testing their harnesses in actual falls. They said it tore the he** out of their legs, shoulders, and belly where the straps are. It's like my airbag and seat belt...I will just assume that they are going to work instead of testing them out!

rw

I have the rescue one and love it! They are expensive but when you think about how much money you spend on equipment,WHY scrimp on the one piece of equipment that can save your life!
I am a forklift mechanic and have been thru countless classes on saftey harness',and have learned that with a standard harness if you are unable to relieve the pressure on your legs to allow blood to circulate you WILL pass out in minutes,and then your done!
No matter what type harness you use ALWAYS use them,live to hunt another day!! BE SAFE!!

Can you wear the Rescue One harness under your hunting coat?

I have worn mine under my coat,but prefer to wear it over,in a fall with it under your coat you would have to open your coat to operate the controlled decent feature!
They fit very well and have changable cover that come in differant camo patterns as well as blaze orange!

I use a Summit. Has anyone ever leaned way to the side while sitting? I have found that on some trees, they will roll to the side and could possibly throw you. Happened to me when I was leaning over while pulling my bow up, as it caught onto a branch.

Never had it do that before but I can see how it could happen in certain situations.

I sent an email to Rescue One this afternoon asking if the harness could be worn underneath my hunting coat. Mr. Wood sent me a reply just a few minutes ago. He said you could do that(he said that he wears it like that sometimes) as long as you could get to the shoulder strap and you did not zip the coat up too far.

Impressive thread..thanks..I just bought my Christmas present..one of those 250.00 harnesses..for us big guys...

from Bass Pro about 10 minutes ago..will be here in 6 days.

A couple years ago I was hunting from my tree stand and I'd gotten to the top of the tree. I noticed that my seat platform wasn't perfectly level, so I mad the mistake of trying to adjust the seat platform while standing up on the foot platform. One of the pins for the cable didn't have a lanyard and pulled out the pin and dropped it and the pin dropped down to the ground. So, I was attached to the tree from my body harness I wrapped my legs around the tree and dropped my stand down to the ground. I held on to the tree and loosened the lanyard and slowly slid down the tree.

That sucks!
I make an effort size up the tree, bark type, and make sure I don't do any 20ft high adjustments like that. I'd rather go down a few feet than release any pins.

I 've actually made both adjustments while in the tree,,seat and platform..I would never attempt the platform though again but I do the seat often..there are no pins..If anyone has a SUmmit you would certainly agree that the upper part can be easily adjusted while in the tree..

Upper platform no problem....tried the foot platform but decided it was too risky.

I have a summit switchblade and love it I feel safer in it than I do in my ladder stand. Upper section is easy to adjust but the lower part not so much. Is just safer to over angle before you start climbing. Also I make sure my tether is tight when I sit that way if I lose the bottom I do not drop below the hoop of the top section and can get my but back in the seat. I use a 30ft climbing rope cinched to the tree that way it quickly loosens and tightens as I go up and down the tree. In the event of a fall you can grab the line the is dangling and tie a loop in it to use as foot hold to take pressure of the harness and prevent blood pooling.

It depends on which stand you have. I have the generic comfort zone whatever sold at Dicks.
Remove the pin, and the tree cable swings around the tree. I overall feel save in the stand, but had it slip do to hard/slick bark, wet, or frozen conditions.
Size up the tree, bark, and weather conditions to be A-OK.

Thanks for starting the thread, it's always helpful to hear of others' experiences.

I try to get my climber sections mostly level, but there have been times when I've gotten to height and the angle was a bit too steep for my taste. I descended, made the adjustment, and went back up. I wouldn't try an adjustment while up. Of course, these 'too steep' situations are usually in trees I've climbed for the first time. If I've been up the tree before I know pretty much where to set the climber.

Re: dropping the pin...yikes!