My Treestand Fall.....

[Cabin Fever]

I posted my story the last couple of years, hoping it will wake some fellow hunters up, so they won't have to go through, what I have:

 

Exactly 4 years ago this month, I fell out of my treestand while out checking stands. I always wore my safety harness while hunting, but this day, I just happened to be out checking trailcams, and unexpectedly, thought I would check stands also, to kill two birds with one stone. I climbed up 20', looked the stand over, tried to shake it, but seemed rock solid. I grabbed a limb for balance (that I have used over the past 3-4 years everytime I got into this stand) as I transferred my weight from the climbing stick to my stand. I heard a "snap", when the now dead limb broke, and I knew I was screwed... I didn't panic, but was almost at peace, understanding that I was either gonna be dead or paralyzed when I hit the ground and at that point, freefalling, it was out of my hands. The first thing I said was, "Oh Rose" (my wifes name), almost apologizing for my stupid mistake. I remember hitting the ground and rolling down the hill. When I opened my eyes, I slowly moved my arms and legs. I almost chuckled to myself, thinking I had just fallen 20', I was still alive and apparently didn't get hurt! I stood up, immediately fell over, THEN the pain hit! I knew I had broken my foot and ankle. Not knowing if I had any internal injuries, that the adrenaline was covering up, I grabbed my cell and called my wife, to let her know my location. I then crawled and hobbled on one foot ~1/4 mile back to camp (screaming in pain the whole way).

LONG story short, I broke my foot in 3 places. But, that has proven to be the least of my problems. I have so much joint damage, bone on bone grinding, and now arthritis in about every joint in my foot, that I have terrible daily pain and it limits my day to day activities. I had my 3rd surgery in Dec. '12, that required some joint fusion and ankle surgery. With each surgery, I was in a cast, on crutches, and no weight bearing for 8-12 weeks. On top of the physical pain, I racked up thousands of dollars in medical bills, felt like a burden on my family, lost the entire hunting season that first year, and lost a LOT of money being out of work while recovering.

 

While I was laid up the first time, I ordered the HSS Life Lines for EVERY stand that I have. (Yep, it cost me over $300, but still well worth the investment!) I've learned that most treestand falls happen when you are making that transisition between steps and the stand, just like mine. Until my fall, I always wore a safety harness while in the stand, but it wouldn't have done me a damn bit of good anyway, because I wasn't even in the stand yet to strap in! If you don't use a LIFELINE http://www.huntersafetysystem.com/lifeline/  or something similar, you're still an accident waiting to happen! "Oh, but I'm very careful and pay attention", yeah, I was always "extra careful" too!!! Keep telling yourself that..... tick, tock.....  Using a lifeline, I am attached to the tree from the time my feet leave the ground, until I climb back down! If I slip or fall off the steps, the prusik knot on the lifeline locks up and prevents me from falling/hitting the ground. Both my kids (teens) hunt, and ever since day one, I bought them each a HSS Pro Series safety harness!

 

I know I got out of this treestand fall VERY lucky, as the outcome could have been much much worse. My daily pain, 4 years later, is a constant reminder of my stupidity! Makes me so sad to hear stories of hunters that have fallen out of treestands, knowing that it was 100% preventable!!

 

You could even have a medical issue (heart attack, stroke, diabetic attack, pass out, dizzy, or whatever) in the stand, that could cause you to fall out of the stand. That safety harness will save you from hitting the ground!!!

Plus, if you don't wear a safety harness for yourself, do it for your wife, kids, parents, or other loved ones that are depending on you returning home safely...

Be safe and happy hunting.
 

For Your Viewing Pleasure! This was a couple of weeks after my last surgery, in between casts! Franken-Foot!!

 

Edited September 18, 2013 by Cabin Fever

[Paula]

I am glad you once again post your story, just the picture. I am sorry for your pain

[nybuckboy]

Thank you for posting this terrible story. If it helps one person stay safe it was worth the time. I use the safety harness now each time but never did just a few years ago.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I have a harness because of your story. Thanks Cabin.

[RangerClay]

Guy near Hamilton was setting up his tree stand 3-4 weeks ago and fell.  Broke 3 ribs and several vertebae.  Never told anyone where he was going and they had a terrible time trying to find him after dark.

[Deerthug]

Thanks for the reminder. Never go up my stand without being strapped in. Hope you heal up soon.

[SteveB]

Thanks for posting.

I hope everyone reads that having a harness is not enough!

Use a lifeline and attach BEFORE leaving the ground.

Set it high enough so that it is snug when sitting - you want the fall to be as short as possible.

[Paula]

I meant just not picture. Same as CC, I wear my harness because your story

[Witty]

We use the life lines, very good product. I remember when I was young and dumb and didn't think I needed to wear a safety harness. HSS sells a three pack of lifelines for $100 and well worth it.

[fasteddie]

I don't go into a stand without a harness and I purchased a HSS harness several years ago . I have caught myself a couple times sitting in a stand , wearing the harness and all of a sudden it hits me , hey dumb ass hook it up to the tree .

Many tree stand hunters won't wear a harness because it restricts their shooting . They might end up shooting from a wheel chair .

Cabin Fever --- thanks for posting .

[Hunt NY]

Great Post!...

[Elmo]

Thanks for sharing Cabin.  We get so many new hunters on this forum that your reminder probably saved a life or two and didn't even know it.

[growalot]

Thanks for posting again...and glad your able too...my vest is hanging outside ...airing out....while having to take care of some other things I decided to check one of my wooden hang on stand.......for a second it flashed through my mind to climb then better judgment prevailed...good thing too...a backside brace was loose...but upon really looking the main under stand brace was out on  one side...The last big winds we had must have broke the bolts......I have to have a talk with our son...bought him a ladder stand for Christmas...and he has learned from the guys at camp...not to strap in ...all the complaining in the world has done me no good...I leave a couple of harnesses at camp but they refuse to use them...scares me terribly ....

[Cabin Fever]

The other thing I learned from the fall was that 230lbs of red-hot-lovin' makes a hell of a THUD when it hits the ground from 20'! 

Edited September 18, 2013 by Cabin Fever

[Doc]

What a great post! I hope it hits home with everyone who takes to the trees this year. I have a cousin who is no longer with us because of a treestand fall (dead at a very young age), so you are indeed very lucky. Looking at that picture of your foot, it's hard to use the word "lucky", but I know for a fact just how bad that could have turned out.

[sits in trees]

Thanks for sharing Cabin.  We get so many new hunters on this forum that your reminder probably saved a life or two and didn't even know it.

Hey Elmo, didn't you have a stand failure last year? or was it some else.

[2012_taco]

Thanks Cabin for the reminder, and sorry for your pain. I always wear my safety harness and now I also have a life line at each of my stands (thanks Lawdwaz). When I was younger I thought I was invincible, but at my age now I realize my coordination and balance is not what it used to be. I have a friend who fell from his stand a few years ago, it ruined his whole season but he's ok now. Someone just the other day in Niagara County was not as lucky.

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/police-blotter/authorities-identify-man-found-dead-in-woods-in-newfane-20130917

[ncountry]

Thanks for the reminder! It is because of a story like this that I wear a harness now..And I'm one of those monkey types (a fatter one now..lol) that climbs to 30' with or without stands and will sit on a branch...

[Kot2B]

Thanks for sharing your story, I always use my HSS Pro harness but I don't have a life line or prusik knot. Looks like I will be investing in one shortly. I bought a new tree stand this year and have an extra harness from it that came with relief straps incase of an emergency fall. I'm sure like myself, most of us never put thought into how we would get out of the harness if we ever did fall (I'll just cut it, yeah and fall 15') Great to hear that you are doing better and could share this story.

[Paula]

Ok I know we talked about the lifeline last yr, although I thought it was called something else. So how does the life line work, does it go around tree above stand?

[Catskill Hunter]

Ok I know we talked about the lifeline last yr, although I thought it was called something else. So how does the life line work, does it go around tree above stand?

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/Hunting-Treestands/Safety-Restraints-Harnesses%7C/pc/104791680/c/104783580/sc/104639580/Hunter-Safety-System-Treestand-Lifeline-Per-3/1373954.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fsafety-restraints-harnesses%2F_%2FN-1102321%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104639580%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104791680%253Bcat104783580

 

This is what I use. it wraps around the tree above stand and ties to bottom of tree. You attach to a prussic knot and slide it up as you climb. still need to be strapped in to attach it the first time tho.

Edited September 19, 2013 by Catskill Hunter

[josephmrtn]

I never used to wear a harness... even tho i had a stand fall from under me i never felt like spending the $$$ for one (read young and stupid) this year i finaly bought a HSS Ultra Lite Harness (which BTW is on sale at cabelas for about 50 bucks right now) and i plan to wear it every time i go out and leave the ground... its very comfortable so that makes it even nicer to wear...

[Cabin Fever]

Paula, on 18 Sept 2013 - 8:10 PM, said:

Ok I know we talked about the lifeline last yr, although I thought it was called something else. So how does the life line work, does it go around tree above stand?

Paula - There is a video link (to the left of the price) on the HSS lifeline site http://www.huntersafetysystem.com/lifeline/ , that shows you how it works.

[pawle76]

that looked like it hurt ! I applaud your effort to help other hunters learn from your mistake. This is a very worthwhile topic to talk about as we all know every season comes with many horror stories of hunters meeting their untimely death because of something so simple as a Quality safety harness. I wish all of you luck in getting that dream buck but more importantly I wish all of you a SAFE hunting season this year.

[pointman]

I have had my life lines attached to both my ladder stands for the past 4 years. I never leave the ground without attaching my harness to the lines since I live and hunt alone. Best investment I ever made. The one thing that I didn't see in the post is access to a knife.  If the stand falls and you become tangled in the harness, you have a way to escape.